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31 Days Of Giving: Week One

Janelle Cabuco |
December 5, 2013 | 1:42 a.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Pick up the tab for the person behind you in line (Friendseat).
Pick up the tab for the person behind you in line (Friendseat).
Christmas is a time to be grateful for what we have and to share our happiness with others. What many people don't realize is that altruism behaves like a miracle drug -- it uplifts both the giver and the receiver. Our entire psychology changes when we practice kindness and love.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, said, "People who engage in kind acts become happier over time. When you are kind to others, you feel good as a person -- more moral, optimistic, and positive."

ALSO SEE: Nice People Are Happy People

So, for the month of December, Neon Tommy officially challenges you to practice a random act of kindness everyday, engaging the world in a conspiracy of love. We will be posting a weekly article containing a specific act of kindness to be carried out on every day of the week. If one of the acts isn't plausible for you, substitute it with another good deed. Once you get going, you'll find that there are countless ways to be of service.

Here is your mission for the first week of December:

Monday: Pack lunches for your parents or guardians for them to take to work. If you live at home, surprise the people who take such good care of you with a hand-packed lunch made just by you. After all, they did pack you lunches growing up; why not return the favor? Sneak in their favorite food or a cheery note to make it even more personal.

Tuesday: Pay for someone behind you in line. It doesn’t have to be someone's jam-packed grocery cart -- just buy someone something small, such as a coffee at Starbuck's. It will brighten up their day, and yours too, guaranteed.

Wednesday: Tell a friend or family member how much they mean to you. Oftentimes we think we express more love than we actually do. And, though showing our love through actions is noble, many of us have a hard time verbalising our feelings. Yes, your family members probably know how you feel about them, but hearing declarations of love spoken aloud is a special treat, and always a good reminder.

Thursday: Send a card to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Surprises are the best, especially when they come in the midst of a bad day or melancholy mood. And who doesn't love receiving snail mail? Rekindle an old relationship or simply touch the day of someone who at one time touched yours.

Friday: Nix the technology. Obviously we have lives to lead and exchanges to be made, but you'll find that if you keep the technology to a bare minimum, you'll have much more time for the things that really matter. Spend the day listening to a friend in need or helping them clean their closet --- anything! Inboxes were invented for a reason; your texts and voicemails will still be there at the end of the day.

Saturday: Send a custom Christmas card to a soldier. While some soldiers will be allowed to come home for Christmas, many will not. Show your appreciation for the sacrifices our military men make by sending a random soldier a heartfelt card. Something handmade and authentic will make someone's holiday (in a place where it probably feels like anything but a holiday).

Sunday: Put coins in someone’s expired meter. Though the city may lose some revenue, you’d be saving someone from getting a parking ticket, which we all --- especially us Angelenos --- know would be a very noble deed indeed. 

Reach Staff Reporter Janelle Cabuco here. 



 

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