Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Grandpa's Investment Pays Off

When I was a student my family went through a few rough financial years. We got by, but only with much effort and many worries. I had a pick-up truck that was forever breaking down and the thought of the 600km drive to school in it was a worrisome one. As I drove away from home my uncle walked up. I stopped and he threw something onto my dashboard. He leaned in the window, speaking softly. "Years ago," he said, "when I was a poor student myself your grandfather once did this to me. I swore one day I would return the gift. And now I have."  Then he walked away without looking back, and I sensed he did so in order to hide his emotions.   A few miles later I opened the envelope. It contained a few bank notes. It was a gift returned more than two decades later to a second ... Read Full Story >>

5974 Reads

A Ride For Ellie

I was on my way to fill up my propane tank when I saw a 20-something woman, all dressed up and running down the street. She raised her hand to signal a passing taxi but it drove on past. This wasn't a neighborhood taxis drove through all that frequently.

I saw her glance at her watch and heave a sigh of frustration. So, I rolled down my window, asked where she was headed, and offered her ride (even though it was in the opposite direction from my destination.) 

"Ellie" was beside herself with appreciation.

I told her about kindspring.org and suggested she pass on the kindness to someone else! 

1383 Reads

The Cashier's Surprise

My son and I were grocery shopping. As usual at the checkout they had the usual fine display of chocolate temptations and other sweet goodies. 

Instead of asking for something my son whispered to me, "Let's ask the cashier if this chocolate is any good and then, as we're leaving, we can give it to him!" 

I smiled and watched the magic unfold.

The cashier chatted with us about all kinds of things. Then my son, very casually, asked about the chocolate. The guy said, "Oh, yeah. Those are really good!" And then, as we were walking away with our groceries, my son handed the chocolate to the cashier and said, "This is for you!" 

The guy was like, "Really? No! That's ok." But my son just smiled and said, "Yeah, really! It's for you!" 

And we both walked off, smiling broadly. 

2323 Reads

Call The Boss

I had a  conversation with my cell phone company yesterday. 
 
The person I spoke to was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and was able to answer all of my questions about various plans. At first, I just thought, 'Good! They know how to do their job.' But then I though about it some more and today I called his boss.  
 
At first I think the woman was expecting me to complain but I said I just wanted to tell her how pleased I was with the quality of the service I received. The relieved manager told me no one ever calls to say they have done a good job, so I was glad I did!  

9971 Reads

Red Velvet Cake and Birthday Surprise!

I had never made a Red Velvet Cake until recently! 
 
A friend at work said it was her favorite so I told her I would try to make one for her birthday. I made it in a bundt pan and it turned out delicious. 
 
She loved it! She hugged me and said thank you with tears in her eyes! I told her that I loved seeing other people happy and it was my pleasure to be able to make her favorite dessert for her.
 
And you know what ... it's a win-win situation. I made her day special and I also learned how to make a new dessert! Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese frosting is now going to be one of my favorite cakes to make!
 

2410 Reads

The Girl In The Corner

I know a girl who is not like the other children in as much as she has this unusual physical condition. 

I met her at school where her mom is my math teacher. This day I saw her sitting in a corner of the library by herself, looking very alone. I don't know what came over me but I went to her. At first she wouldn't really talk to me even though I was trying to be a friend. Every time I touched her hair, her hands, or any of her things she moved my hand away. 

I felt I had done all I could, but before I left the library I told her that she shouldn't be ashamed of her appearance like because it was our personalities that were really important. I said that each one of us have the right to live happily and freely without being judged by how we look.

I was about to stand and leave when she suddenly stopped me and hugged me! 

It melted my heart seeing her smiling and I am so glad I made the effort.

2725 Reads

Litter Light

Recently, I was at a park with a group of friends. We were releasing lanterns in the air, and it was enchanting and wonderful.

After we finished, one of my friends pointed out that the covers and other unnecessary parts of the lanterns were strewn all over the park grounds. People had just tossed them there.

Without thinking much about it, we set about picking up all the littered lantern parts. With such a large group, we finished in hardly 5 minutes!
On top of that, while we were picking up all the parts, people took notice and curiously asked why we were picking up garbage.

I think I am realizing the collective power of community. :)

1316 Reads

Everything You Need Is Right There

I only just found out that a neighbor of mine had surgery two days ago. 

I wanted to take her a gift to cheer her up, but I couldn't go out to buy anything. So, I went out into my backyard and picked some flowers. I put them in an old glass jar which I covered with pretty butterfly paper. Then I took them over with a homemade card. 

I am planning to make some food for her family later. 

It's a good feeling, realizing that when you want to give everything you need is already there!

2433 Reads

Sharing Extra Clothes In Afghanistan

Today I was looking through my clothes and I found some t-shirts I haven't even worn. 

I thought to myself, why should throw these away just because I am not using them? Surely, it is better to give them to a someone in need of clothing! 

So, I took some cash and clothes and I went to the street and started sharing them with poor people. 

It felt so good! 

We can all do something like this if we have extra clothes. We might add in a little cash, or fruit, or food. Let`s be united and help each other. 

Thanks for reading. Love from Afghanistan!

1483 Reads

The Honest Roofer

The man who is going to fix our roof has to be the most honest business person my husband and I have ever met. 

My husband knew the back roof over the porch was fine and wanted to see what this roofer said when he gave his estimate. He told my husband that that back roof was just fine and then gave the estimate for the rest of the roof: $2,400.

He called last night to tell us he can do the roof on Monday but told us he had measured the roof incorrectly by forgetting to add on the front part of the roof. But instead of giving us a new estimate (which would be higher) he told us he was going to do the roof for what he quoted us. 

My husband asked him what would the correct estimate have been. He said $3,000. Well, that's what I had thought it would be so that's what I set aside. My husband was simply amazed at this roofer.

The roofer doesn't know it yet but he'll be getting the $3,000. He's honest and is planning on taking the hit on the mistake. My boss has been kind to me when I've made mistakes in the past and now I get a chance to pass that on.

2340 Reads

A Little Girl In Need

I was shopping at our little local shopping center the other day and I was just coming back to the underground car park with my bags when I heard a little girl shouting, "Mama, Mama!" I looked around and saw a 4 year-old's head stuck out of an SUV's open backseat window. I went over to ask her what was the matter and calm her down saying her mom would surely soon be back. But she said she needed to go to the bathroom urgently. With no mom in sight, I told her to get out and I would take her to the bathroom (the entrance of which was 20 meters from the car.)  She was very glad and ran with me to the bathroom explaining that she was not allowed to get out of the car by herself. Afterwards she washed her hands and I took her back to the car. Still, ... Read Full Story >>

3854 Reads

Welcome To The Kindness Game

I am a member of a blogging site and through sharing my stories and commenting on other people's I have made a few good on-line friends. 

One of my friends wrote a blog about an unexpected electricity bill she was struggling to pay. She said her kind-hearted daughter was prepared to give up most of her wages from her summer job to help pay it off. 

I decided that this deserved a reward! 

I sent my friend an email asking her to trust me with her address. She did and I sent a little gift box filled with goodies for her daughter, and a card to let her know that she was being rewarded for being awesome! 

Today I found out that she received it and wants to join in the game of random acts of kindness - even though she's been doing it already!

1981 Reads

Balloon On A Kindness Journey

I finally did it! I am so happy! 

I've had this idea for a while but I didn't have the guts to actually go through with it - until today.

I bought 10 helium filled balloons, drew a smiley face and wrote the date they were released on each them. I had set up another e-mail account for the project. I wrote the e-mail address on Smile Card and attached them to the balloons.

Then I took them outside and released them into the air. I hope to get some awesome stories back in return.

3491 Reads

Saving The Smiling Turtle

It was a hot day and my mom and I were driving down our street. Mom saw a moving lump right in front of the car and screeched to a stop. 

I stepped out and saw a turtle limping along the road. My mom got out after me and we worked together to lift this heavy creature of of the road onto the grassy strip at the edge of the road. 

It seemed to me like the turtle smiled a little before slowly wandering off into the grass. I laughed before running back to the car.

2172 Reads

My Neighbour's Mail

My neighbor lives "upstate" but also keeps her house next to us empty for emergency use. She only visits for a day at a time and often doesn't visit for months on end. 

Her mail box was often stuffed before I offered to collect it for her while she was away. Not only do I collect her mail but I get rid of all the junk-mail because I know she hates it. 

She sometimes pays me for this; no more than five dollars - which I put into an envelope and sneak back into her mail! 

Each time she opens one of those envelopes she smiles from ear to ear and, when she sees me, she gives me a hug that nearly snaps me in half.

Kindness costs nothing!

2333 Reads

God In A Silver Car

Yesterday a family of five I knew were in desperate need of food. Unbelievably, not one agency could help them for at least four days! 

So I gathered up three boxes full of groceries, enough to feed them all for the next five days and took them on round.
 
After I I delivered that food the family paid me the huge compliment of saying I was like "God in a silver car" for them!

1788 Reads

Ice Cream Kindness On Our Date Night

One of my favorite things in life is my monthly date night with my daughter. We try to include some kind of Smile Card activity whenever we can. This time was no exception! It was 119 degrees today where we live so we thought we would make our kindness act something cool.  After eating we went to an ice cream shop. As we paid for our ice cream we told the woman behind the counter that we were doing a random act of kindness and we would like to buy ice cream for the next person who came to the counter. We handed her the Smile Card to give them and told her how we would like to remain anonymous.  She read it and told us she thought what we were doing was awesome. She said she would do it and we sat down at the table near the counter. My daughter wanted ... Read Full Story >>

5289 Reads

End Of The Month Food

As the end of the month approaches many of my co-workers run out of money. Even the government assistance they get to help with groceries will be gone. 

I noticed this a while back when one young lady was not eating on our break. 

I now try to stay mindful of this time of the month and bring in a bag of bagels, a loaf of bread, and pound of lunch meat. Or I buy a pizza for lunch and share it. 

I'm not sure what I'll do at the end of this month, but you can be assured I will try my best to help keep my friends' bellies full.

1291 Reads

Giving Needs Receiving

I was going through my wallet in the grocery line to pay for the groceries I had selected when I noticed the woman behind me counting coins to pay for the little that she was purchasing.  So, I turned to her and said, "I'll pay for it for you."  She looked up at me with hurt pride and said, "No thank you!"  I felt really humbled and disappointed. As I payed for my own groceries the cashier asked if I had some coins to pay for part of my bill so she would not have to change the larger note I offered.  I did not.  The woman behind me reached forward with a quarter and said, "You can take it out of this."  I was stunned. She could hardly pay for her groceries but she was willing to offer her quarter to pay for mine! I was tempted to say, "No, thank you," but when I ... Read Full Story >>

6779 Reads

A Smile Card Apology To A Lonely Lady

A few days ago I was sitting in a Thai restaurant enjoying a meal when I got on a phone call with a friend I hadn't spoken to in a long time. In my enthusiasm and excitement I talked slightly louder than usual voice and in Spanish, my mother tongue. A few minutes into the call the lady sitting at the table beside mine got up, seemingly offended, and asked the restaurant staff to relocate her to a table as far away as possible from this man who won't get off his phone. I sank in my seat out of embarrassment. I ended the call soon afterwards and felt the urge to go over and apologize. Before getting up I looked around to see where she was and she was, indeed, at the table furthest away from me. Kudos to the restaurant staff. I noticed that the lady was alone and staring out ... Read Full Story >>

9134 Reads




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