Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Family is the Best Medicine

I was excited by the possibilities of sharing a meal with my mum, aunt and cousins.  I wanted to make it a monthly meal of togetherness.  I drove more than 250 miles to make this meeting and thought of ways that we could extend this more often.  My mum has been unwell and when I arrived at her home she was irritable and refused to meet family for a meal.  I texted my cousin and said my mum was unable to meet.  My cousin texted me back and said they would bring the family to my mum's home.  I had to go to the bank and when I returned, my mum was sitting up and just reveling in the attention of having her family around. But to add more joy to the event, more great nieces came and shared the day by bringing Girl Scout cookies and their joy of looking ... Read Full Story >>

3175 Reads

50 Cents Was All It Took

  My son's class  had a fund-raiser, selling fifty cent treats to raise money for their field trip.     I had talked to several of the children and knew some of their situations. I realized that many of them might not be given the money to participate. Even though we ofen struggle financially I wanted to do something for these children. Nothing huge, just prevent them from feeling left out again.   So, I found out when the treats were being sold, then I called the teacher to let her know I would bring in extra money for any children who couldn't afford to take part.     I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that another parent had offered to do the same thing! So, we split the cost between us.     Then, today, as I was entering the classroom to help as I normally try to do, one of the kids approached me and thanked ... Read Full Story >>

4036 Reads

Warmed by Coffee Kindness

The day was cold and windy, just before Christmas.
The local home-supply and garden store was still open, and the cashier shivered as he rung my sale.

"Bet you wish you had a cup of coffee right about now!" I said.
"I sure do!" he answered, as a gust of cold wind made us both shiver.
I thanked him and started toward my car when I the convenience store across the street caught my eye. I wondered, How much would it take for me to go and get him some coffee?

When I returned with a big steaming cup and some sugar and creamer, he was surprised."Thanks so much!" he said, tearing off the lid," That's awesome! "  I still made it to my next appointment and felt warm all over. And instead of coffee, it was the small act of kindness that energized me.

1666 Reads
  • Posted by suzanniered
  • Jul 1, 2013
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8 Real Life Super Heroes Who Saved the Day

1.  Daughter lifts a car from her dad's chest and saves his life. When Lauren Kornack, 22, found her father Alec, 52, pinned beneath his car in their garage, she knew she had to act fast. According to CNN, her superhuman powers kicked in as she lifted the 2,000 pound car from his chest and pulled him out from underneath. A trained lifeguard, Lauren immediately performed CPR in order to get his heart beating again. According to Kristen Kornacki, Lauren's sister, Alec had been working on the car when the jack holding it up slipped. Lauren found him stuck beneath the car, unresponsive. Though he suffered broken ribs, numbness and fractures, Alec suffered no permanent physical damage thanks to Lauren's astounding strength. 2.  Little boy learns the alphabet and uses it to help save father's life.  Nathaniel Dancy Jr., 5, had recently learned the alphabet at school when his father suffered a stroke and had an ... Read Full Story >>

11.8K Reads

A Surprise Delivery

One evening, a few months ago, a friend of mine was at home with her toddler. I was online and noticed that she had posted on her Facebook that she really wished that there was a delivery service for ice cream.
 I decided it'd be fun to take it upon myself to be that delivery service. :)

So, shortly after reading her post, I went to the grocery store and purchased a small container of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Then, I drove to her house, set the ice cream on her porch, rang the doorbell and drove away.

Even though I didn't stay to see her reaction, the small act of generosity made my evening a whole lot brighter. :)
 

2649 Reads

Tip from a Boy Who Doesn't Speak

I was playing guitar in a cafe when two women with a boy about 8 years old walked in. The boy had a learning disability. He wandered over to me, mesmerized by the music.

As I played, I noticed that he wasn't able to speak. He would make excited and happy sounds instead of expressing himself with words. The women would call him back to them, but he'd wander over again.

After a few minutes, I gave him a guitar pick, and his face lit up. As he then reached into his pocket, his mother raced over, asking "Did he steal something? He's always doing things like that..."

As she was speaking, his hand came out of his pocket. In it was a quarter -- and with a smile he dropped it into my tip jar.
It is the best tip I have ever received.

4832 Reads

Baby Hugs

I nanny for a family with three small children. One morning, I was helping the oldest learn to put on her shoes. She was having a hard time and getting very frustrated and upset. As she started to cry, my youngest walked over to her and gave her the biggest hug and kiss on the cheek.

I smiled and was amazed at how quickly that 18-month-old can put the biggest smile on her sister's face. I guess their parents and caretakers must be doing something right. All three of the kids are very loving and caring.

To add to the greatness of it all, Sarah looked down at her baby sister and declared, "I love her so much."  It was an incredible start to the day.

1678 Reads

Trash Day

As I drove down the street I live in I saw all the trash buckets at the end of everyone's driveways. 
 
It was the end of the work-day and all the trash had been picked up. So, I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be nice to take the buckets up the the houses so when the hard working people got home they would have one less thing to do?"
 
I left a smile card on each of them!  
 
The funny thing was a couple of people called and asked if it was me! It was interesting to hear who the others thought it was. Fun stuff!
 

1485 Reads

Warm Meals for a Cold Morning

Early one morning, I was filling up the car at a gas station prior to heading to the airport.  I was approached by several people asking for money, or spare change.  
Quickly, I brushed them away with a "No" and went about my business.  
Then, as I was walking into the station to pay for my gas, I was struck by memories of doing hunger walks as a child, and attending rallies and benefits to have more homeless shelters and food banks.
 
I stopped, turned around, and told the 3-4 people that I would be back.  Inside the station, I paid for my gas, then picked out sandwiches, chips, fruit and a drink for each of them.

It might not have been much, but at least on that cold March morning, a few people had a full stomach.

1939 Reads
  • Posted by bigchuck54
  • Jun 26, 2013
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Tagged in the Laundry Room

My boyfriend and his roommate live in an apartment where the laundry machines cost $1.50 for washing and $1.25 for drying. One evening, I took a load of laundry and scrounged up enough quarters for one load to be washed and dried. When I went downstairs, though, all the washers were in use. I had to wait another fifteen minutes and go back down stairs to see if the dryer would be open. When I finally got to an open washing machine, a smile card was sitting on top of it, beaming at me next to a generous pile of quarters. It was just enough for another load of laundry to wash and dry! That small gesture completely transformed my day and night, and - it now being the next day - I am still smiling and sharing this story with everyone who has talked to me so far! 

1487 Reads

Pay It Forward Coffee Day

I don't drink coffee. It's not that I don't like coffee, because just the smell is heaven to me, but coffee doesn't seem to agree with my body. I can drink decaffeinated coffee every once in awhile if I'm lucky, but only on rare occasions. So this story is not actually about me, but about my husband, who definitely drinks coffee. In fact, he drinks so much coffee that he is on a first name basis with every employee that works at our local coffee house. They even gave him a Christmas card last year with a free coffee gift card inside. Well, maybe they gave him the gift card because he's such a friendly guy. :) Anyway, each Friday, the person behind him gets their coffee gifted to them. If there's no one behind him then the next person to walk in the door will receive the pleasant surprise. He decided ... Read Full Story >>

4214 Reads

Wrapped In Kindness

Yesterday, I attended an outdoor graduation ceremony.
It was uncharacteristically windy and cold. Since I'm local to the area where the ceremony was held, I had plenty of scarves, hats, gloves available, and I brought them to the graduation to share with my family.

During the ceremony, I heard a little boy who looked about four years old complaining that he was so cold. You see, they were from out of town and thought the weather was going to be much warmer down South. And actually, it usually is a lot warmer... just not yesterday.  

I had an extra scarf draped over my legs, and I immediately took it and handed it to the Mom to wrap around her son. She took it, and said she'd give it back at the end of the ceremony. The little guy was quiet and content after she wrapped that scarf around his neck and face. :)

Later, when it was time to leave, the mother found me and handed the scarf back to me. I told her to keep it and to pay it forward with another act of kindness someday.

She looked at me for a moment. Then broke into a smile as she answered, "Yes, oh yes, I will do just that." :)

2239 Reads

Thank You, Dentist!

 The dentist's surgery can be a painful place to visit but it serves a vital function.   The last time I went I was sick from an abscessed tooth. I had been up all night, unable to sleep. I called the dentist and she got me an appointment straight away. When she saw how shaky, weak and pale I was from the pain and lack of sleep she, and her nurse, took me straight to the hospital Emergency Room. They picked me up again after I had been treated, took me back, and pulled my tooth!     Now that was kindness they didn't have to show!   So, as a fun thank you, I went online and bought some Flash Cards for the dentist's surgery. These are cards you can hold up to dentist when you can't say anything because of the tools in your mouth! Like, for example, "Will my face ever go back ... Read Full Story >>

1824 Reads

Soaring with Happiness

Somehow, I ended up with four turkeys this past holiday. Needing only one, I decided to make up two boxes with all the trimmings for a holiday meal. Then, I gifted them to two families who I knew could use them. That still left me with two extra turkeys. So, I decided to cook one of them, make sandwiches and bring them to an area of town where many people seem to be in need of food and a little kindness. I had my son take me to our local bus stop. While waiting for the bus, I saw two people that I thought might like a sandwich. Without missing a beat, I offered them each a sandwich, along with a smile card, and told them to have a good day. I received nothing but smiles in return.   On the bus, a young mother got on with her little girl. I offered ... Read Full Story >>

3246 Reads

My Day To Visit Someone

 
Today was my assigned day of the month to go visiting if there were any people from our church in the hospital. On other Fridays we haven't had anyone there for me to visit, so this was a first effort.  
 
Now, I'm at home in the hospital environment because I used to work in one, yet I was apprehensive about doing this.  
 
It was made easy for me because the sweet lady I got to visit had just had a surgery I'd had myself. Plus, she grew up in my home town, so we had lots to talk about.
 
I don't know if I cheered her up - but she surely cheered me up!
 

1581 Reads

Love Lasts for an Eternity

I drove to a local supermarket the other day. My shopping list was long and my wallet was light. Still, I needed to get a week's worth of groceries for my family. I parked my car, looked down at my list, and hoped I could afford it all.  As I approached the door, I saw a man with kind eyes and a gentle smile. He said he was collecting for a local food bank that helped to feed the hungry in my area. He handed me a second shopping list of things they could use and asked me to help if I could. I smiled back, took the list and walked into the store. I really wanted to help, but wasn't sure if I could this time.  I walked through the store, picking up vegetables, soup, spaghetti, bread, milk, cereal, macaroni, bananas, and a dozen other things. I slowly marked each item ... Read Full Story >>

7309 Reads

The Gift on the Sidewalk

Today, I was babysitting my two-year-old friend, Liam. He was feeling sad and wanted to stay inside with his mom and dad. I tried everything to get him interested in playing outside with me. Nothing worked. Finally, as a last resort, I took a shiny new penny out of my pocket. I tossed the penny down the sidewalk and then chased after it. It must have looked fun, because he joined right in! On one of my tosses, the shiny penny rolled down the sidewalk and appeared to stop near a Christmas tree that was laying next to the gutter, waiting to be picked up by the recycle truck. As I squatted near the tree to look for the penny, I spotted a small, lonely Christmas ornament attached to one of the branches. Scooping it up, I was struck by how delicate it was. Handmade, and crafted from felt, it was in the ... Read Full Story >>

2244 Reads

The Math of Sharing Meals

One day, I came across an elderly lady sharing her food with a dog. This made a lasting impression on me because she seemed like she didn't even have enough food for herself. Yet she still made the effort to share. This got me thinking.  In my entire life, I have always had enough. Neither my family nor I have ever gone hungry. I often give thanks before eating a meal, but just saying words of gratitude at dinner or lunch doesn't seem like enough. I felt the need to do more. I wanted to share my good fortune with others. As these thoughts brewed, I shared them out loud with my family. We did some math. There are four of us in my family. With two main meals a day, that multiplies up to about 56 meals every week.  Based on these calculations, we decided to prepare and give at least 60 ... Read Full Story >>

6554 Reads
  • Posted by appreciateall1
  • Jun 19, 2013
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Hospital Cafeteria Kindness

The other day, I wandered into the hospital cafeteria to grab a bite to eat after an appointment.  While having lunch, I spotted this older woman who had bought only a small amount of french fries.

She sat by herself and ate. Then, I overheard her ask the young lady at the cash register how much it would cost to buy a drink. The cashier informed her that they were different prices, depending on what she wanted.

Upon hearing this, the woman walked back to the beverages to pick one out. While she had her back turned, I snuck up to the cashier and paid for her drink. All I asked was for her to tell the woman it had been paid for, and to wish her a Happy New Year. 

Later on, while walking to the elevator, I spotted the same woman and said hello. She had the biggest smile on her face as she greeted me.
It just felt good. :)

1907 Reads

Smile Cards In Class

I am a 6th grade teacher and I use Smile cards in my class!  
I assign each student one on Tuesdays. They have a week to use it and then they write about it the following week.  
 
At first they were hesitant - but now they love it and can't wait until they get a new one! It's helping them realize how being kind makes them feel good about themselves and makes others smile :)
 

1864 Reads




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