There are many things going on in the world that might make you a little concerned about humanity. With the recent presidential election, worldwide pandemic, and the growing division, you might find yourself wondering what’s happened to us.

It’s not a stretch to say that there is a lot of hate in the world today. There was a time when being kind and decent to one another was the norm, but it often seems that we live in a place filled with fear and hatred instead of love and acceptance. It seems like doing something as simple as smiling or nodding hello to a stranger on the street is unheard of these days.

But that doesn’t mean it has to be that way. Giving a smile and a hello to someone on the street is still a nice thing to do, and you never know how much it means to someone. By taking more care with your own kindness, you can not only brighten someone’s day, but you also remind yourself that there is still goodness in the world.

And who knows? If enough people start to think a little differently about how we treat other people, about how to spread small acts of kindness to counter all the hate in the world, maybe things will start to change for the better.

These small acts of kindness are simple ways to shine a light in a world that is increasingly becoming darker. They help you remember not only your own humanity but also the humanity of the people around you.

Here are 12 simple things you can do to be a better person and maybe even change the world.

• Let someone merge in front of you on the highway or give someone the parking spot you were waiting for.
• Hold a door open for someone, whether or not they have their hands full.
• Say hello to someone on the elevator or wish a good morning to the person waiting behind you in the coffee line or someone waiting with you at the bus stop.
• Get someone a drink of water, a fresh cup of coffee, or a bottle of their favorite soft drink, just because.
• Say a genuine thank you to the people who help you throughout the day, including the barista at your morning coffee stop, the housekeeper in the office, the cashier at the grocery store, and the driver who delivers your takeout.
• Take your neighbor’s garbage cans in for them on garbage day.
• When a co-worker has a big accomplishment or a good idea for a project, compliment them on a job well done.
• Buy or make sandwiches and hand them out to anyone you see on the street that looks like they need a nice meal.
• Apologize when you’re short with someone, whether it was a waitress, security guard, housekeeper, or coworker in the next cubicle.
• Go to a church service, community picnic, or festival in a different part of town with people who don’t look like you.
• Try to read a poem or something inspirational but short every day. When you are kind to yourself and find some inner peace, it’s easier to be kind.
• At the end of every day, take some time to reflect. When did you feel most connected to yourself? To those around you? Think about those connections and what they meant to you, then head out to start the next day anew.

Ultimately, these and all acts of kindness are just about loving one another. It’s a pretty simple concept, but you must approach it with intention. Little things have big power, and the more people that believe in the power of kindness, the better off we will all be.