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Turn Valentine’s Day Into a Day of Kindness at Home

Kindness at home? I am all in! Valentine’s Day is typically a time where we come together with loved ones and celebrate with special traditions, cards and of course, chocolate. However, if you celebrate Valentine’s Day, the holiday might look a little different for you this year due to the pandemic. Although Valentine’s Day is often commercialized as a holiday that emphasizes material possessions, expressing love and gratitude through acts of giving and kindness on Valentine’s Day is extremely valuable. If you are planning on celebrating Valentine’s Day from home this year, this is the time to start giving by trying out one of these simple acts of kindness. These Valentine’s Day giving ideas will help you spread kindness at home by giving back to the people in your life, the environment and your local and global community.  

Tell Loved Ones Why You Love Them

We don’t often get the chance to tell the people we care about – partners, family, friends and co-workers – why they are special to us, but Valentine’s day is the perfect time to let the people in our lives know why we love them. Simply telling the people in your life why you love them is a simple but great way to spread kindness at home and make loved ones feel appreciated. Try making personalized Valentines/appreciation notes for the people you love, talk with them on the phone, or connect with them via video call.

Celebrate a Waste Free Valentine’s Day

Unfortunately, the fun of Valentine’s day does not come without a cost for the planet – between the chocolate and sweets, flowers, cards and gifts, the holiday unintentionally contributes to waste production. Spread kindness at home by being kind to the environment this Valentine’s Day. A simple but effective way to do so is cooking your own Valentine’s Day dinner at home. You can also try baking your own treats at home instead of buying a box of chocolates.

Valentine’s Day paper cards also have a significant environmental impact. To reduce paper waste, swap out paper greeting cards for digital ecards.

Choose Fair Trade this Valentine’s Day For Extra Kindness at Home

Choosing fair trade means supporting workers’ rights, so that the producers of the products you buy are receiving proper pay and working conditions. This Valentine’s Day, buy fairly traded chocolate and treats to enjoy at home. When shopping for Valentine’s Day flowers to give to a loved one, another great way to support fair trade is purchasing fairly traded roses.

Donate to A Local or Global Organization

Another way to turn this Valentine’s Day into a day of kindness from home is donating to a local or global cause – whether it’s donating food, old clothes or books to a local charity or nonprofit in your community, this can help make a positive impact. You can also donate to global organizations like UNICEF, Red Cross, Save the Children and Amnesty International. Maybe making donations to local/global causes may not be something you typically do on Valentine’s Day, but why not try it out this year?

Try Out One of These Acts of Kindness on February 14th And Increase Kindness At Home

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by spreading kindness from home with one or more of these giving ideas. Maybe you don’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day with small acts of kindness like these ones, why not use this year as an opportunity to start new traditions?

If you are looking for more ways to give and increase kindness at home, at school, or at work join the 365give community. 

 

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)