Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A True Gift

Yesterday in a department-store parking lot, a homeless man approached my husband asking if he had a dollar to spare for him to get something to eat. We didn't have any cash on us, but I had, in my hand, a gift card with an unknown amount I was planning to use if we found anything we wanted to buy. The gift card was for the department store, where they had clothes and groceries and beer and whatever he might need.  I gave it to him. Later as I was shopping the grocery section, I ran into him with a female friend pushing a cart. He said the card had $25 on it and thanked me. In his cart, he had bread and cheese and some sandwich meat. His friend asked if I gave him the card. I said yes. She said, "Thank you so much. You don't know what this means for ... Read Full Story >>

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  • Posted by Melissa.marie.mi
  • May 2, 2021
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Encouragement for a Classmate with Cancer

For the last two weeks, I have been working with one of my classmates to organize a fundraiser for our sick friend, who I've known since 1985 at the start of primary school. When she heard had cancer, she and her family were shocked, and she started treatments directly.

Raising money was a secret activity by our colleague at first because she wanted it to be anonymous. But in reality, our friend was happy to see us. We had fun for hours talking about our childhood memories. Twenty-four classmates were involved.

Since the fundraiser, she started sending her appreciation messages to everyone and posted photos with us on her Facebook page. We were happy to give her encouragement to keep going to her treatments.

1268 Reads

Supporting My Favourite Hair Salon

I was finally able to get a decent haircut after half a year of waiting due to the pandemic.  Hair salons have been allowed to open since the start of March, but they have been fully booked. My favorite hairdresser was off sick so her boss cut my hair instead.

The boss's young daughter was there, and she asked if she could put some hair wax on my locks at the end. She seemed quite proud to have a real customer.

With her Mum's permission, I gave her a chocolate Easter bunny with a five-dollar bill. I gave her mum, the salon owner, a generous tip and also supported her by buying some hair oil and moisturizer from a "sale basket." She acted a bit embarrassed and said "That's too much!" but I replied I'm not often there and am very happy with their services. May they survive the lockdown OK!

660 Reads

Quarantine as Kindness

I am currently in isolation after having close contact with someone who tested positive for the UK Variant of Covid-19. I'm on day nine of fourteen and counting down the days until I can get cleared to go back to work. 

Choosing to stay home this entire time and not add to the problem, should I have this virus, is the best kindness that I can think of right now. I have my guitar, piano, books and art supplies to keep me busy, plus, movies and sports on TV. I tested negative on my last test, two days ago.

672 Reads

Lessons from Lent

Where to begin? I'm coming off of a very interesting, eye opening and changing Lent. Oh, I gave up the usual: chocolate and junk food. I also minimized news that was not positive and cut back severely on social media time. I am committed to give up my prejudices about certain groups. In particular, towards the homeless and LGBTQ. The former was more ignorance and stereotypes, the latter...Ohhh boy, a whole lotta ignorance and just plain stupidity. I credit Phyllis Cole-Dai's book, The Emptiness of Our Hands, with helping me see the wrongness of my thoughts. And I journeyed through Lent with that book. This book is a true account of Phyllis and her friend, James, spending Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday on the streets of Columbus, Oh, experiencing homelessness. She went to be present to the people she met there...and their experiences are eye opening, and sobering. The most shocking truth in their experience is how, when ... Read Full Story >>

858 Reads

Cards For Spring

On the website of an NGO I found these great postcards. The writing translates:

Card in.
Buffet for insects out.
Done.

The cards consist of easily composted material with seeds of bee-friendly flowers embedded. You just have to put the card on the ground, cover it lightly with soil and water it, then the flowers should soon grow.

This makes writing real cards to others even more fun! I sent several out to friends and family. I am looking forward to receiving the first photos of the seeds growing.

714 Reads

Seed Bombs for Birds and Bees

I have been making Guerrilla Gardening Seed Bombs this spring to pretty-up an area and to attract bees and birds. The seed bombs contain mostly poppy, daisy, bachelor button, and wildflower mix seeds. I toss them on my property. (Some people use a sling shot to spread them. How fun is that?)


There are many ways to create them, but my method is to pinch off some clay and mold a half dollar-sized little bowl, then place a pinch of seeds and gardening soil/compost mixture with a spritz of water inside. I mold it into a ball and roll it in the soil/compost mixture. After letting them air dry for 24 hours, they're ready to toss.



 

760 Reads

Engaging with Street Dogs

This dog (I call him Bhairavan) lives behind my house and seems to guard this emerging home. Street dogs tend to bark defensively at people they don't make out.

When I fake anger and let out a fake scowl in the darkness, I can see Bhairavan's tail wag. It's fun because this fellow acknowledges me silently after all the alerting barks.

I love a lady dog on the street that loves me for giving her time.  Each time I pet her, another dog comes between me and her. I ask him, aren't you my favorite jealous bum?  And I take turns between both. He will put his whole body weight on me if I don't pet him. I love the way he asks for love.

769 Reads

Doing Something Nice with Tax Refund

I received the last of my tax refund this morning. I wanted to do something different with it, so I went to the local gas station.

I asked for $40 cashback. I gave the clerk the money to pay for the next customers' purchases. I also gave her $5 to keep for herself.

728 Reads

Her Mother's Journal After She Passed Away

Last week saw the passing of three former workmates. All were lovely, gracious, kind women. I had been in touch with the daughter of one of these delightful women.
She was going through her mom's things as she began the task of cleaning her mother's home. She found a journal I had given her mother when she retired about seven years ago.

My friend had written a bit every day for about two years, including one thing for which she had been grateful for each day. She mentioned I had given her the journal and where it was given. Her daughter seemed pleased to have this memory of her mother.

1221 Reads

Doggy Delivery

I was expecting the delivery of a “surprise” gift from a kind friend today, so I picked up a box of doggie treats while at the grocery store to give to our delivery person.

“Do you have a lot of dogs on your route?” I asked the delivery driver when I handed him the box of doggie biscuits.

“I sure do!” he responded, shaking the box. “Thanks!”



 

658 Reads

Passover Meal Samples

Our neighbor gifted us a sampling of the Passover foods she prepared for her family, which enabled my husband and me to enjoy a wonderful holiday meal tonight, the start of the Passover holiday.

We usually spend the first two nights of the holiday with our friends at their home, but this year, due to Covid, we are on our own. Our neighbor’s sharing is especially meaningful right now.

She brought it over in a pretty silver shopping bag. I love that all the dishes are identified and wrapped so carefully.
 

594 Reads

Supporting Roadside Businesses

Sometimes I like to go for a drive through the German countryside. Usually some farmers have a stand or a table by their gate where you can buy fresh eggs or potatoes and leave the payment in a cash box, often a heavy-duty padlocked metal affair. I have also seen this concept of "pay it by trust" in Denmark. I like to support the farmers this way. I have noticed that more and more little systems have been sprouting up, usually outside people's houses in the middle of nowhere. Typically they are selling wares such as homemade jam or even cake, local honey, handicrafts or flowers for a couple of Euros. It appears some people have been especially hard hit by the pandemic and are finding creative ways to enhance their income. I am making a point of leaving loose change in the car, so I can stop off and support these ... Read Full Story >>

939 Reads

An Angel on the Train

I was on a train heading into Sydney where a middle-aged man experienced a mental distress episode.  It made those around him extremely uncomfortable.

A young woman sitting near me started talking to him to make sure he was OK. The two of them spoke for about 10 minutes. The lady showed such compassion and empathy towards this complete stranger.

Not only did she calm him down and help him come to the decision to seek assistance, she stunned those of us sitting in the immediate area with her kindness and humility.



 

1089 Reads

It's All Of Our Mess

As I sat in a restaurant, an elderly man using a cane dropped his coffee as he was setting it down on the table. I took over a bunch of napkins and wiped off his chair and the table.


An employee followed up with a wet rag to prevent stickiness. The man told me he has carpal tunnel and can't feel much in his hands. As I write this, I think: Let us not develop a form of "carpal tunnel" in our hearts.



 

732 Reads

Ping!

I was struggling to think of a kindness to write about this morning, and while I was wracking my brains my email went ping with a blog update in my inbox. I read it while I pondered.

I saw a description of a friend's morning routine, seeing to her sheep during lambing season, and it brought a tear to my eye as it was beautifully written.

Kindness dilemma instantly solved! I wrote her a message immediately saying how much I'd enjoyed it, and she wrote back saying how lovely that was to hear and how she didn't think anyone actually read her ramblings.

Now I follow quite a few blogs but I rarely comment. Maybe I'll start making more of an effort to let the writers know they're being heard.

763 Reads

Pen Message!

One of my students' parents brought a boatload of these pens to pass out to the class. There was enough for me to share with two other classes. She had them made with this incredible positive affirmation. It kind of made my day! :)
 

616 Reads

Grandson is Activist for Planet

My six-year-old grandson visited. I played some marble games with him, and then I walked with him to the local park.  He had fun on the jungle gym. We then went on a walk in the park, and stopped and watched the older kids at the skateboard area.

He saw some garbage and insisted on picking it up and throwing it in the trash can. He said, "We can't let the planet get hurt."

I'll take him with me to a clean up project on Earth Day if his parents don't have plans. I think he'll like that.


 

762 Reads

Smile Brings Happiness

Every time I am in 'my' supermarket I make sure to talk to the cashiers, smile at them, wish them a good day, etc. Today one of them looked stressed so I made sure to give her an extra bright smile and her reaction shocked me: She started smiling herself and told me that she always is happy to see me, as I would be one of only a few people who would see her as a human being and not as some sort of cashier robot.

I mean, it is a huge supermarket in the middle of the city, they have lots of customers! And obviously, most of them ignore her as a person. I didn't do anything special, yet it was special to her. While I feel touched and honored by her praise, I am also a bit sad that such basic contact is obviously such a rare commodity for her.

841 Reads

Winter Storm And Banana Bread Shares

Winter storm headed our way this evening with heavy wet snow expected, between 10-20 inches. Spent most of yesterday preparing: baking, cooking, filling buckets of water, making sure generator works, alternate cooking methods, minimal heating options, etc...

If we lose power, we lose our water (on a well). We are about 7 miles from town, but at least we are on a school bus route, so our road will get plowed, eventually.

Well stocked on seeds and food for the birds and creatures.

We volunteer today at the foodbank and charity shoppe. Grateful that we can do before the snow hits. Have a feeling that we are going to be busy with folks stocking up on supplies!

*Banana bread is for fellow volunteers. Always like to bring an appreciation treat :).


857 Reads




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