Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Simple Pleasure In A Disaster Zone

Nature's Beautiful Church

  I love hiking and being outdoors. I loved it even more when I found I could use my passion to help others.   Some of the other moms I meet on the school run are either single parents or have a child with special needs. So, I offered to take their child or children (usually boys around my son's age) on hikes with my son and I. This allows the mother to have some respite care and for herself without having the costs associated with hiring a sitter.   Today I offered my friend  that opportunity and took her son with us on a hike to Paradise Falls.    The weather was perfect, just enough sun but still cool and breezy. During part of our trek we were gently misted with sprinklings of rain that refreshed us and kept us cool as we made it to our final destination - a stunning forty-foot waterfall that cascaded ... Read Full Story >>

It's People That Always Surprise You

I had little in the way of money when I took this job at McCrory's in Ft. Lauderdale. In fact to ease me through hunger pangs at noon, I sat outside at a little park/bus stop area and had a piece of bubble gum, ate half with a glass of water. I was okay with that. I certainly would not starve to death that quickly. I minded my own business and enjoyed the sunshine, birds and people, wiping out any problems I had. Life is always beautiful and things always change is how I think. A tall man approached me who was not disheveled and struck up a conversation about little things. I always dressed clean and neat, well that must have given him the impression I had money. He said, I wanted to ask you ''if you could give me some money.''  I said ''I don't have any.'' He kept on asking, ... Read Full Story >>

Make someone smile :)

Inspired by the idea of making someone smile everyday by giving them a small gift anonymously.

My friends and I were sitting in a restaurant.  There was a traditional day being celebrated in a college near by so the place was full of the college students dressed up beautifully in ethnic wear.  We were just looking around and we saw this really pretty girl wearing a simple blue and green colour saree and she had a lovely smile.  We had a small, palm size, colourful kite with us, so we wrote a small note on it for her about how pretty she was and asked the waiter to give it to her.

She looked shocked initially but then she read the note and she smiled.  The look on her face was priceless.The waiter pointed towards us and told her that we gave it to her, she said thankyou to us.

She looked really happy after that.

I felt really great after that and ever since then I've been smiling too. :)

Its a small act but its just the start. :)

We.

Many of you I know here, are souls who are oftentimes caught on fire ... Some of you are homeless, jobless, or your spouse is jobless, lonely due to the loss of your loved ones, seeking loved ones, seeking new ventures come your way, been through terrible illnesses, emotional rollercoasters due to family issues ... and going through plenty of other problems. The strangest truth being, life and nature has been FAIR in choosing people beyond color, caste, race, creed, country.  Each challenge shows us things about life and nature ... Now I take this moment to make an unconditional prayer for each of you ... the following way. 'May you find a roof above our head, a morsel to feed you and a hand to reach out to your loved ones. May you find a place with money awaiting your presence. May you just know your loved one had to go ... Read Full Story >>

Few Quotes To Motivate U !

Hi Friends, Am posting you few Quotes to Motivate you all. Men take only their needs into consideration, never their abilities. Napoleon Bonaparte Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God. Mary Manin Morrissey You’ve got to sing like you don’t need the money, love like you’ll never get hurt. You’ve got to dance like no one is watching. It’s gotta come from the heart, if you want it to work. Susannah Clark The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring. Oscar Wilde Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. Thomas Carlyle Nor has he spent his life badly who has passed it in privacy. Cicero The art ... Read Full Story >>

Giving To A Community Who Have Lost So Much.

A very rare and vicious storm unleashed it's wrath on a small community called Grantham in Queensland, Australia - just west of Brisbane.  No-one was warned, no-one was prepared...

The storm was described as an inland tsunami as a 20 metre wall of water tore through the entire town, taking with it whole houses, businesses, cars, livestock and people.  Many people lost not just all of their possessions but family and friends too.

Our small community here in Rainworth, Brisbane who have also experienced local flooding but not as severe are banding together to buy school supplies and swimming gear so that the children of Grantham can start school, and hopefully experience a normal routine again, something very important for their emotional well being while their families are coming to terms with their shocking losses.  I am overwhelmed with tears thinking that our donations will bring some light to the eyes of others who are only seeing darkness at this stage of their lives.

The Power Of Being Kind

Hello, my Name is Maik and I am 37 Years old. I am new on this Page and I'd like to share one experience I made a few days ago which teached me the power of being kind.  About 15 Years ago I was studying at a University in Münster, Germany. The people I spent most my time was a group of friends. we were about 10 people. Sometimes we went out together for parties, but most of the time we did our own parties back at someones home. First we sat and talked and at some point during the night we put away the chairs and tables and started dancing. It may not sound that special when I write about it, but what was special to me was the support we shared for each other. For example, when someone had to move from one flat to the other, these friends ... Read Full Story >>

Smiling in College!

As an upperclassman at a small, private college, I have been blessed with the support of many friends and family throughout the years. Additionally, I have fallen in love with the school I am at and continually remind myself the opportunities I am afforded here. Nerveless, when you head to college, it is still not home. Making cards, packages, and small notes has been the highlight of my days!

After my freshman year of college, the number of packages I recieved greatly decreased. Recently, I had not received mail in a few weeks and was blessed to find a wonderful “Smile” card and piece of candy in my mailbox!

What a fantastic surprise; my spirits were lifted. I decided to pas on the Smile card to one of my international residents (I am a RA on a first-year women’s hall).  It was so nice to share!  

My Giving Friend!

A Loving Surprise

I used my first smile card which I received in the mail today.   I decided to write my husband a note of gratitude for his extra love and support.  I posted the note to our front door with a Smile Card.  When he gets home from work a surprise note will be waiting for him at the front door!!

An Unexpected Thank You

There have been several snow storms in my area over the past couple of weeks and the crew of people who manage the parking garage near my office building have been working constantly to keep the garage clear of snow and ice. During my lunch break, I took a couple of minutes to walk over to the office were the parking garage people work and thanked them for keeping the garage clear of snow. At first they seem stunned then they all smiled and said you’re welcome. The surprise on all of their faces brought a simile to my face as well.

Conduct Your Blooming

"Conduct Your Blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind." Strange message in a stranger place.   I don’t know who said it, but this pronouncement suddenly appeared on a huge wall of the 59th St. subway tunnel connecting the Lexington Avenue trains to the N and R lines. For many months I’d passed the area, which was roped off and covered over with heavy paper - reconstruction in progress. What else is new in NYC! Then one fine day the plastic barrier was cut and the brown paper pulled down.  There, gleaming in vivid colors, was a giant mosaic mural with a great scroll of a message running through it in a waving line that ran up and down from ceiling to floor and back. You probably don’t think of the subway as a provider of uplifting impressions, but those of us who use it every day have got used to ... Read Full Story >>

A Few Bucks In NYC

My family and I were in the dining plaza of New York's Grand Central Station. We were sharing a happy chat, coffee and some ice-cream. Hardly subsistence level dining. Then my daughter drew my attention to something I hadn't noticed. A man in a suit had been enjoying a meal, perhaps before heading home, when another man, who looked liked he might have been a "rough sleeper" wandered by. He stopped by the table, looked down wistfully and eventually said, "That sure looks good." Then he walked away and found a seat . A few seconds later the man in the suit picked up his meal, walked over to the homeless guy and presented him with it. As he cleared the coffee cup and napkins from his table into a bin near us I said, "Excuse me, sir. That was a kind thing you did." He smiled, blushed and shrugged. "I didn't know what ... Read Full Story >>

Finding A Family A Home

 Working at a homeless shelter can be stressful but it can also be a source of uplifting stories! One part of my job is dealing with the initial homeless family housing calls. The very first call I had was a single mother. She was weeping. She told me she had gotten into a terrible car accident and wasn’t able to work for a while so she lost her job, had stacks of medical bills and fell behind on rent. Even though she had gotten another job just recently she was still being evicted from her apartment and she and her two children had nowhere to go.   After she finished explaining the situation she stopped and said, “I’m so sorry! Thank you for letting me tell my story. I’ve tried every shelter and church organization in the area and no one listens - or cares. I’m not a liar ... and I realize ... Read Full Story >>

Broken Eggs And Helping Hands

Being There

I work as a volunteer for a hospice agency. One of my longer-term patients has been slowly deterioriating in health and mental functions. He slept a lot during his last few weeks.

I would sit by his side while he slept, which was very ackward for me because I felt that I should be doing something actively to help this man. At times, I felt like sneaking away and letting him sleep, but I stayed.

During one of my visits he had been dozing off during our conversation and then finally went to sleep. I was just about ready to go and he woke, looking into my eyes with one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen from him. He said, "I really like it when you are here, it's so peaceful."

I have found, during my years of hospice volunteering, that just being there makes a world of difference for lonely people. We don't have to talk, we don't have to do something, we just have to be there for each other.

A Chain of Generosity

On Saturday I witnessed a wonderful thing. We had taken an older couple into town and after they had done what they needed to do they asked if we could stop at McDonalds to get something to eat. It was no problem and we suggested they could eat it in the restaurant rather than in the car or taking it home.   While we were there, we noticed a group of four boys aged 10-12, having lunch.  The boys stood well back from the counter and allowed other customers to go ahead and order while the boys discussed what they wanted. When they decided, they went to the counter to order telling the young girl serving they wanted the larger size, which they would share. The woman with them queried this and they told her it would be cheaper to do it that way rather than get individual orders. These boys were ... Read Full Story >>

Home Is Where The Heart Is - Even For The Homeless

About two weeks ago I saw a very sad, blue eyed, homeless man sitting outside my local coffee house. I said, "Hi. How are you doing today?"  He seemed shocked that I was talking to him. "Not very well," he replied. He proceeded to tell me how he had been hit by a car while riding his bike. He had been in the hospital for a month and a rest home for another month. During that time the person that paid for his SSI checks died of a heart attack and his wallet was stolen with all his IDs. He had several checks waiting for him but had no ID and therefore no access to his money.  I decided that if this was all true I'd like to help him get a copy of his birth certificate and social security card. I asked him to meet me at the Department of Vital ... Read Full Story >>

A Wonderful Way to Start the Day

Every morning when I wake up, I kid you not, the first thing I do is check my email for comments from you guys. What a wonderful way to start my days. So I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all of you guys and your kind words. They inspire me in ways unimaginable. The responses I get on my childhood stories are therapeutic. I have stopped keeping my journal; I write everything now on HO and I can tell you it’s a lot better than tucking my feelings away. Thank you and I will continue to make you guys proud with my pay-it-forward reports.