A Day of Unexpected Service

Doing even tiny good deeds can also involve lip gloss and nail polish

Jan 19, 2026

Hello, Gorgeous!

In the U.S., today we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day—the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service.

Dr. King famously said: “The time is always right to do what is right.” The key I think is not to get so bogged down by what we think constitutes service or good deeds that we skip them entirely.

white and black ceramic cup filled with brown liquid on brown wooden sufface — It doesn’t have to be a huge thing to change someone’s life

So, today, if you’re so inclined, maybe visit an elderly neighbor or relative who’s in the middle of an extended hospital stay. A smile. Some flowers. Silly socks. Maybe even bring some nail polish with you and give them an informal mani. I’ve done it. The joy it brings is incredible.

Some other small acts of service that will change a life and make you feel great:

Have lunch with a long-distance friend. Send over a Seamless or Grubhub gift card and virtually meet for lunch and a catch-up. Easy. Tasty. Service to another human you already love!
Shovel someone’s snow. In the Northeast we got hit with a wintry mix over the weekend. What says “I care about you” more than shoveling a neighbor’s driveway?
Connect. And make it a phone call if possible. There’s a great article on Berkeley’s Greater Good magazine website that explains the intimacy of the connection of a voice call.
Treat your bestie to a new lip gloss. You never know when the tiniest treat can do the most good. Try it, and let me know her reaction.
Treat a first-responder to hygiene or beauty products. Last Memorial Day I wrote about how you can donate makeup or treatment products to show your appreciation to those in the military or first responders. It’s a really nice way to offer hands-on thanks.

Are you doing any acts of service today? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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