If you didn’t know it by the sudden proliferation of pink in the grocery store, you would by the onslaught of TV commercials: Valentine’s Day is near. Sure, dedicating a day a year to your sweetie (or yourself) is nice, but what’s even nicer is sharing the love all year long.

To many people, the term “giving back” conjures up images of donating canned goods or visiting nursing home residents. And while those are excellent examples of everyday service, showing care and compassion can be as simple as holding the door for a stranger or paying your coworker a sincere compliment. We present a few small, meaningful ways to show kindness this month — or any time of the year.

The great thing about kindness is it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to be meaningful. It can even become a fun challenge: What can I do to brighten someone’s day? Share your favorite ideas with us on our Facebook page, and check out our list of family-oriented service activities to see how you can get involved in your own community.