Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Compassionate Captain

I have been promoted to tugboat captain, and will assume my first command early July. One of the most difficult challenges I face will be keeping morale high in an environment of high turnover and uncertain future. These are a result of our contract coming to an end within a year, when many expected to continue working here until they retired. The captain has a great deal of influence over the culture of a vessel. I have worked on tugs where the captain was constantly negative, and the rest of the crew followed suit. Except for me, that is! My intentions are nearly always positive, a fact which was summed up as a "good attitude" and was a factor in my promotion. I feel confident that a culture based on mutual respect, service to others, emphasizing strengths over weaknesses and compliments over criticisms will more than make up for the demoralizing winds ... Read Full Story >>

1110 Reads

A Mom's Love

My mom bought a set of everyday silverware for us and a set for herself some years back while she was still working because we liked the shape of the forks. Silly but enjoyable Scandinavian. Now that we are a family of three our forks get used up quickly, so I asked my mom for more forks for Christmas.

But my mom doesn't work anymore and she has never been what you would call financially prudent. She told me what the per 'fork price' was and then told me she was sorry she could not afford to buy us new ones for Christmas. And instead, my mom wrapped up all of her set and gave it to us for Christmas.

Hard to respond to mom's love.

1092 Reads

Riding off, Smiling

Day One of the Pondicherry – Auroville 21-Day Kindness Challenge posed a fun task: pay forward a surprise treat. I am riding by Indian Coffee House and decide it would be an excellent venue for my gift. 12 years ago, it was the site of a different sort of pay-someone’s-bill gift, not so much a pay-it-forward as an act of connection, bringing together three lives in brief moment over a cup of coffee. Indian Coffee House will be familiar to anyone who has read Yann Martel’s “The Life of Pi”, which begins at a table in that venerated Pondicherry institution. Indian Coffee House is the kind of place that is too-rapidly disappearing from Pondicherry: it is awful, yet charming. These days, Pondicherry restaurants are awful and not charming. Breakfast-time is something of a men’s club at Indian Coffee House, and today is no exception. The tables are packed with middle-aged men. How to ... Read Full Story >>

1341 Reads

She Thought Her Kindness Tag Went Awry, But Her Kindness Partner-In-Crime Stepped In

I do something called homeschooling. It's like going to are regular school, but you get to study what you want to study, and you do your studying at home. But some subjects like Math, History, and English are compulsory.  My home school friend's mom and dad are writers. They love everything related to reading and writing. I wanted to tag my friend's dad on his birthday by giving him a book which I thought he would love. I wanted to bring it to a learning session at their home but I forgot it. When my father came to pick me up from class, he brought the book along with him! How thoughtful my dad was! I got all excited and left the book at my friend's dad's work table. What a lucky chance that my  friends dad wasn't in his study/office at the time! After that my friend (who I study with ), ... Read Full Story >>

1219 Reads

Feeding Her Community!

"Little girl grew a 40-pound cabbage, feeding 275 people. Now, she’s making it her life" "Most children have hobbies such as playing outside with friends, playing hopscotch, and even swimming. But this little girl has a hobby that’s different from all of her friends. And it was this hobby that has allowed her to be able to help her community. When Katie Stagliano was around 9 years old, she was given a class project to grow her first cabbage from just one seed. She took it home and planted it in the back corner of her home garden. It didn’t even take hers long to come up and begin to grow. But as friends came over, they pointed out that it is bigger than any of theirs. They asked her what she was doing and she just told them that she waters it every day. But it didn’t take long for it ... Read Full Story >>

1016 Reads

Her Inquiry Led To A Touching Connection Between Them

I had to run to the store for pet stuff the other day, and I noticed that one of the young women who works there looked different. I'm in there all of the time and we chat, and so I knew that she was pregnant with twins. When I saw her the other day though, her pregnancy belly was gone, and I thought maybe she had lost the babies. I wasn't sure if I should say anything and so did a quick prayer and felt a positive nudge, and so I gently asked her how she was doing and that I hoped she didn't think I was being too forward, but that I'd noticed the change and was concerned. She opened up and shared with me that the babies came very early and are in the hospital for awhile, but that they are doing good. I was so overcome with gratitude and ... Read Full Story >>

1131 Reads

Enough Desert For All

Today a former neighbor invited us for a barbecue. We brought her flowers and a bar of my home-made soap as a gift.
We all ate too much and so were not able to eat the desert - one cheesecake and one key lime pie. Since she's always on a diet, we took both of them home with us, just leaving her a piece of each.

On the way home we saw a crew from the electric company, still working to get power to the the last few hundred households that are still out. So we stopped the car and gave them the boxed up cheesecake, thanking them for working hard all through the holiday weekend.

They smiled and thanked us for the cake.

1007 Reads

The Kind Man

The kind man, who noticed that an elder woman was struggling to find a suitable place to rest her husband's wheelchair and sit beside him got up, moved his chair and offered his spot. And then his wife offered her chair to the woman.

I was so moved that I gave him a Peace dove in appreciation for his kindness.

He seemed a little embarrassed, but accepted my thanks, saying, "Well, we all need some extra kindness now and then!" and put the dove in his jean pocket.

I'm smiling still.

There are so many instances of these magical moments, my kind friends, and they are so more often than not. Take notice and appreciate. It so brings more kindness into being!

3765 Reads

Cashier gets a sweet surprise

I was in line at the grocery store buying chocolates of different types to give to a student for whom I'm a volunteer tutor, since she has finals coming up. I was chatting with the cashier as he noticed the variety and I asked him what his favorite was. I then bought those for him and gave it to him and he was so shocked and happy. I can still see the look on his face as he said no one had ever done anything like that for him before! It totally made my day.

880 Reads

A Couple Of Small Acts.

Haven't been able to harp this week due to playing catch up with the mundane aspects of life, like going to the dentist. Still not near caught up. But today I was able to sneak a dove and smile card into a patient's purse and I tipped the gas station guy, which he did not expect. Cheered me up to do so, as it has been a challenging week.

955 Reads

A Caring Care Package For Her Pet Lover Friend

A good friend of mine had a dog he loved very much. It was his best friend. Unfortunately last Friday the dog was killed and he is heartbroken. I went through all my old photos . I am ordering him a nice collage of him and his dog and am going to send a care package to try and cheer him up. Hopefully it works. I know I can't replace his pet and best friend but putting a smile on his face might help.

757 Reads

Bus Money

My son's friend was due to be staying at my house last weekend. Mid-morning Friday I got a message from his Mum saying that she hadn't been able to withdraw any money from the bank and as a result her son had no cash to pay for the bus so he'd have to go home on his own school bus instead (the kids have free buses to their own homes, but have to pay when they take another).

I couldn't magic any bus money to him either, so at the end of the day I drove down to the school and collected both boys so that they could still enjoy their weekend together. On Monday morning I gave my son's friend his bus fare to the school, plus the extra he still owed the bus driver from last time he visited us.

His Mum has all sorts of stuff going on in her life just now, so her son staying with me for the weekend was probably a kindness to her as well as to the boys.

859 Reads

Roses From A Gentle Bear

Down the street from where I live, an elderly, big ol' gentle bear of a man lives with his wife and their dachshund, Stella. We have waved at each other in passing for ten years but never spoke until two days ago. I always wanted to talk to him because he has little grave markers for his dogs in the yard and he even likes the same congressman as me, which is something I found out through a yard sign. My dog, Clary, and I walked by last Friday when the man waved. He was fussing with his rosebushes and he summoned me over, saying that he wanted to give me one of the roses to gift to my husband. He added that he loves to cut them for his wife, and told me that they had been married for 50 years. I told him that my husband Tom and I ... Read Full Story >>

1091 Reads

Kindness Travels

Yesterday as I drove home I saw a man who appeared to be homeless. He had a shopping cart stuck between the curb and the street. It was partly tipped over and some items were in the street. He seemed to be struggling with the cart.

I immediately made a U-Turn to come back and help the man. When I got back, I was so pleased to see that a woman had beaten me to it. She helped the man, and I drove on.

I tend to think that it's my job to help others. So, it makes me so pleased to see others who feel the same. Kindness truly does travel.

#AprilRAOK #BeKindToOneAnother

940 Reads

Kindness Was There, Just When I Needed It to Be

Today was not a good day. One of our dogs got sick last night (gee I'm posting way too much about the dogs these days!!!!) and I only got maybe 3 hours of sleep. Today my mind wasn't working. My eyes stung. My nerves were shot. My body hurt. But we had some errands to do so we went out. By the time we got to the pharmacy I was crashing. And our pills weren't ready because the prescription had run out and in three days they hadn't been able to contact the doctor for a refill. So I stood there calling the doctors office. Again and again. And again. Their phone system wasn't working. I couldn't get through. I wanted to scream, cry, throw stuff. I was done. So I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a minute, just breathing. Then the pharmacist called me over, past the line, ... Read Full Story >>

1324 Reads

Inspiring Story

Good Evening Kindness Kittens! How are my KS Lightworkers today? Here is a lovely story I read in the New Zealand Herald today: An Auckland teen has warmed the hearts of commuters on the city's trains. Tainui Singh-Clark, 16, has taken it upon himself to give kind messages to fellow travellers. Preparing between 20 to 30 messages a day, Singh-Clark came up with the concept when he saw a woman alone on the train one evening. "I caught the train home by myself. There was a grumpy lady on the train who looked all sad and looked down a bit. I gave her a smile and she didn't smile back at me," he told Newshub. "It made me realise everyone else on the train is kind of like that. No one else really smiles on the train and so I decided from then on I'd write notes morning and afternoon." Photos of the notes have surfaced ... Read Full Story >>

1489 Reads

Coffee Time!

I grabbed some breakfast on the way in to the office today. It came with a free coffee, so I gave the coffee to my coworker when I got to work.

She has helped me at work when we were short staffed in recent weeks, so it was nice to give her a treat. Remember to express gratitude to others on a daily basis and see how it makes you and the recipient feel.

908 Reads

Turning Tragedy Into Triumph

From the day he was born he roared, and he never stopped. He was smart, fun, loving, fearless, unpredictable, outgoing, loyal, witty, creative, thoughtful, respectful, and a shoulder for everyone. On a rainy-day Cameron died in a car accident driving to work after school; just 2 months shy of graduation. The community cried. Cameron touched so many lives in his short time here on earth and continues to touch lives today though the good works he left behind, and the legacy he left in the hearts of all who knew him.. His friends remember going with him on his crazy adventures camping, swimming the width of the lake just for fun to volunteering the night a tornado hit our town. He is remembered for his sense of humor, his ability to make any situation into a good one, his big bear hugs, and his contagious smile. He inspired others to love ... Read Full Story >>

1246 Reads

Always On My Mission

Always on a mission to find as many Little Free Libraries as possible.We were able to locate this one during our recent stay in Taos. Located in a residential area at the edge of a large park, and painted in many bright colors, it was very easy to spot. Husband, who is great help with maps and directions, is the one who actually spotted it first. iPad directions were a bit sketchy.

As I always travel with a tote bag full of books in the car, and the library was a little under stocked, we filled it up and were on our way. Have learned to always check the LFL site map before we travel out of town. Those LFL’s are everywhere!

867 Reads

A Hug From The Heart Between Strangers

I was gifted earlier today with one of my most heart-warming, and sweet, peace dove experiences ever! I was sitting quietly reading a new book I am loving, when chatter outside our door caught my attention It went on for a while, so, of course I just had to go out and investigate. It was a young man going door-to-door selling window installations. As he left our neighbor's porch we smiled at each other and struck up a conversation. He had just graduated from college and was doing this as a summer job. I'd say he's about 21 years of age, tops. I was mesmerized by his eyes, which were the bluest of blue, like cornflower blue. He was so young, so sweet and genuine that my maternal instinct was triggered and I just wanted to give him a cuddle. Anyway, after some small talk, I told him I wanted to give him something ... Read Full Story >>

1293 Reads




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