Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Reaching Out to Friends

I did some catch-up with a longtime soul-sister who now lives in another state. We worked together back in the 1970s. I had introduced her to one of my co-worker friends a long time back & they wound up getting married 😊. This is one of those friendships where you pick up right where you left off, no matter how long it’s been.

Asked another friend how she’s been doing & then apologized for kinda being not attentive lately.

Sent some cheerful graphics to a neighbor/friend who shared she’s feeling under the weather & was going for a covid test. She’s a teacher & at risk. 🙏

Graphic Quote:   “Quiet Now…..Allow the pieces of life to settle in their own way & time…..even a shaken world can be transformed to a wonderful mosaic ~ with time ~

510 Reads

Spreading sunshine

I baked treats for our new neighbors that I just met this week and made special food for a friend's son who is visiting her during a break from his chemo in another city. We got to spend time together and that was so wonderful and precious! 

I also put together hygiene kits for the shelter, and spent "overtime" at the soup kitchen this weekend -  I am so glad for my fellow volunteers. Then I dropped homemade choc chip cookies to another neighbor and then found out today that it was her birthday (I had no idea!).

Trying to talk less and listen more. 

933 Reads

Write A Note

Earlier this year, a dear friend passed. She and her mother (in her 90's) lived in the same building, but not together. I learned that the building had been in the family for 94 years and the mom recently sold it and she moved to a senior living facility.

I sent her a "thinking of you" note last week. Didn't say much really, except that I hoped that she liked her new arrangement and that I hoped all was well. 

Much to my surprise, I received a note in the mail from her today. Of course, she misses her daughter terribly, but is happy in her new surroundings.

It doesn't take much to write a simple note to someone that you might know whose circle of friends has diminished due to age. I certainly didn't expect a reply, but I'm sure that she didn't expect the note that I wrote.

967 Reads

A Little Welcome Back

Put together a little "welcome back to the route" treat for our mailman Greg, who had been working limited hours for the past few months. Of course, his back to work coincided with our early winter snow! We so appreciate our everyday workers and their supportive roles. Each is important and needed ❤️.

811 Reads

Declutter Give-Aways Bring Smiles in Return

Resumed decluttering this morning and came upon this never worn long sleeve light weight sweatshirt with the Life Is Good sales tag still on it! 
I bought it last year for my husband but it was way too big for him. I knew exactly who I wanted to offer it to…. our really nice Fresh Direct delivery guy.

When he came today and I offered it to him, he said it would be perfect for his daughter. In return he gifted me his beautiful smile and thanks.

I told him about Life Is Good & how they donate 10% of every purchase to their kids foundation charity. I suggested his daughter check them out online.

I also arranged for a big bag of clothing to be picked up tomorrow by a local charity that accepts donations.

Miles to go with my decluttering 🐢

757 Reads

🍅 Tasha’s tomatoes and the mailbox of kindness😊

I have quite a collection of notes from Tasha, our interim mail carrier. She leaves them to show appreciation for the baked goods I’ve left for her in our mailbox.

Now, it’s my turn to write her a thank you!

She gifted us with a generous selection of home-grown tomatoes. They are always a challenge to grow here in the Black Hills and are considered a sort of “red gold.”

YES, tomatoes for cookies are more than a fair exchange, dear Tasha! LOL! 😊.

I may not have much daily contact with people on our 10 acres, 7 miles from town, but there are ways to share kindness even this far out in the sticks!

Grateful and blessed for the yummy mailbox circle of kindness 🙏.

745 Reads

Sandcastles At The Beach

I went to the beach nearby for some quality time with myself. After a rough week, all I wanted was a book, some solitude, and a good snack. It was a lovely, reflective time watching families come and go for a last warm weekend here in California. Kids joyfully playing in the water, paddle boating, building sandcastles and sharing meals with their families. After a few hours, I decided to walk along the waves to get to my car on the other side as I was leaving. As I was near the end and about to head off the beach, I noticed a girl playing by herself, maybe around 8 or 9. It looks like she built a little sandcastle with a moat around it and was now trying to fill the canal with water. Unfortunately, there was no container around to carry water or the usual sand toys. She was playing ... Read Full Story >>

2200 Reads

Slowing Down to Spread a Little Kindness at the Airport in India

I walked into a restroom at the airport and the janitor asked me to “wait” and went inside the toilet room first to ensure it was flushed clean and dry. She then gestured me to go in.

I was very moved by her kind act and gave her some money and an origami peace dove as I left. She resisted accepting the money at first,  but eventually, she took it.

She asked me to give her an online review for her service instead, based on which they get points it seems. I took a selfie (attached here) together.

Next, I also had an opportunity for the classic pay it forward game when I stood in line to get filter coffee. I paid for the person behind me in line.
I also let people go ahead of me in line when I saw that they were eager to go ahead of me.

The assistants at the airport have been very helpful whenever I’ve asked them any questions. We are all the same people trying to do our best.

838 Reads

Thank You For the Rainbow on a Rainy Day

I came home to this wonderful mail package today, sent by some KindSpring members. It was a rainbow 🌈 in the rainy day that I was experiencing. My son loved the ghost, and I'll be sharing the peace doves and bookmarkers with others. I know workers at a local library would love to have some to share, also. And the handmade orange incense sticks are so special. Those, along with the black onyx will help fight off negative energy. The ❤ pin was just frosting on the cake. Thank you so much for bringing this light into my life. ðŸ˜

721 Reads

When You Get The Perfect Gift

💕 “New friends may be poems but old friends are alphabets. Don't forget the alphabets because you will need them to read the poems.” ~ William Shakespeare ~

😊 I was so happy when a gift I chose for a longtime dear friend, slowly recovering from a bad leg injury caused by her recent fall, called me to share how perfect she felt my choice was. I knew how much she loved the old TV series “The Golden Girls” (reruns are still showing on TV here) & found a Golden Girls book I just knew was something that would delight her. Like me, she is a bookaholic, too. 📚📚📚

I was looking around hoping to find something just for her & thanked the universe for leading me to something seemingly meant for my dear friend. 🙏

~ Art by Inge Look

696 Reads

Pay Forward Well-loved Childhood Toys

My adult son was holding on to some childhood items: a wood train set and still popular character-related items. He finally decided that I should give them to a friend's child who is the right age to enjoy them. I was excited to pass them on and added a book of poetry and some picture books that were still in very good condition.

Drove to a friend's house this morning while the little guy was in pre-school. At some point, he will have a very nice surprise to play with. 

879 Reads

Just Love Coffee Cafe

While looking for local restaurants to enjoy while camping at Chadron State Park (CSP), NE, I found the interesting sounding “Just Love - Coffee Cafe.” The franchise began with a couple, who after incurring great expense while adopting 2 children from Ethiopia, began a coffee roasting/mailing and cafe business, with a portion of the profits going to help families adopt. Enjoyed the good vibe and the eclectic menu and a nice chat with the owner about the Cafe premise and Peace doves -- by then I had given out a flock of them!I decided to purchase a gift card for the lifeguards at the CSP pool (we went every day while there and even witnessed a save!) and for the hostess at the Trading Post, who cheerfully agreed to allow me to set up an origami workshop next time we were camped there. While waiting in line to buy the gift cards, I had ... Read Full Story >>

1141 Reads

A Simple Gesture And A Grateful Neighbour

Our regular mail carriers know that if I am at home, I am happy to accept parcels for others in our house. This is a small task for me and means my neighbours do not have to go to the post office to collect them.

Yesterday I accepted a parcel for a new neighbour that I have not much contact with yet. We have exchanged greetings and pleasantries but was all so far.

When she came to my door to get her parcel she almost cried with appreciation and told me her days are so busy and crazy that it would have been very difficult for her to go to the post office.

It really was no big deal for me but obviously was important to her. I reassured her that it is no problem and would gladly do this again in the future. It was a reminder to me of another example of how small acts of kindness can make a difference to others. And yes, of course, the parcel was graced with a peace dove ðŸ˜‰ðŸ•Š

917 Reads

Smile Tag In A Restaurant Last Night

I was in a restaurant last night and saw a woman and her mother come in for dinner. Her mother had a walker and they sat off to the side. As I sat eating I thought they were excellent prospects for a kindness tag! I worked the details out with the manager and told her not to tell them who paid for their meal. I gave her a Smile Card to give them. They were so surprised and tried hard to get my identity from the manager. After a few unsuccessful attempts, they smiled, thanked her, and left.

When the manager came and told me how it went, I smiled and laughed. She asked me if I knew them and I told her no. She said there needs to be more kindness like that in the world. I agree and had fun doing my part for a day!

1458 Reads

Warm Thanks for Veterans

I am currently collecting and making afghans and shawls and collecting toiletries for our veterans in a nursing home. So far, I have 35 afghans and 10 shawls as well as various other items. These will be used as Christmas gifts for the veterans. I put out the word to let others know I'm collecting so hope to have many more by the end of November.

551 Reads

🍎 An Apple For The Teacher 💻


After the tragic death of her husband and son in a small airplane accident, retired high school Spanish teacher - Cathie decided to build a winter home in a small village in Mexico.

She found healing through helping others by volunteering her time and energy: teaching English, providing funds to build a kindergarten, a children’s playground, plus many other local service projects.

Over the years, Cathie had gifted two computers of her own to students in need, enabling them to finish their studies and successfully graduate with higher learning degrees.

We felt that karma needed to circle back around. So, for Cathie’s birthday this year, we gave her an Apple - iPad 🍎!!!

Grateful to be a link in the karmic circle of gratitude and for mu husband's assistance in helping Cathie set up the iPad :))).

702 Reads

Postcards from the Edge

I belong to a postcard exchange group called postcrossing.com. Yesterday I pulled the name of a man who asked people, if they felt like it, to send a card to his nephew who has Down's Syndrome. The nephew can't read or write but loves the pictures and his family reads cards to him and he keeps them all. I sent him a card of two horses -- it is a photo my mother took and I make cards of her photos to send around the world. I think he will enjoy it.
Meanwhile, Chayra the hamster has morphed into some sort of muffin bat. Lift-off appears impossible. Once again, she seeks but finds only the sweet fragrance.


567 Reads

Hanging On By A Thread

A very dear friend and her husband have been experiencing numerous challenges these past few months. She mentioned how it sometimes felt like they were hanging on by a thread with no quick fix in sight. Hanging on by a thread. 🐛 Her words reminded me of the monarch caterpillar that I have been caring for who had just that morning morphed into a chrysalis. After eating and eating and eating on milkweed leaves from our garden, the hungry caterpillar found a comfy spot at the top of the mesh butterfly enclosure and spun a silken thread to attach itself there. The caterpillar hung upside-down in a J shape for a day or so. Then, in less than a few hours of wriggling contortions, the caterpillar was a beautiful green chrysalis! All the research I’ve done indicates that the metamorphosis into a butterfly should take between 10-12 days. I can only imagine what is ... Read Full Story >>

1195 Reads

Rani's Gift.

I was at the cafeteria on the ground floor of Sakra world hospital in India, with my mother. We had come over to eat our lunch. Since we had waited for quite some time, we decided to get it packed to go. We then headed back to the private room on the 5th floor where my father was admitted. In the evening when my mom and myself were preparing to leave, I took my bag and found that the money purse in it was missing. I had carried 40 thousand rupees cash in it since I had to pay some bills. I started to look around in panic, and then recalled my visit to the cafeteria a few hours ago! So, as I was heading to the cafeteria, I was quite disappointed at my irresponsibility and hoped that no one would’ve stolen the purse. When I entered the cafeteria it was quiet, ... Read Full Story >>

1297 Reads

A Hug In A Box

A boxful of sunshine and smiles arrived in the mail yesterday!

The delightful Dharma Comics “You make me happy” card was signed with love and gratitude by the Universe, but I have a strong suspicion who the KIND friend is.

As I opened the box I felt a whoosh of good vibes and loving-kindness, like a hug in a box reaching across the miles, right into my heart, setting a smile there 😊.
What a funtastic array of thoughtfully selected goodies to enjoy and share!

❤️ A flock of handcrafted heart and smile pins,
🥑 some huge homegrown California avocados,
🥜 a jar of healthy homemade peanut butter,📕 one of the sender’s favorite books, even signed by the author,
🪙 and a 1991 proof set of Mt. Rushmore anniversary silver coins!

Thank you, kind friend. Thank you, Universe.
You make me happy too 😊.

854 Reads




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