Pack kindness on next vacation

As poet and author Maya Angelou encouraged, we can all “be a rainbow in someone’s world.” And, in today’s complex global community, a single act of kindness can go a long way toward brightening the day for others.

In fact, research shows that encouraging kids to be kind has a positive influence on a slew of academic, health and social outcomes including increased self-esteem, motivation to learn and resilience.

So why not incorporate an extra dose of kindness into your next family vacation?

Here are five ideas to consider.

• Pack an attitude of gratitude

Leave impatience and judgment behind and showcase an attitude of gratitude on your next getaway. Lead with a smile and offer thanks to those you meet along the way, including harried flight attendants, pilots, TSA agents and front desk personnel. Offer good cheer to tour guides, bus drivers, restaurant servers and room attendants, and encourage the kids to say thank you whenever appropriate. Consider leaving a handwritten note or crayon drawing along with your tip, an extra effort sure to garner a smile from the recipient. If you loved your hotel stay or guest ranch experience, leave a note congratulating the whole crew for a job well done.

• Pay it forward with a kind act

What goes around comes around. So give kindness a nudge in the right direction. Discuss (and model) how offering a seat or opening a door can be helpful. Encourage the heavily laden or parents managing a cranky child to go ahead in line. Perhaps a strong teen can assist a frail adult with removing a heavy piece of luggage from the overhead compartment. In the queue for a soda or coffee? Quietly pay for someone in uniform, the elderly or the safety officer behind you in line. By simply taking notice, opportunities for extending kindness will multiply.

• Pack with a purpose

Reserve a little space in your luggage for books, clothing or school supplies that will make a difference in the lives of others in your destination. The nonprofit organization Pack For A Purpose works with hundreds of hotels and tour operators in dozens of countries to help travelers contribute to those in need. Whether you stow pencils, a deflated soccer ball, a stethoscope or pet supplies in your bags, you and your family will return home knowing you’ve helped spread kindness beyond your own backyard.

For more: www.packforapurpose.org

• Go local at destination

Travel and tourism, and the individuals who keep the industry humming, continue to be challenged by our changing world. As you plan your future vacation, discuss how the places you will visit might be different or similar to your own home.

Near or far, burrow into the culture and make a point to learn about how and where the locals live, work and play. Skip the chains and seek out locally owned eateries, shops and lodging. Visit local farmers markets. If the language is not your own, learn at least a few key phrases and practice them before and during the visit. Get creative and uncover what’s compelling closer to your own home.

• Take a volunteer vacation

Whether you offer an hour, a day or a week, giving back of your time and resources makes for a meaningful holiday. Spend time reading to kids at a nearby school, help save sharks or turtles, share the gift of language or scoop ice cream and assist with pony rides for kids with life-threatening illnesses staying at a nonprofit resort.

For more: www.beaches.com; www.projects-abroad.org; www.gktw.org