The phrase "Practice Random Kindess and Acts of Senseless Beauty" was first penned by Berkely writer and activist Anne Herbert in 1982. Inspired by the phrase, Conari Press published a book aptly titled Random Acts of Kindness. The response was phenomenal. Hundreds of thousands of people read the book and embraced the concept. Teachers troubled by random acts of senseless violence have begun Random Acts of Kindess programs, finding in an indipensable tool for teaching their students.
For the past four years the IWU Wellness Center has offered an opportunity to engage in a Random Act of Kindness. Any employee wanting to bestow a random act of kindness on a coworker could do so. During the designated week, the recipient(s) was given a flower with a quotation about kindness or a note from the sender. The "gift" remained anonymous. It is our hope that both the giver and the recipient benefited by the random act of kindness, because it has often been said, "It is in giving that we receive."
If you have questions of comments, please call Wellness at 556.3334, e-mail us at wellness@iwu.edu, or stopy by our office in the Shirk Center.