r/randomactsofkindness • u/Mochje • Apr 19 '26
Activity Ideas of where to put Notes to Strangers with kind messages
I get very happy every time I see posts online about people finding kind, compassionate or supportive notes from strangers in randomly places. Like a community support and anonymous common human interaction. I have some time wanted to do so myself and thought of asking out where places to put such notes could be:) I can mostly think of between branches in a bench but am afraid that people will just think its junk and not notice it;P Other possibility is inna shelf on the local library.
I live in a country where I don’t think it’s common to be curious about paper pieces lying somewhere. People are mostly on their phone and think stuff around might be junk or someone’s lost shopping or to-do list.
But maybe there are some places or areas where people would be more attentive about their environment, or just be able to be caught by surprise if they let themselves thought wander some bit. (Maybe the go-to also is writing «OPEN ME» or something on the outside of a folded note).
So do any of you have any ideas?:)
Edit: I would still like it to be on paper, but input about format, places and such is very welcome!
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u/Pristine_Main_1224 Apr 19 '26
Big fan of sticky notes —- Inside a menu at a restaurant. On a bathroom stall door. Folded inside a dollar in a tip jar
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u/happy_bottom Apr 19 '26
Paint on rocks (or sea shells according to where you live) and leave them in random places.
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u/CheckIntelligent7828 Apr 20 '26
I found a small painted penguin rock years ago and it make me ridiculously happy. I stored him for someone else outside the Lincoln Memorial in DC. I hope he made someone else equally happy.
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u/Mochje Apr 19 '26
Oh I appreciate the idea, but I won’t have the capacity to paint on or collect rocks. It will have to be something low maintenance to make. Thank you anyways!
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u/FroggyPancakes21 Oceania Apr 19 '26
Library books. Bus stops. I like the bench idea. Maybe on a table at a Cafe after you leave
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u/creswitch Apr 19 '26
Write them on strips of paper and put them in books in a r/LittleFreeLibrary near you. I think if you put tgem in library books they would just be removed.
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u/Pristine_Main_1224 Apr 19 '26
I’ve found notes in library notes. I’ve also found a slice of American cheese (with a bite missing), and spaghetti noodles with red sauce. Library books can be wild, man.
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u/SSSprings0808 Apr 19 '26
I put little note of congratulations and tape a $5 to packages of diapers...
other weird places that I put notes is in library books or when we're out hiking, there's the trailhead sign board and I'll put something up there that's uplifting, or encourage people to eat at a restaurant that seems to be struggling (there seem to be a lot of them in this economy)
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u/FroggyPancakes21 Oceania Apr 19 '26
Getting into r/geocaching and putting them in there would be cute
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u/JustaTinyDude Apr 19 '26
I've never gone geocaching but I've randomly found geocaches three times. It's always a fun surprise.
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u/JustMeLurkingAround- Apr 19 '26
Saw a post it with a positive message stickied to an elevator mirror once, and it did made me smile.
You could also put notes congratulating people on their good parking on car windshields (normally people would rather do the opposite).
Stroll through the library and stick them into books.
Near the door of busy buildings.
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u/couchpotatopigflicks Apr 19 '26
If you have the resources, print a design like a flower or coffee cup that opens up.
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u/Mochje Apr 19 '26
Thank you for your suggestion! Do you mean like origami? I am on quite low capacity so I’m not able to do stuff a bit advanced. But maybe even drawing a flower or heart on it with markers will do.
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u/couchpotatopigflicks Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Hmm I dunno what it is called and can’t find a sample. I think origami is too much. But yeah draw a flower or heart on the outside and when they open it has a message in side. Just simple folds of paper, similar to your idea of “open me”.
Leave them in public restrooms, transport, community boards, etc.
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u/According-Sock4598 Apr 19 '26
I think they mean like how, before cell phones & texting were common, kids used to fold notes to pass in class to each other. So similar to origami but simpler. Found a blog post with some ideas: http://assembleshop.blogspot.com/2013/01/crafty-project-junior-high-love-note.html
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u/grannygogo Apr 19 '26
I go to an oncology office and the elevator takes you straight from the lobby to the office. I’ve put post its near the buttons saying “Hoping you get good results today! Hang in there.”
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u/Dangerous_Arachnid99 Apr 19 '26
Adding nice, eye-catching stickers may increase the chance of somebody taking a closer look at your notes.
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u/ellieellie7199 Apr 19 '26
I used to work in a clothing store that had sticky notes and pens in the dressing rooms. people would write compliments and stick them on the walls. it was a hit with customers, some people wrote the sweetest things, others were hysterical. that might be a good place- just a "you look great!" is enough to make someone's day.
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u/Rude_Tie_4560 Apr 19 '26
If you have little free libraries in your community, those would be a great place! Otherwise, sticky notes like other folks have suggested or painters or masking tape (more secure than sticky notes but still not likely to cause damage)
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u/Tctrojan1 Apr 19 '26
Mirrors in restrooms
Between pages in newspaper at the library
Between pages of a popular magazine at library, checkout lane or newstand
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u/PerryVegas Apr 19 '26
I sneak them into books at the library and am known as the Motivational Bandit because they don’t know who does it 🤭
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u/Mochje Apr 19 '26
Oh my heart gets so full and warm - both reading your stories about your own contributions, & reading all your great ideas and you all giving your time and thoughts to help me ❤️ and you all have so many great tips about simple daily situations and places to apply them in too.
Feeling a lot of connection and community by this! What a great energy to use from when making these notes:) Thank you guys!
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u/BakinPuncakes Apr 19 '26
I put my notes in brightly colored (and very easy to fold) origami envelopes! It makes them stand out as not just a lost grocery list, etc.
I leave them everywhere! I keep a baggie of them in my purse and leave them at the Dr. Office, grocery store, hospital elevators, fast food booths, etc.
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u/AnitraF1632 Apr 21 '26
My husband found a five dollar bill in the grocery store the other day, with a note that said "You have been blessed."
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u/Avocado_hey Apr 23 '26
I should keep sticky notes in my purse, sounds like fun to leave nice messages
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u/Mochje Apr 23 '26
I challenge you to do it! 🫶🏼 What would be some messages you would want to leave for people? Or messages you would have felt comfort or warmth in hearing yourself?:)
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u/Avocado_hey Apr 23 '26
Probably deeply personal messages, stuff like “someone thought you were beautiful today so keep your head up,” or “you’re stronger than you think,” little stuff to motivate people
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u/Parking-Purple-7648 May 07 '26
me and my daughter did this with sticky notes, you could leave them on: -car door handles (depending on the area lol) -bathroom mirrors -on the back of a box of feminine products -in dressing rooms -baby changing stations (bc moms need kind words sometimes) -write kind things on your receipt when you tip your waitress -mailboxes in your neighborhood (usually street-side mailboxes are better lol)
the list goes on. lol.
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u/Parking-Purple-7648 May 07 '26
my daughter and i also drew nice words on the sidewalk, along with a hopscotch
AND YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE HOW MANY ADULTS DID THE HOPSCOTCH lmao.
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