The Canadian “People for Good” effort has tried to encourage Canadians to do good deeds.
One bus ran a PSA with the slogan: “Need a lift?” And below it said “You look great today.” Here are some suggestions they make:
- Smile at a stranger – or wave at your fellow subway passenger
- Open and hold the door for someone
- Give up your seat on the subway, bus or streetcar
- Buy a coffee for your co-worker
- Surprise your colleagues with freshly baked brownies
- Cut grass or shovel snow for your neighbor
- Help a stranger change a tire on the road – or put in a coin in expiring parking meter for someone you don’t know
- Return a grocery cart after someone has used it or let a stranger ahead of you in a store line
- While on Facebook, just pick up the phone and give your friend a call
- Simply say ‘‘Thank you’’ to someone who helped you – and really mean it
- Mow your neighbor’s lawn
- Instead of an email, send a handwritten note.
- Call your mother
- Bring home flowers.
- Make cookies for your neighbors
- Do a chore, even if it’s not your turn.
- Give up the remote
- Make breakfast for the household
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Go say hello to your neighbor.
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Tell someone you love them.
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Unload the dishwasher.
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Have dinner at the table with the whole family.
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Wake up in a good mood.
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Give someone first dibs on the morning paper.
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Clean out your closet and donate your old clothes.
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Say good morning to a stranger.
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Help someone cross the street.
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Offer to give someone directions
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Pick up a piece of litter.
For more suggestions, visit here. Peopleforgood.ca is the brainchild of Mark Sherman, Exec. Chair, Media Experts (a media strategy firm), and Zak Mroueh, President, Zula Alpha Kilo (advertising agency).
Add your own ideas by posting comments.
See also our list of 150 things you can do to build social capital.