Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Spreading Holiday Cheer (and Carbs)

Saw an old patient for the first time in a while in the gym this morning. Remembering he's Jewish I wished him a Happy Hanukkah. We were both in the middle of our respective workouts, so we spoke briefly. Always a treat running into him.

Baked a loaf of homemade sourdough for some neighbors and dropped it off yesterday morning. They're an older couple from England and invited me in for some tea and biscuits (cookies). Had the best time and we chatted for over an hour and a half! Lovely couple those two :)

Got a package sent off to Ukraine for my friend and his family. I told him Santa from the 'States will probably be late this year, but I'm excited to get more goodies and requested items sent their way <3

273 Reads

Running For Joy

Running for Joy 5k meets every year in Barnegat Light, NJ to honor my sister-in-law, who was killed by a drunk/high driver a few months after she graduated from MIT in 1984. She was 23 years old. I started Running for Joy in 2011. At the time of her death, her fiancé, John, was with her. They were doing a cross-country trip to California to begin their lives together. In 2012, John found Running for Joy and contacted me. He now runs the Facebook group since I left Facebook. (Facebook/runningforjoy5k). Every year in Joy's honor, we give a small loan via Kiva. But this morning I got a letter from Sister Lucy (Maher.org). She is having a Christmas festival for the "pavement dwellers" as she does every year, giving out food and gifts. So we sent a small loan in Joy's honor to Maher this year instead.

231 Reads

⛄️ Snow Day Surprise

⛄️❤️ Sunday Snow Kindness Boomerang 🪃

❄️ It snowed in NYC this morning & hubby shoveled for us and for three neighbors close to our house. He likes to do that for others & it was his exercise for the day.

Later in the day our next door neighbors rang our bell and surprised us with a big box of good chocolates……Kindness boomerang 😊 ❤️

Although hubby did all the shoveling, guess who will get to share in these chocolates.😊

345 Reads

Birthday Kindness On December 10

Birthday Kindness On December 10, my birthday, on getting up, prayed for the well being of all being as usual. and thanked friends and loved ones who have helped me in my life.  Sent an inspiring email to about,  200 of my contacts. I asked my friend in Ahmedabad to donate some books on the occasion of my birthday. He confirmed that he will donate them. I will pay him when I reach Ahmedabad. I am grateful to him. My divine sister has donated some groceries to needy people. She also gave chocolate to needy people and others on  my behalf.  On December 10 at the doctor's office, I gave personalized bookmarks, birthday card and quote cards to my doctor. He liked them. He thanked to me and smiling lytalked to my son.  I also gave some quote cards and Birthday cards to the staff that surprized them. . I received beautiful smiles and thanks. ... Read Full Story >>

214 Reads

I ❤️ To Crochet & Give Away

🧶 Crocheting for Friends….

🧶 As I was crocheting a “Hug” (prayer shawl) for an old friend I worked with decades ago , who I recently reunited with after 50 years (!) I learned that her sister took a bad fall and broke her leg 🦵🏻. So I decided to crochet one for her too, figuring she could make good use of it during her long rehabilitation.

I will surprise her with the two shawls when we get together again after the holidays,

Our other friend,  who we both worked with, will be coming again to our next reunion.   I had given her one years ago but 🧶 I want crochet a new one for her ,  as soon as I finish the one for the sister, which is almost done.

❤️I love to crochet and give away.  I better get to it! 😉

116 Reads

Passing On Some Favorite Books

Cleaning out my storage unit, I pulled out a box of 48 Hardy Boys books from the 60s/70s, they were my favorites and they've traveled the world with me, from Germany, to Massachusetts, Texas, Okinawa, and more. I'm a member of a Facebook group to help locals, so I decided it was time to find a new home for my favorites.
I posted looking for someone who had a young reader who would be interested in and appreciate some actual HARD cover books for Christmas. There were a couple of replies and I'll be delivering them to a new home this week.

144 Reads

Community Sports Program For children

Community sports program for children !

Children love sports . They are always ready to play on the field and win prizes. So we organized a sports program in the village ground. So many children participated in the program to show their talent and ability. All the children played very well and won prizes. The program guests were also very happy to see the children’s performance.

Children were honored by medals and trophies by the program guests.


237 Reads

Paying Gratitude To A young biker

Paying gratitude to a young biker 🚴‍♀️!

I am grateful to a young boy for pooling my bike to the repair shop. Yesterday, I was going to do some important work but in mid way the belt of my bike broke down. And there was no repair shop nearby. I was very sad and worried about my work.

A young boy came on bike and said I can help you in pooling your bike to the repair shop. I said yes please. And he pulled my bike to 2 mile.

I said thanks and I will be grateful to you for your kind help. He smiled and said take care of yourself.

Thanks to him..

147 Reads

Spontaneous Sharing

🫶🏽 Sitting in a waiting room yesterday, reading a book, every so often I looked up when someone was passing by and I shared a smile & sometimes initiated a small chat. It’s so easy to connect with people, no matter where we may be. How lucky that being kind can be spontaneous, as simple as a smile & return bright smiles & often some laughter.

As we were leaving we were gifted such a brilliant smile & shared laughter from someone I spoke to 😁

103 Reads

A Listening Ear

I gave a lot of my time to listen to someone who just needed to talk, to share all of the challenges she was facing - not to get pity or advice from me but just to be heard. So I listened and heard what she had to say and she felt so happy and relieved afterward. All she needed was a nonjudgmental ear. The time wasn't really convenient for me but the feeling of having helped someone feel better was worth it.

122 Reads

Mindfully Listening

I have been busy and not able to visit here in the last couple of weeks.

However, I've been reading a book by David R Hamilton in which he recommends doing at least one of act of kindness per day. Yesterday, I prayed that not only would I find an opportunity for kindness but also I would do it with joy. In the library, a lady and her son with learning difficulties came in and sat in the same circle of chairs as me. We had a little chat and I tried to listen to her frustration.

A man who eventually told me his name was Sam was talking to himself. He needed to visit somewhere and disappeared for a few minutes. On his return he noticed I was knitting and came to chat. I listened to him and we parted friends.

95 Reads
  • Posted by Helenconnell2
  • Jan 3, 2026
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Kindness To Wonderful Parents ❤️

1) Father tried to lift the shutter up. I stopped him. Instead I lifted the shutter and helped father 😉

2) Father said, "Let us both lift rice bag of 25 kg". I stopped him. I lifted the bag myself 😎

3) Father donated around 11-12 kg of rice to a Orphanage and Old Age organization. This shows the great heart of my father. Serving such a kind father is a good feeling.

4) Father got freedom. He went outside on work.

5) Neighbour asked father to bring wheat powder. Father helped neighbour. We need powder, so he brought wheat powder for us and for neighbour 😁

6) My mother kept food. She asked me. I said okay. After sometime she asked me whether I need more. I said yes. My parents are a blessing for me😎

7) My brother is not talking with me. My sister said if you regularly go to the shop, brother will soon talk to you😎

8) My sister said that my parents are happy with my new journey. If I settle in this journey, they will be happy forever 😎😁😉

97 Reads

Surprised With Kindness

❤️ Kindness Received….

Was so surprised when our Fresh Direct delivery this week included an unexpected gift of a big decorative box filled with fruits and veggies 🍎 🥕 with the lovely gift card shown below.

I emailed them a thank you & received a really nice reply back 👌🏻


216 Reads

Kindness Journey To New York New Jersey

Kindness Journey to New York New Jersey - October 29 t0 November 10 At the Chicago airport and in the plane, I gave some quote cards and Birthday cards and received smiles with thank you. Attended once in a lifetime 100th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Gave many quote cards, Met some Sai devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Flushing after few years. Got ride back home. I am grateful. Attended 24-hour Akhand Bhajan (Devotional singing) program, met some other Sai devotees. Conducted Greeting card making workshop with SSE students. Gave Birthday cards made with the help of Papaya care - a Senior living care facility staff and residents, Utthan trainees and staff and others. I am grateful for their help making them. SSE students help make some more Birthday cards, some of them got their personalized bookmarks made earlier. The New Jersey trip was remarkable. stayed at Mr. ... Read Full Story >>

363 Reads

Helping out a family in crisis

I have a friend who's battling breast cancer. Her 13 YO daughter acquired a brain injury and was at childrens hospital for 2 months. Prior to her daughter's injury I was making dinner for her family once a week. Now that they are home from the hospital, I am going to their house once a week and putting a meal in their crockpot, so that it will be ready for dinner that night.

215 Reads

Kindness to Dogs ❤️🐕❤️

Longtime neighbor/good friend shared her sadness about her beloved 9 year old rescue dog who is going blind. ❤️🐕

I wanted to offer some support & wondered how to, aside from always listening , with care, when she wanted to talk about it.

Had the idea to put “blind dog support groups” in my search bar. There are several fb support groups for people dealing with the grief of their beloved dogs losing their sight.

Send her a few links. One had a suggested leash adjustment that helps the dog walk straighter. Hope she finds good ideas & support group.🙏

🖼 Art by Kazuo Kasai - Stretched Shadow, 2020.

142 Reads

Celebration Of Children's Day

Celebration of Children's day in a small village.

We did fun activities like playing indoor games, singing folk songs, drawing, telling jokes and sharing samosa, fruits, chocolates and gifts. This is the first time for children of this village to celebrate Children's day. They enjoyed it so much and looked very happy. It was also a good time for me to have some fun with children. I am very thankful to all the children and all of you for giving me this great opportunity.

Thanks...


104 Reads

Tea Time With Villagers

Tea time with villagers !

I had conversations with villagers on their life, culture and traditions. It was a nice meeting. They are very helpful and good. Village life is so much better than citywide. The tea was offered from villagers.

Thanks..
--

140 Reads

Disposing Of Littered Cigarette Butts

The city parks in Vancouver BC (Canada) are smoke free spaces, meaning people are not allowed to smoke in the parks.

Unfortunately, the smokers love to smoke in the nearby park, and leave their cigarette butts littered by the park benches.

This is very annoying.

I started to go to the park and gather the butts and put them in a bag, to throw them out, as they are harmful to animals, and the environment.

I began to leave an empty cup for the empty butts, like an ashtray, which could be a good thing, but would also possibly deter people from not smoking in the park.

Anyways, I have noticed that people are using the cup or empty soup can to put the discarded butts in, and someone even started putting an empty can by another bench in the small park.

114 Reads

🥜 🐿 Nuts For Squirrels ❤️

🐿 There’s a grey squirrel I see often on our block….sometimes on the fence in the back of our backyard. I also see lots of cute squirrels in our local park where I go often. 🌲🐿

Researched what kind of nuts are good for them & found a perfect mix online today.
Contains Mixed Nuts in Shell, Natural, Includes Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Almonds - Healthy Snack Sampler for Squirrels 🐿

Just ordered 👌🏻

107 Reads




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