Simple acts of kindness during #25KindDays could help heal Charlotte

Charlotte has seen unrest in recent months, but it’s also seen its share of kindness. In November 2015 and again this year through his foundation, assistant city manager Hyong Yi handed out 100 love notes on Tryon Street to honor his late wife. Last Friday, four anonymous, Charlotte-area residents drove around town giving $100 bills to strangers.

And for the third year, former Adams Outdoor Advertising art director Sam White is posting her #25KindDays campaign to her social media accounts. White, 27, moved away from Charlotte this year to pursue adventure: Driving to Montana with her boyfriend for months of travel and reflection.

Now, she is doing freelance graphic design and calligraphy projects before figuring out what’s next. But she’s still taking the time to post a daily suggested act of kindness to inspire her followers to take action for the first 25 days of December.

They’re simple: Compliment a stranger. Call a family member. Give a hug. Just listen. Tell someone how great they really are.

#25kinddays {Day 1}: Everyone you know is doing their best, You never know, maybe it’s hard for some to just get dressed. Put some light in world and give away a smile. Compliment a stranger, maybe even their argyle!

A post shared by Samantha White (@iamsamwhite) on Dec 1, 2016 at 5:57am PST

#25kinddays {Day 2} It's just a short Hello! You will surely make them glow! Go ahead, give them a ring, And to their face, a smile you will bring! • Or tag them here and tell them you're thinking about them! ❤️❤️

A post shared by Samantha White (@iamsamwhite) on Dec 2, 2016 at 7:09am PST

“It’s kind of just cultivating little actions in your daily life that really can make a difference in someone’s life,” White said, pointing out that taking two minutes to do something for someone else can change that person’s entire month.

When she was working for Adams Outdoor Advertising, the company jumped on board White’s campaign and even posted the acts of kindness on digital billboards in Charlotte.

You may recognize White by her elaborate works of calligraphy and hand lettering. The first two years of her #25KindDays campaign, she wrote the suggestions for kindness on construction board; the second year, she wrote in calligraphy and took photos of the posts; this year she is designing the posts digitally.

“Every year has been different,” she said. “It’s a good challenge for me.”

After Charlotte’s protests, these acts of kindness are a good challenge for the people of this city, too. And the beauty of social media is that, even though White is no longer in this city, her Charlotte followers still get to track and respond to her inspiration.

“I just want people to interact with it and make it their own,” she said.

White said Charlotte still feels like home to her and it was interesting to watch news coverage of the protests from a distance.

“That’s not the city I know,” she said. Especially when what she misses most about Charlotte is its people.

“You don’t have to go change the world,” she added, “but you can wake up and make a small difference in your workplace or your community or your Trader Joe’s. And don’t lose sight of that, because Charlotte is amazing.”

Join in, it’s not too late. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram. Be kind. Make a small difference. Help heal Charlotte.

Photo: Sam White

This story was originally published December 5, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Simple acts of kindness during #25KindDays could help heal Charlotte."