IT'S TIME TO SIGN UP FOR KINDNESS WEEK 2000

A little kindness goes a long way. That's the thought behind Random Acts of Kindness Week, which begins May 14 on Mother's Day. The Southeast Missourian sponsors Random Acts of Kindness Week as a way to raise awareness about the importance of small kindnesses every day. Isn't it the little kindnesses that stick with you?

What a different world this would be if everyone would practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

It's easy to sign up to be a RAK participant. Fill out the form that appears daily in the Southeast Missourian. You can also get free smiley-face stickers, bookmarks and signs. If you're short on ideas of kind things to do, let us help. There's a free sheet listing 100 kindness ideas.

Participants agree to do at least one kind thing during the week. Of course, you're not limited to a single week of kindness. But a a habit begins with a single act that is repeated often.

That's another thing about kindness: It's contagious. If you're the recipient of a kind act, you're more apt to repeat the favor for someone else. That could lead to a kindness revolution.

Last year, the newspaper handed out more than 45,000 stickers and thousands of bookmarks. The annual kindness observance has spread more than 100 miles away to churches, schools, businesses, organizations and individuals. This marks the fifth year for the local celebration. The National Random Acts of Kindness week involves more than 450 communities and 10,000 schools around the world.

What is a random act of kindness? It is one of those sweet or lovely things we do for no reason except to be nice. The recipients can be people we know or complete strangers.

This is an observance for both children and adults. Children learn not just from words, but from actions. They notice those everyday kindnesses that their role models perform. Teaching young people the importance of kindness can go a long way to changing the world tomorrow.

The Missourian is also looking for the names of people who perform kind deeds throughout the year. The paper will feature these individuals in feature stories throughout the week. Front-page stories during the week will also highlight some of the projects local people are doing. The newspaper will again have its kindness hotline as a way to highlight kindnesses and praise kind people.

The hope is that kindness will not be limited to a single week. A number of the projects started in the past by kindness participants have continued throughout the year.

Kindness can powerful: It can change lives, heal wounds and lift people up. But is all starts so simply.

By signing up for Random Acts of Kindness Week, you can do your part to help make the world a little better place.