Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Sharing Warmth and Love

My friend waited at home with me the other evening whilst her partner drove mine and my son to the health centre. In the course of our conversation we ended up looking inside a big wardrobe I have, where winter coats are stored. There was my very hippy knitted pixie hood jacket in there in the brightest of fiery colours. I could almost feel my friend's eyes light up and her arms reach out when she spotted it. So I gave it to her and she was so excited. She wore it for the rest of the evening, and if I'm honest with myself I enjoyed having it more than I enjoyed actually wearing it. Afterwards I realized how easy it had been to part with. I'm fortunate to have so much 'stuff' and friends to share it with.   ... Read Full Story >>

1398 Reads

Seeing The Aged Pup's Beautiful Soul And Embracing A Floral Gift

The lady was on the wide walkway as were my hubby and I. Her white-muzzled dog was behind her moving slowly. The dog caught my gaze and he grinned in a precious toothy tongue lolling way. I smiled back and asked if I could pet him. The lady nodded and as I reached out to pet the dog, he met my hand with a doggie kiss.

"These are for you," the lady said as she then handed me a bouquet from her cutting garden just beyond the walkway," for seeing my dog's beautiful soul".

Tonight back in our hotel room the flowers now in a vase, I am reminded of the importance of seeing others beautiful souls, furry friends included.
 

1330 Reads

Desparate Times, Extraordinary Effort

The drizzle had just stopped in the late night today when I walked on the streets. Coming in the opposite direction was a woman, perhaps in her 40's or early 50's carrying a small bucket and curiously looking left and right as if looking for something in the streets. She had an air of desperation around her and after observing her I noticed that she would fish out something from the ground every once in a while. Curious, I decided to turn around and follow her because we were walking in opposite directions. Perhaps she sensed me following her because she immediately sped up and as a result, I decided to slow down and enter a nearby store. I decided she probably needed help even though she wasn't asking in particular. So I bought her some food from the store and put some cash in the grocery bag. Then I ran after her ... Read Full Story >>

1641 Reads

Sharing a Tiny Space with Big Heart

On his way home, my husband noticed a family struggling in the middle of the road with their malfunctioning car. Though he was dead tired having worked for twelve hours, he stopped to give them a ride in his tiny car.

The family of six struggled to make place for each other and my husband expressed how apologetic he was as his car wasn't too comfortable for the family. The father then replied, "Your car is small, but your heart is BIG, so thank you for your generosity."

It's always nice to do whatever we can to make a difference!
 

1260 Reads

Letting Others In

When you give out kindness and being friendly to others, it does come back. We have just finished having the whole house painted. It was hard to live around this. But I supplied good coffee and beautiful biscuits. We didn't complain and moved the furniture each night so the painting could be done easily. I became friends with this young man over the two weeks while he painted. We weren't going to paint the bathroom area as it made living there too difficult and were going to arrange it for September. He talked to me about getting it done quickly for me and also did the front door in this fantastic high gloss paint. When we went to pay him he said the bathroom and door were a gift to us. I was stunned. He explained that we had made him so welcome that he wanted to do this. On the last day we ... Read Full Story >>

1735 Reads

A Child's Truth

This kindness really touched me, and it looks like it may ripple for years to come.

Probably the best note I have ever gotten from a student in 21 years of teaching. This was spontaneous, not an assignment. Had to frame it. Let me translate:

"I will write perfect. I will never break a rule. I will clean my desk. I will get blue money (classroom cash). I will go to college. I will have a job. I will become the boss of all the knuckleheads. I will participate. I will have a growth mindset. I will never bully. I will be nice. I promise."

#AprilRAOK #BeKindToOneAnother
 

2950 Reads

A Perfect Gift for a Star Wars Fan

My beautiful mother in law offered a Star Wars R2D2 cookie jar to us asking if we would like it. How fabulous! I could have taken it and kept it, but I knew it would be far more loved and appreciated so much more by someone other than me, a Star Wars fan.

Although I appreciate its greatness, Star Wars isn't my thing. But I do so happen to know a man who for him, Star Wars is most certainly a "thing". A BIG thing!

So I decided to wrap it, purchase a brand new big bag of chocolate chip cookies to go with it, and gift it to him, a teacher who will love it so much more than any of us ever could. And I love that. Love that I thought of him, love that my mother in law gifted it so openly. And love that I took the time this morning to package it all perfectly to deliver later today.

Life is good when you fill it with love and kindness. Especially a kindness that hasn't only come from you, but from another also. You simply pass it on. 💕
 

1121 Reads

Kindness for Kindness

I don’t consider myself a touchy-feely, feel-good sort of person. I’m more into hit-and-run acts of kindness—that thing where you do something nice then run away before the recipient realizes what’s just happened. 

We sold our pet sitter one of our old cars and hold the note on it and today we’re going to let him know that we are closing the loan out early because he’s so good with our animals, and dependable, and kind, and just needs a break. Except that we’re going to do it a letter that we hand him as we are walking out the door. That way we can avoid the whole awkward ‘Thank you’ thing. Because it isn’t about being thanked, it’s about lifting someone else’s burden, even for just a minute.
 

1240 Reads
  • Posted by overeducatedtexa
  • Nov 30, 2017
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Understand with the Heart

I was visiting my Dad at the nursing home where he's still recovering from the spinal surgery, and when I was heading down the hall to leave, this dear elderly man with beautiful blue eyes and a shock of white hair asked me to help him. He had a little trouble speaking, and so I knelt down and held his hand and asked him what he needed, and he wanted his shoes. I told him that I didn't work,there, but would go get his nurse and we'd find his shoes for him. Well, God love him, he continued to try and speak, but I couldn't understand what he was trying to say, and so I went and found his nurse, and then held his hand again and looked into his eyes and said, "It's okay, sir, she's getting your shoes now. Everything is okay." Well, the smile he gave me was just ... Read Full Story >>

1605 Reads

Inspiring Fun

I belong to a group of seniors called "Seniors Acting Up" We entertain at Care Homes. We wear costumes and do skits, songs, jokes... We like to put smiles on the faces of old folks who don't have a lot of fun in their lives. After one show a patient went to the piano and played beautifully. The aide said they had been trying to get her to play for two years! Experiences like this make us feel good! ... Read Full Story >>

1097 Reads

Ripples At The Bakery

They came into the bakery with their father. A little brother and sister; both were very respectful and receptive to the man who held the door open for them. Their upbeat "thank you's" really made an impression on me. When I received my change, I gave each of them  £1 and explained that I was so impressed with their good manners. Their dad was not buying pastries, only bread. He allowed them to take the money. I left the bakery and as I was coming out of another shop I bumped into them again, each carefully carrying their little treat in a little bakery bag so that it did not get damaged. They waved to me and smiled; we were now friends. As I smiled back and walked to my car I thought of their eagerness to relay this event to mum. A simple act of kindness starting with the man who ... Read Full Story >>

1979 Reads

Celebrate with Giving

To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, Mary and I bought 5 scratchers [lottery tickets] and 5 Gerber Daisies. Then, we looked for couples out and about.

For each couple, we introduced ourselves and told them we were celebrating our silver wedding anniversary by spreading love and luck to other couples.

Reactions were great! Some were shocked at first, but everyone was smiling by the end. Gave our luck and love to couples who'd been married 23 years, 39 years, 48 year, and 59 years.

We also gave a set to our 18 year old daughter and her boyfriend. One couple wouldn't take the scratcher, but gladly took the flower, so we gave the scratcher to a woman with a sign reading "Anything helps."

What a wonderful way to share our celebration with others!

##AprilRAOK #BeKindToOthers
 

1682 Reads

Ramping it Up

I am helping a doctor to make an addition to a hospital . The hospital needs to provide an emergency exit in the form of a ramp for the hospital building which has four floors. I am helping the hospital owners to build this ramp made up of steel sections. We hope to complete this work soon, so the patients will receive the benefit. It is all about people.   ... Read Full Story >>

1640 Reads

Timeless Smiles

This morning when I was taking the goats to the forest, my eye was caught by a scrap of paper under a bush. It must have been there since one of our summer courses. I bet it's author didn't imagine it would be brightening someone's day all these months later!

942 Reads

Anything Will Help

I try to keep a bag in my car with items for those who might be in need, but I ran out a few weeks ago.

I went to the 99 Cent Store yesterday to stock up. I made two bags in the parking lot with a few items: trail mix, dried pineapple, toothbrush, toothpaste, and bandages.

As I drove out, there was a man sitting with a sign that said anything would help. I told him I had a bag and told him what was in it, and asked if any of the items would be helpful.

He said anything would be great. When I gave him the bag, he was delighted. I guess he didn't expect to get all of the items. He thanked me a bunch. I told him we were meant to find each other that day.

I still have one bag left. Next time I need to remember to add water bottles and socks.

#AprilRAOK #BeKindToOneAnother
 

1323 Reads

Take It In Stride

Yesterday I went to dinner with a group of women. I have rarely - maybe never - had so much go wrong with the ordering process - it seemed that the restaurant was out of half of what was on the menu. Our waiter was obviously very new and very young. He had to come back often to ask some of us to change our order.
                                   
Nearly everyone I know would've gotten upset at the latest by the third time this young man came to our table to tell us yet again that they were out of something - but not this group.

We joked and laughed until we nearly cried. We joked with the waiter. While I saw it in everyone's eyes that they were not particularly happy, everyone was determined not to let it get to them, to have fun and not blame it on the waiter. And everyone still left a respectable tip for this poor young man.
 

800 Reads

Angels All Around Us

❤️ From The Good News Network: 😇Woman Called ‘Angel’ After Her Sweet Gesture Was Recorded at Walmart ❤️There may not be literal angels with wings hiding around us, but there are compassionate people who are ready to give and inspire whenever possible. "Anna Melissa Olivarez witnessed one such angel in action earlier this month at a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas. Olivarez was waiting in line behind a man who was trying to pay for his cart full of groceries with a gift card. After swiping the card several times, however, it was rejected. But when the man said that he had no other means of paying for the groceries, a woman in the middle of the line jumped forward, offered to pick up the tab, and swiped her own card. The cashier and the other customers waiting in line praised the woman for her kindness even though she was fairly nonchalant over the gesture – but ... Read Full Story >>

1250 Reads

Interaction with a Door To Door Salesman

Usually, when a stranger with a clipboard appears at my door, I am immediately on the defensive and closed to what the person is trying to sell me, trying to shoo them away as quickly as I can.
 
Yesterday a young man appeared at our front door and I made the conscious effort to listen and be present to what he was saying. As it turns out he was quite an entrepreneur and I was able to see what courage it took for him to be going door to door experiencing rejection and doing it over and over again. I acknowledged him for his courage and for his great product idea. I did not buy it because I did not need it, but l was open to the idea and would have bought if I needed it.
 
More importantly, I think he felt encouraged and we both walked away with a positive experience.
 

945 Reads
  • Posted by catherinechoi
  • Nov 22, 2017
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It Is Wheelie Hard To Reach Inside The Freezer Cabinet When You Are In Wheelchair.

I was just doing my shopping, reading from my list and getting things - when I noticed a gentleman in a wheelchair looking into the freezer display just along from me. I asked if he needed assistance and reached in and got a couple of items for him. He was also looking for another item which he mentioned but it was not in the section we were at. He thanked me for helping him and we went our separate ways, moments later I noticed the item he was looking for in a different freezer cabinet. I caught up with him and he came back to the freezer area. He was happy that I had found the item he was wanting, we then ended up next to each other at the checkout, I left feeling I had found a friend, and he left with the items he required.   ... Read Full Story >>

1311 Reads

A Mother Daughter Adventure at the Laundromat

My daughter and I have just returned from an adventure. We headed over to our local laundromat near the community college. Kelsey and I had made up small clear plastic baggies of 8 quarters each with a Smile card inside, and we brought three baggies to leave in plain view. We entered when the laundromat had just opened at eight am. The place was very quiet and areas to set out our baggies were easily found. We then went next door to get ourselves a coffee and pastry. As we were paying we heard the squeal of delight. A lady with two little preschoolers had found one of our LOVE leaves of quarters. She was sharing with her young sons how some kind person had given her a special gift by placing quarters for her first load of laundry right in plain view by the commercial washer. Kelsey and I sat outside ... Read Full Story >>

1091 Reads




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