Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Mystery Student

I was on the receiving in of a Random Act Of Kindness this morning. I found an envelope on my desk created by an anonymous student. Inside was what you see below.

The blue money is part of our classroom economy, and the "bank" is a shoebox. It says "Here is extra money for the box!"

809 Reads

A Student's Letter of Gratitude To Her Teacher


Dear Mrs. B;

When I graduate in 43 days you will be there
Like when I came in from recess covered in oozing mud
You cleaned me up and didn't ask what happened
When I stopped sniffling and told you
You offered me warm wet wipes
Then listened to what I wanted to do.
You helped me face those bullies
We called my parents
The 6 parents and 4 kids all came into school
We all came to conference in your office
The kids had to pledge to do kind acts with me

We all planted the garden boxes together.
Thank you for your respect and your love

Forever your friend, formerly your student,

Maggie

1067 Reads

I Put Down My Magazine

Sitting in the waiting room yesterday at the doctor's office, two women were fidgety and impatient. There was a long wait and their unrest was palpable. I was trying to stay focused on a magazine article that really interested me, but try as hard as I could, their energy kept distracting me. I knew I should put my magazine down and 'Mishize' them, but had been resisting because I was so enjoying my read. Anyway, to make a short story long, (laughing out loud) I put down my read, smiled at them, engaged them in conversation. Trying to help the nervous woman feel calmer and trying to change the focus of the other woman who was a constant complainer. I centered myself in Light and spoke kindly. I find it so difficult to be around complainers. It so tries my patience. At one point, I told the complainer "a watched pot never boils" when ... Read Full Story >>

2378 Reads

A Lost Friend Comes Home.

Change is something we can all do but often don't. I had a friend that I knew for nearly 40 yrs. The most beautiful, loving person I had known. Also the most shattered and broken woman I had ever met. But what she was, was pure kindness. We were a good match. Kind attracts kind. As we all know. I spent years changing, falling, getting up and changing. It was hard and often lonely. She spent years being used, broken helping and still letting others walk all over her. I tried to help her, as I was helping myself, to move up and put herself first. Over those years we broke up as friends three times. Always for the same reason, she was a victim and couldn't put herself first. Well we found each other again, two years ago and it was like coming home to a very loved sister. The change in ... Read Full Story >>

1517 Reads

Store Your Karmabucks Up In Heaven!

Yesterday I posted a story and afterwards gave away some Karmabucks as I read others' stories. Later, as I got into bed and completed my examination of conscience/reflection on the day, I came to the realization that I was hoarding Karmabucks. Wow! It was a shock to see this in myself. It is bad enough that in the real world I have money in the bank and don't give away more. I don't have a lot of money, but enough to pay my bills, help my daughters now and then and some little bit saved for a rainy day. I know I could give more but hold back and feel some comfort in a little pile of money. It is quite humbling to see in myself that it is hard to practice the beautiful belief that the needs of my brothers and sisters on earth are more important than having a ... Read Full Story >>

1421 Reads

He Buys Packs of Socks at a Whole Sale Store, and The Homeless Benefit from His Thoughtful Kindness

So, this didn't happen today, but over the course of the past few months. When I go to Costco, I buy a pack of socks. They have some nice thick ones. I keep them in my truck, and when I roll up on someone who is homeless, I offer them a pair. With one exception, the recipients are ecstatic.

Socks are the number one requested item at homeless shelters.

The best to get if you can, are black socks (because they hide the dirt) that are treated with Microban. There are seldom opportunities to change or wash socks, so this is a big deal. And as anyone who's been in the military knows, clean, dry socks are lifesavers. They keep feet from sores and rot.

1242 Reads

A Free Movie Ticket For A Stranger

I had the good fortune to recently receive a free double movie pass through a contest. I was not able to find a friend who wanted to join me for the screening tonight, so I was planning to go alone.

My plan was to ask the ticket person at the box office to give the extra ticket to someone who came to buy a ticket for that same screening. Went I went to the theatre, there were two women ahead of me in line. I heard one lady ask for a ticket for the same movie I was seeing. I offered her the extra free ticket. She was happily surprised and accepted. She offered to buy me a treat, like popcorn, but I said No.

I asked her to Pay it Forward and she said she would. I'm so happy that I was able to offer this ticket to her. It made us both feel good.

1168 Reads

She Welcomed A Woman To Lean On Her Shoulder During Mass at Church

Today I went to church and was grateful for the quiet. A woman with mental health issues came in and anxiously asked to sit next to me, so I of course said yes. She leaned into my shoulder and whispered to me for much of the service but I was grateful for the opportunity to truly live my faith by helping her feel welcome.

She cried at the end of the Mass and said it was because of people like me and others who haven't rejected her that she has not lost her faith in life, humanity or God. I was humbled by her gratitude and happy she left with a smile on her face.

935 Reads

She Tagged Each Of Her Classmates With An Anonymous Act Of Kindness And Her Teacher Helped Her

A couple days ago, i decided that the people in my class needed something to pick them up a little bit. It is getting close to the end of the school year and everyone seemed like they needed something to make them smile and bring a little joy into their end of the year slump. So I teamed up with my teacher to make it happen. I went home and wrote out 21 hand written notes, each specifically for one person. I worked on these notes for two days and planned everything out perfectly so that no one would no I wrote them. Then on that Thursday, my teacher passed out all of the notes to the anonymous notes the students, including the decoy one I made for myself to keep it a secret and one for her, so people wouldn't think she was responsible or it either. I was super happy to ... Read Full Story >>

1789 Reads

A Neighborhood Watch Website Brought Five Strangers Together To Rescue These Two Wild Baby Animals

Rescued 2 baby squirrels today! An appeal for help when out on "Nextdoor," a neighborhood watch internet site, to rescue them from a deep cement canal, so 5 of us (strangers) congregated at a footbridge over the canal and searched for a way to get down the 12-foot drop. We managed to find a way. Among us, we had brought rubber boots, long-handled rake, flashlight, binoculars, head lamp, and two cat carriers. Michael heroically dropped down and headed upstream with the gear. Chris and I waited at the footbridge and bit our nails. Finally Michael reappeared. Chris had brought a long leash, which we let down to the canal floor. Michael tied it onto the cat carrier and we hoisted it up. I happen to be a trained squirrel rescuer, so I drove the squirrels to the local expert, whose address I knew, who WAS at home. One squirrel was feisty but the ... Read Full Story >>

1602 Reads

A Group of Friends Got The Idea Offer Some Refreshments To Traffic Officers While In An Intense Heatwave

Serving the servant, indeed gives the feeling of being a good human.
Weather nowadays plays a great role to push the humanity within us. it's more than 43 degree (Celsius) hot here and while on our way to the office we noticed the traffic police standing still and performing their duties with same sense of responsibility despite of heat waves.

Buttermilk was the best option we could do for them, and clicked on the spot. We happily distributed buttermilk and lime juice (common drink in our county) to all the traffic police staff at different points with a team of 4-5 friends. They deserve a huge respect.

1274 Reads

Their Neighbor Is Recovering From Surgery So They Decided To Extend A Helping Hand With The Neighbor's Car

We washed and cleaned our car today. My neighbour is recovering from surgery and still not entirely fit. I knocked on her door and asked for her car keys. She gave them to me, and my husband and I cleaned the inside and the outside.

Oh gosh!! Tons of dog hair, mud, grass, dust, spilt coffee... It was a big job, but we did it with love. She was so happy when we returned her car. If I'd had the spare money, I would have filled the petrol tank, but since we live next door, she might have thought it was odd if I'd just driven off in her car!

981 Reads

Rain Deterred Their Plans, So They All Pulled Together To Help The University Choir Get To Their Destination

It began to rain yesterday morning and it still hasn't stopped. Rain suggests gentle. It has not been gentle. The rain barrel, waiting to be attached to the downspout, was knocked over, not to mention a few chairs in the patio are on their sides. The university choir was to be transported to our venue by 4:45 p.m. They would be missing dinner at their dorm so one of our choir members prepared both a vegetarian meal as well as a non-vegetarian meal for the 25 singers. Others of us prepared side-dishes. Their bus never arrived for them. In the pouring rain, they had to take the "L" from Hyde Park to a stop near our concert site. Several of our members, attired in concert dress (long black skirts, tuxedos) drove to the station making several trips to pick up the student singers, and not all of them arrived on the same ... Read Full Story >>

1449 Reads

She Accepted Some Unexpected Overtime, But Didn't Pack Extra Food. She Then Got Back To Her Desk With A Surprise Waiting

Last week I finally completed my first 6 months in my new position and by getting through my first 6 months I am now eligible to work overtime!  I was asked and accepted some today.

Well, because it was unexpected, I didn't have extra food or snacks packed and I had mentioned this to a co-worker in passing. After all the regular staff had gone home I returned to my work area to grab something and found that she had left me an apple and a note and an extra apple she had but wanted to give it to me ''just in case''.

What a nice gesture! A small, simple gesture - just perfect. Thanks!

1192 Reads

Listening Is Love

Listening is actually a color of the rainbow of love. The other day, a child came to me, deeply disturbed. I listened to him. As he poured out his story, he was restless. After a while, he felt a bit calmer.

After that I asked him if there is anybody who, he thinks, loves him. After a pause he said "no". I looked into his eyes and communicated love, and I also said: "I love you".

Suddenly there was a flash on his face, a realignment of his body, and he got connected within. This was just twenty minutes of listening. When I listened to his story, as he came to the end, I was different, and he was different.   

988 Reads

She Was Crying And Feeling Lonely In The Hospital, When Her Roommate Stepped In And Called The Nurse

Wanted to share a really nice story from the hospital. There was one night where I was feeling particularly lonely. I'd been away from home for just over a month before this happened so it had been ages since I'd spent time with the kids, the Easter holidays were nearly over and my husband wasn't able to visit much. After I tucked myself up for the night I was having a little cry to myself. Obviously not as subtly as I thought as the lady in the next bed noticed and called one of the ward assistants in. She came and chivvied me up, passed me tissues and forced me to talk. My Portuguese isn't spectacular and I just wanted to be left alone, but these two ladies wouldn't let me be. When I said I was lonely they told me their stories too, and suddenly we were talking. I went ... Read Full Story >>

1854 Reads

The "Weeding Party" Got Together For Their Beloved 92 Year Old Neighbor To Surprise Her In a Sweet Way

Our cross lots neighbors, a family of six, four kids under the age of 12, are outside working in the yard of Eula, their south edged, 92 year old neighbor, while she is away for the weekend. They are holding a "Weeding Party" to surprise her. So far, they have unearthed lots of nature's treasures including long ago disposed of glass bottles, aluminum cans, and shredded fabric pieces. Terence, the patriarch and Melanie, the matriarch have built a large bin, and are in the initial stage of composting four large bags of brown and green waste, Sarah, the eldest of the four kids, and Stephen the next in line (ages 12 and 10 respectively) are making a Welcome Back sign and cookies to leave on Eula's stoop. What a grand surprise it will be. Eula, who is no longer able to stoop to weed successfully, loves her yard and is often outside on ... Read Full Story >>

1770 Reads

Pebbles Of Kindness by The People of Spetses, Greece

I am currently visiting Greece  (after almost 22 years since my first one-day visit) and I am really overwhelmed with the kindness of the people my husband and I encounter here. When we arrived on the charming island of Spétses, our host (a woman, who's husband works at sea) insisted on helping me to carry my suitcase for the last few steps to our room. When we left for Athens this morning, she helped me again with my luggage. And when we paid our bill, she also gave us a small token of appreciation: jams she made herself. I will always remember Vasiliki from Spétses and her kindness during these three days. I treasure all these pebbles of kindness on a foreign trip: people taking time to talk to you in a quaint little shop, answering our questions in their best Greek English possible; my husband buying me a delicate pendant (the Greek ... Read Full Story >>

1139 Reads

Other's Positivity Was a Learning in Letting Go Of Anger

KindSpring helps us in so many ways that we don't even realize until we run into different situations. For two days in a row I had reasons to be very angry and say things I know I would later regret. In the past I would obsess over them and stay in that angry place for days or longer.

Now, thanks to examples from the people on KindSpring and their stories, I was able to look at the situations rationally, figure out solutions, and let the anger go. Instead of creating encounters with these people coming from an angry place and making the problems even worse, the solutions instead will resolve them in a positive, healthy way.

Thank you all for your example and teachings that are showing me healthier ways to handle life's challenges. Not carrying around that anger allows me to be more kind and compassionate to the people involved and that is a big step for me.

1031 Reads

He Refused Her Offer to Play the Harp For Three Weeks But Softened When He Accidantly Heard It

Monday I went to a nursing home where hospice has a number of people and yesterday I went to the hospital's oncology wing and played my harp at the bedside. I go both places each week. There was one man at the nursing home who has refused my offer for the last 3 weeks. His roommate always asks if I will play for him. As he is not part of the hospice I volunteer for, I move on to find those who are first.

This week my schedule wasn't so rushed so after the refusal, I did sit down and play for the roommate. My back was to the hospice patient. After 1/2 hour, I got up and saw the hospice patient with his mouth open in awe. He couldn't thank me enough.

The nurse caught me in the hall and told me he was a terribly tough nut to crack, that it was so good for him to experience this. She had been in there too, and I didn't know it. I am so glad I had the time and even more grateful for the persistence of the roommate, who I believe was a bit of an angel, unintentional or not.

2213 Reads




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