Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Laundry Detergent Smiles

I requested a pack of Smile Cards and received them rather quickly. As I looked through the smile deck, I was pleasantly surprised at how many nice things we can do for our world.  To start off my tagging experience, I randomly chose a card from the deck. It said: "Give an eco-friendly gift to at least one neighbor."   I thought, What are my options?   After researching at a local store, I decided to gift a bottle of eco-friendly laundry detergent along with a recycled card, which I just happened to have on hand. The front of the card read, "Thinking of you." And on the inside it said, "Sending a little sunshine your way."   I included a smile card and placed the gift in a bag outside my neighbor's door. Then I went out and about my day.   After arriving home, I noticed that the bag was gone. :) Then I went out again, and as ... Read Full Story >>

Can I Have Kindness For My Birthday?

This year, instead of birthday presents, dinners, etc, my husband and I decided to pool our resources and request acts of kindness, compassion and generosity be done on our behalf. 

Flowers In The Snow

The Old Folks At The Station

I had gone to the city railway station to pick my relatives. On the platform I saw a couple who looked to be in their 70s. They seemed restless, stressed and searching for something. I couldn't ignore them and asked if they were okay.    They said they had come from a village and were searching for their son who was supposed to pick them up. They asked if there was a telephone booth nearby so they could call him. I took the number, called him on my cell-phone, and let them speak to him. Then I told him exactly where his parents were standing.    I can still feel the shivers I got when the old lady smiled and said, "Let God keep you well, wherever you are."    That random and very small act gave me such a feeling of inner peace and happiness!   I couldn't wait for their son to arrive. I had to ... Read Full Story >>

A Lottery Ticket On The Train

My friend introduced me to random acts of kindness and encouraged me to share my stories. So here goes!

Thank You, Service Staff

I travel a lot and come into contact with lots of hard-working service workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, etc. Many of these people are ignored or even insulted by travelers, which I hate to see. For example, watch the abuse taken by the staff at an airport when a bad storm or mechanical problems cause flight cancelations! When I get to the front of the line I always tell the agent that they are doing a great job under tough conditions. If one of the people before me was unusually harsh I even apologize for the treatment they received.     It is amazing how it lightens the atmosphere and those behind me in line also seem to lighten up.   Another group that takes a lot of verbal abuse are restaurant staff. When I see a waiter that is doing a good job and appears to have more tables than usual, maybe due to ... Read Full Story >>

Sister Saturday

I spent Saturday afternoon with my three year old bubbly and bright step-sister.

Meals To Go For Two Strangers

I was traveling through Nebraska on business and stopped off for something to eat.

As I was enjoying my meal a bus pulled in. The passengers disembarked to eat and use the rest-rooms, all except one women and a young boy. They just waited outside and I guessed they didn't have enough money for a meal. 

On A Hill-Top In The Rain

I went for a walk this morning. it was raining, but I am glad I went!  

Drying Birthday Tears

Coffee on the Wall

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice, the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat on an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall. We heard this order with rather interest and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying A Cup of Coffee. While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on ... Read Full Story >>

Love Beats Hate On The City Bus

I take the city bus everywhere. Today on my way home I had a very interesting experience that showed me what being kind is all about. At a bus stop a group of people got on. You could tell by the way they talked and acted that they had some cognitive deficiencies. The bus was pretty full and there weren't many seats available. One of the group who had just boarded, a young woman, walked down the aisle towards an empty seat. Just as she got there the lady sitting beside it moved over and said, "This seat is taken."   She then started muttering rude comments and talking about "retards." She was being very loud about it and this poor young woman just stood there and took it.   Just then a teenage boy stood up at the back of the bus. He said, "Ma'am, I don't know about you, but where I come ... Read Full Story >>

Eggs-cellent Little Gifts

Facing My Fear For A Friend

Curbside Assistance

A neighbor who lives just down the block from me-- someone I have seen outdoors only once-- left her trash can out on the curb for over a day.  

I saw it while walking my dogs, so when I was finished with my dogs, I walked back to her house to put the trash cans up by her house.  I did it without any feeling of anger-- I just thought maybe she was overwhelmed with her responsibilities or not feeling well.

Before I made it up the carport with the trash can, though, she came out of the house, gushing about how sweet I was to do that.  We chatted a bit. Then she gave me a big hug, many sweet words, and I left feeling like I had a new friend. 

That was fun!

Quiet Dignity at a Truck Stop

A few years ago, I had a long commute to get home from work. One morning I was on my way home and was very tired after working a 12 hour night shift. I stopped at a local restaurant to have breakfast. It was really a truck stop and I was the only customer. Right after I placed my order I saw a man come in. He was carrying a small backpack and looked like he had seen better times. He reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. He asked the waitress if 38 cents was enough to buy a cup of coffee. She looked at his hand and said, "Of course. Have a seat." (Coffee was 50 cents a cup at the time.) It really struck me how she had tried to preserve his pride and how he had not asked for any charity. Shortly before my food came. I ... Read Full Story >>

All Those Missing Plates

Every year I used to say that I would help serve food at a homeless shelter and every year family responsibilities got in the way. I had my children, my husband and elderly father to consider. Then, about five years ago, my son mentioned a friend who had no where to go on Christmas Day. So, he came to share dinner with us.   The next year my son asked if I could cook an extra meal for someone. He took the meal on a plate round to that person after our family meal.   The following year the request was, "Could you plate up a bit of everything?" And off he went.   Last year it was a recovering alcoholic who had no family who had a roast dinner on a plate.   This year I moved to a different part of the country. So, there was just myself, my husband and my son around the table.    "It feels strange." I ... Read Full Story >>

Suckered? I Don't Think So!

One morning a week I volunteer as cashier at a Habitat for Humanity Restore. 

Service Area Sweets

This past holiday season, I drove with my parents to Boston to visit my distant cousin. On my way way back home, we stopped at service area for food. As we were stopped there, there was this old lady who was busy cleaning all the tables and chairs as people leaving, making sure everything is neat and clean. I just thought of gifting her with five dollars and a chocolate in my pocket. I wrote on a paper napkin: "Thank you and Merry Xmas." I wanted to leave it there for her but decided to walk up to her and give her. She asked me, "Is it a gift? Only then will I take it." I nodded, "Yes," and smiled at her. "Thank you," she replied, and I left to buy some stuff from the store inside. On my way back to car, the woman stopped me. "I make a lot of cookies and candies on ... Read Full Story >>

Better Than A Dollar

I was sitting in a friend's car, waiting as he used the restroom outside a McDonald's restaurant.