A Simple Family Tradition for Random Acts of Kindness Day

Can you imagine walking back to your car and finding a flower tucked into the door handle?

For the past two years, my daughters and I have been honoring Random Acts of Kindness Day (celebrated on February 17) in this simple way—by leaving a single rose on car doors for people we’ve never met.

This year won’t be any different. It’s become a tradition that we genuinely look forward to each year.

But when I first discovered Random Acts of Kindness Day, I didn’t have a plan. I only knew I wanted to do something. I had a dozen different ideas swirling around before I finally landed on flowers.

I’ve always loved flowers: creating arrangements, gifting them, and simply having them around the house. Flowers have a way of bringing smiles to people’s faces and softening the moment.

So that was it.

My daughters and I bought a dozen roses and quietly slipped them onto car door handles in our local grocery store parking lot.

At first, it felt like a bit of a game—seeing how many car doors we could reach before someone returned to their car. Then something shifted. We began noticing the surprised expressions, the heartfelt gratitude, and the curiosity that came from receiving something unexpected.

And perhaps most meaningful of all was watching my daughters take it all in. Watching them feel and understand that kindness can have an impact without needing recognition or anything in return.

This past year, we extended our flower-giving day to friends and family who wanted to join us. And while many couldn’t be there in person, they supported us by contributing to our “flower pot,” which allowed us to leave over a hundred flowers on car doors throughout the day.

What I've loved most about this practice is the reminder that kindness doesn’t need to be seen, celebrated, or rewarded to make a difference. Even the smallest gestures can make a big impact.

Make Kindness a Practice

If this story stirred something in you, I invite you to explore ways to make kindness something you do year-round.

At the end of the day what matters most isn't when, where or how, but rather the intention and the authenticity of the act itself.

If you feel inspired to create your own tradition, I’ve created a simple Guide for Practicing Kindness on my website. It includes ideas, printable tags, and reflections designed to make participation easy for children, families, or individuals.

You can also check out the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which offers thoughtful ways to practice kindness year-round.

Whether you use these resources or simply wait for a spark to form on its own, know this: kindness doesn’t need to be coordinated to be contagious.