Most people consider their birthday to be THEIR special day, and make it all about them. The gifts, the parties, the food, the friends, the music and songs; they are all directed towards that one person who is turning a year older. Especially when past the age of twenty, people celebrate their special day by taking “21 birthday shots”, or doing something ridiculous to celebrate their age. However, I recently heard about this man who celebrated his 22^nd birthday in a much different manner; he decided to do 22 random acts of kindness throughout his special day. His name is Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi and this is his 22 Random Acts of Kindness Birthday Video:

After learning about this, I am definitely changing my plans for my 22^nd birthday next year. What an amazing gift to give yourself! The gift of knowing that you have made other people’s days better, and given them that wonderful gift of a smile. I challenge you all to do some random acts of kindness this month, even if it is not your birthday. Why wait to make the world a better place?

And here’s a recap of Syed’s 22 Random Acts of Kindness:

1)     Write personal letters thanking policemen for serving

2)     Bought ice-cream for all the guards on duty outside

3)     Gave water bottles to the gardeners

4)     Cleaned dirty windows of cars at intersections

5)     Planted a tree

6)     Cleaned a random person’s car entirely

7)     Had a heart-to-heart with a cleaning boy

8)     Made the guards dinner

9)     Wrote thank you notes for teachers

10)  Picked up trash around a university

11)  Distributed tissue paper to students in a café

12)  Distributed happy pamphlets everywhere

13)  Gave juice boxes to kids outside

14)  Waited for people to cross the road

15)  Gave rides to students in need

16)  Gave yellow roses to nurses at a hospital

17)  Helped a taxi driver with his car

18)  Gave staff at a restaurant new suits

19)  Gave parents a hug

20)  Bought a 12 year old ice cream

21)  Distributed balloons at an orphanage