Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Breaking Down Barriers in the City

Sometimes I get the feeling that living in a city makes people more suspicious towards strangers. It seems it's just not normal to start talking to anyone or to even smile at someone. Everyone is isolated in anonymity to some degree. 

I want to change this for me. When someone approaches me I don't want my first reaction to be distrust.

Last week I went skating. A man ran by smiling. He said something to me about doing sports and that he hopes to be able to finish his run. I smiled back and said that he surely will. And today, a family cycled by when I was in the park. One of the girls waved at me with a smile. I waved back whole-heartedly.

I believe that it is those small gestures that can change the world we live in.

784 Reads

Stitching Lives with the Gift of Heartpins

I've been stitching heartpins and gifting them to everyone possible and if you ask me why I do it, it's because of the joy that just bursts forth. The smile that lights up at the sight of the heartpin is worth anything you'd wish for and it goes further. From that moment on,there's a connection. We exchange warm hugs , smiles and a million 'thank yous'. This hobby that has so attracted me has opened my heart and brought me out of my cocoon. Now, I don't mind starting a conversation with a stranger, wishing him or her well and gifting a pin because I know that this little piece of art will do its magic of breaking all barriers. We bond and share stories and next time our paths cross , we greet and smile which is enough to brighten the day. This morning I received a heart warming post on ... Read Full Story >>

1315 Reads

Appreciation for the Hard Work of Teachers

May 7-11 is National Teacher Appreciation Week here in the US! Both my husband and I are retired teachers so we wanted to do something. We decided to make an anonymous donation to DonorsChoose, a nonprofit, charitable organization for schools. Teachers who would like to have special projects funded go to this site and apply. Donors choose which projects to fund and how much to give. According to their website, ‘DonorsChoose was founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx. DonorsChoose.org empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials and experiences for their students.’ We feel grateful and honored to be able to help and to say, ‘“Thank You!” in this way. The donations given through this program have enriched classrooms all across the United States and provided both teachers and students with connections to the greater community. If you donate funds this way, the ... Read Full Story >>

1550 Reads

Would You Like To Have My Sandwich?

Every morning, I cook myself a lunch to take to the office. I started this practice of making an extra lunch so I can share it along the way with a person in need. I have been practicing this for the last ten years.

Yesterday, I was running late so I just prepared a small sandwich and packed it, thinking that I would have it in the office. It was in my hands and after arriving at the office, I saw our old guard at the entrance and just offered the sandwich to him which he happily accepted.

In that moment, I felt a different kind of satisfaction: I realized that when we share, even when we don't have much, we are sharing with something much greater than even the recipient. I really enjoyed that feeling of expansive connectedness from sharing my small sandwich.

905 Reads

Giving Grace a Ride

Yesterday I was leaving the grocery store, loading up my car with my newly purchased groceries when a woman walked up to me and asked,

"It's so hot outside. Would you mind giving me a ride home?"

I had a fleeting thought of fear and concern. But instead I just let myself feel love rather than fear in that moment.

I took a breath and smiled, turned to the woman, and said "sure."

I gave her a ride and we had a delightful conversation on the way to her house. When we exchanged goodbyes, I told her my name and she told me hers.

It was Grace.

877 Reads

Life-Changing Birthday Gifts

Today I was at the regional non-profit  blood center donating Source Plasma. My seat mate Tony was a lovely gentleman there for his 15 gallon milestone. Rather than hold a 65th birthday party he has invited his extended family to donate blood and blood based products including platelets, plasma, bone marrow, and source plasma in his honor. Over the course of this his "birthday week" 35 of his closest buds will be sharing the Gift of Life. What a life-changing birthday gift these people are giving! I signed my hubby up for an honorary Platelets donation on Tuesday, his first one, in Tony's honor. Every donation helps . In so many ways, these acts of kindness work to pay life forward for those in crisis. What would happen if we all did something similar? ... Read Full Story >>

1372 Reads

We Don't Always Know Our Impact

My little harp and I went back to the Memory Care home yesterday. I hadn't been in a couple weeks as I was feeling tired and adrift -- no feedback from Hospice and not sure how much the patients noticed. The volunteer coordinator called me last week and asked, well, when are you going there again? I replied that I was uncertain if anyone noticed or cared and that I felt very alone in my endeavor. I hadn't heard from Hospice in a couple of months. He became quiet and said, that was his fault. He told me that while the people there may not show response, the staff reports the residents sleep better and are calmer. Two of the men patients had passed, but my three gals were there and wheeled out to sit in a semi-circle while I played. One was asleep, another in some quiet place, but she did ... Read Full Story >>

1266 Reads

Sharing Lilies And Life's Moments

We became both recipient and also giver earlier today. A beautiful bouquet of calla lilies was shared with my hubby and I as we were on a walkabout in San Francisco. The giver was a gardener who was consciously gifting his beautiful blooms today in honor of what would have been his late wife's 75th birthday. "Para ti mis nuevos amigos. Please share these humble flowers, my wife's favorites in honor of her, in celebration of you, both named Lily. Love to share" As I took the flowers he kissed my cheek, pulling my husband in for a hearty embrace, bending oh so gently over to pet our small fluffy dog. " From me to you, mi familia es muy especial" After another sweet embrace we strolled past his neighborhood and went into Golden Gate Park. Sitting alone on a park bench was a blanket draped, weathered, and fragile appearing woman-child with her belongings in a ... Read Full Story >>

1081 Reads

Sneaky Kindness

My elderly neighbor is in Las Vegas! I'm picking up her newspapers and mail for her. I noticed that Japanese Knot Weed had shown its leaves, so I went over with herbicide.

Later, another neighbor was in her garden cutting back some things that will become overgrown if not pruned. Our elderly neighbor keeps saying that she will do these things, but we know that it's gotten beyond her abilities. It also becomes a safety issue.

As she would prefer that we didn't do it, we wait until she's away. We call it sneaky kindness.

939 Reads

Daffodils Abound

Today I was planning on anonymously leaving flowers on car windshields. I love doing this with daffodils this time of year. So I bought a few bunches.

During check-out at the store, they were short on baggers, so I bagged my own groceries and didn't pay attention to the prices scanned. The woman behind me did, though.

When I was heading out, she told me how great of a shopper I was and that I saved a lot of money. She was impressed. I thought that was nice of her to say, so I gave her one of my daffodil bunches and told her I'm putting them on windshields today as an act of kindness. She told me she was going to pay it forward because of this.

Turns out, we were parked right next to each other, which means there was a good chance she would have gotten the flowers anyway. I still was able to do the windshield act, as well.
 

917 Reads

Strangers Become Friends Over Dinner

There are days...and then there are days!  My wife and I went to this vegan restaurant to give it a try. As we're eating our pepper and salt tofu, a young lady (Debra) walks in. She isn't aware that the place is vegan. Turns out, Debra's looking for some meat. My wife and I talk up the place and invite her over to try some of our tofu. Debra tried it and enjoyed it. She was going to go out and talk with her mother, so we offered her some tofu to bring to her mom. A few minutes later they both walk back in. We had the rest of our meal by this time, so I brought over a sampling of what we had ordered. Debra then asked the waitress to just duplicate our order for them. Next, Debra says, "and we want to pay for their meal", pointing to my ... Read Full Story >>

2422 Reads

Joining Together to Ease A CoWorker's Painful Burden

All of the employees in my company helped to raise money for a girl who worked as a front office associate in a competing company. .A few weeks ago she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is from an economically weaker family; she lost her father while she was studying in 6th Std; she is the single parent of a 3-year-old daughter and there is no one to look after her kid. Being the sole bread-earner, it is very difficult for her family to handle the expenses of her treatment. Her monthly income only amounts up to INR.12000.($200) and her treatment cost is approximately INR.10, 00,000 ($ 16000). When we came to know of her diagnosis, we wanted to help our fellow hotelier, so we took this to the top level management and to our HR Department and we decided to contribute from all the employee’s salaries.  The employees from her company ... Read Full Story >>

1133 Reads

Students Do the Kindest Things

Last year my class focused a lot on Kindness


(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPWgT6qyN0o).

Today two of those students brought me a gift. I had a squishy, stress reliving, toy brain that got damaged last year and had to be discarded.

These two former students of mine went on a field trip to a local college and walked by a table about mental health and were given one of the brains.

Immediately they thought of me and replaced mine from last year.

Truly a RAOK! :)

 

822 Reads

Everything Evens Out Eventually

Friday we were out at a local restaurant and I asked my partner to pick a table that we would then get the bill for. He picked the same table that I had secretly chosen. It was a man, woman and child. We thought, "lets get their bill...anonymously of course!" So we worked it out with the waitress and I asked her to give them a Smile Card in place of their bill, which, along with tip came to about $46. I also won on a Quick Draw lottery ticket. Guess how much I won. Yup...$46.00. ... Read Full Story >>

1093 Reads

Giving And Receiving

A few years ago while working as an engineer we had foreign experts come to  work on construction crews.. One of the workers was really nice and really reminded me of my grandpa. He told me that before he left, he wanted my watch.

I smiled thinking that he was kidding, but just before he left the country I gave him my watch. Another guy  I was  friendly with eyed my other watch before leaving and I was thinking to myself that I wouldl not give him the watch because I already gave my other watch.

But just as he was leaving, I took off my other watch and gave it to him. I was without a watch but when I got home I remembered that my dad had offered me a watch that I told him that I didn't need at the time, so I ended up asking him for it. I think as we give more we end up receiving even more.

976 Reads

The Bracelet Off My Wrist

❤️ A friend admired a beautiful Tibetan medicine bracelet I was wearing & I took it right off my wrist & gave it her, saying "here, it's yours now." I felt she could use the good energy it holds, where she's at on her journey now, and told her to feel my love when she wears it. I always felt good wearing it.

It brought me such joy that I could do this, as I really love that bracelet and it was given to me by a dear KS sister-friend and, in the past, I might have had to think about it, but this time it was an automatic, no-hesitate act......thanks to my time here at KS & all of you. Grateful for the transformation our time here, sharing with one another, enables in us. ❤️
 

857 Reads

Repurposing A Simple Inflight Snack For Kindness

I took a short flight the other day and we were offered an in flight snack. A sandwich. Which I took knowing full well I wouldn't eat it (it contained dairy and meat). I took it with the intention that later that day I may come across a homeless person, who for them, this sandwich may be their only meal.

Well I did come across a homeless man later that day. This man and his dog Bella. Check out his smile as he's opening the sandwich. He shared half with Bella.

Seeing how hungry he was, I emptied my bag of all treats and food I had. I also went and purchased him a large coffee.

Kindness is such a simple thing for us to do, yet for the recipient, it can be life changing. ♥
 

872 Reads

Sisters In Need

Recently, while I was walking home from work, I noticed two small girls walking ahead of me, about 100 meters, or so. One was tending to the smaller of the two, attempting to help her walk. They obviously needed help.

So, I hurried my pace and caught up to them, where I noticed the smaller girl had cut her foot, and her older sister was starting to get tired.

I asked them what had happened, she said she fell at the park, cut her foot and got laughed at by the other kids. Luckily I had some bandaids with me and water, so I rinsed off her foot, and bandaged it.I picked her up, gave her a hug and told her that I was going to carry her home.

Her mom thanked me endlessly as she had been looking for them, when we got to their house.She tried to pay me but I told her no reward was required.

824 Reads

Coffee And Donuts For A Relocated Employee

About 10 days ago, I was given a $10 gift card for Dunkin Donuts from a co-worker. This was an attempt from that co-worker to make amends for a problem we encountered. It was a thoughtful and well appreciated gift. However, I use the Dunkin Donuts app on my phone for my regular Dunkin's run and already had $30 plus dollars loaded onto my account.  I decided to hold the $10 gift card for such an opportune time. Fast forward, I didn't know who to give the $10 gift card to - until this morning. We have a new worker who started on Monday who relocated from out of town. On the outside, he appears to have everything together, but I have reason to believe that his funds are extremely low (something I saw this morning). So I have hidden the $10 gift card (along with a Smile Card from KindSpring) ... Read Full Story >>

1233 Reads

You Never Know the Effects of Your Actions

It was driven home, to both my husband & myself, that we really never know how our small acts of kindness may impact someone.

We were at a Wake yesterday, for an acquaintance we knew from our local park. My husband used to walk around the park with him & they would talk on the phone once in a while. When we went up to his wife to share our condolences & introduced ourselves to her as her husband's park friends, what she said to my husband amazed us.

She said her husband always spoke about Harvey (my hubby) with great fondness & had a picture with an inspiring quote on it that Harv had given him on their fridge & wouldn't let anyone remove it. And that he was always sharing things Harv had said with them. We were blown away, as we had no clue about any of this. I almost cried & I could see Harv was visibly moved too.

So, never doubt the power of your "small" acts of kindness, because they can have a HUGE effect on people.

 

1140 Reads




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