Stories of Kindness from Around the World

One stolen light projector and three friendly neighbors helped restore faith

I was just blown away with an act of kindness by three strangers, who are now friends. A few nights ago we had a light projector taken from our yard; it was my feeble attempt at decorating for Christmas. I made a posting on 'Nextdoor,' a neighborhood website. It wasn't a mean spirited post at all. I tried to muster all the love and compassion I could for whoever took it. In fact, many neighbors commented on how much they loved my approach. Then, out of the blue, I get a message of someone wanting to come over and introduce themselves to me. I drove up just in time and was approached by Cynthia and Ken, along with their son Nikhil. Cynthia had read my post and didn't want me to lose faith in humanity, so to show me that there are good people in our neighborhood they went out and ... Read Full Story >>

2945 Reads

Responses To Our Annual Christmas Letter

We send a Christmas letter every year. This year I told people that we were calling 2016 our Year of Miracles. I told them all about Bill's heart attack and recovery and the added miracle that we could take another trip to Switzerland. I hoped to focus on a positive note and show friends how we feel that prayers and support of others have made all this possible. Then I was concerned that maybe I shouldn't have written so much!

However, a welcome surprise has been 4 long distant calls from people - all saying what a wonderful letter it was. One friend even read it to 3 of her friends to show them that miracles do happen! Others have written to us and all have mentioned how prayers made this possible. It made me feel relieved and so happy because that was exactly what I was trying to say - but wasn't sure I had done so. Everyone seemed thankful that I had written about the events.

855 Reads

Husband's Act Of Kindness A Week Before Holidays After Losing His Job

We have had bad news this week, my husband was made redundant (laid off/no job anymore) from his job on Tuesday. I am thankful we are better off than most, and will be able to stretch our finances until he finds another job.

Amongst all of my stress, trying to stay strong for both of us...my husband gave me $100 cash and said "go on, go out and buy some coffee cards and Subway cards, lets take them to the hospital for the staff, they work hard" My eyes filled with tears, and I was so proud of my husband. I don't often have to say we can't do things because we need the money ourselves, but that was my first thought. He said "we will be okay, we need to look outwards not inwards" what a very special man.

2809 Reads

Witnessing Kindness during the Holidays

"Where do you see kindness? No matter who we are or where we come from, when we take a moment to look around, we can see kindness everywhere" -Shelley Frost Yesterday morning I was feeling stressed because I needed to go shopping for some of the organizations I volunteer with. I really don't like big crowds and tend to stay away from large department stores and shopping malls at Christmas time. However, I was determined to make the best of it and have a good day. So I decided to play a game with myself. I would actively look for and count the number of times and ways I saw people being kind. With this mindset, I witnessed so many, many acts of kindness: Drivers letting other cars into traffic; people taking shopping carts back inside; customers waiting patiently in a long line at the cash register; kind words spoken to cashier who ... Read Full Story >>

2728 Reads

My Day Of Giving Back

I had a lovely day of giving today. The people at the post office are run off their feet. Some people were being rude, annoying and intolerant because there was a long line.

But the post office has such helpful and nice people. So today I went to the shops and bought so many boxes of good chocolate. Went back and gave this big bag to them. They were so happy and said no one had done this for them. I said, "you so deserve to be rewarded for what you have to put up with. As I walked away I heard one of them say " I have never received anything like this" I was glad to give to them but sad to think no one had done this before. Christmas should be a time of goodwill, kindness and patience.

Then I thought now my hairdresser. Such a delightful man and he keeps my hair looking great. So  I gave him a big bag of chocolates and a great big chocolate cake. He loved it. And I loved it. Makes this Christmas feel just right.

1092 Reads

The Extra Ticket

Our concert was performed this past weekend. We are a community volunteer group of singers. I don't volunteer as much as I should, so I generally purchase a block of tickets to give to people that I know might be going.

Yesterday, I found myself with one unused ticket before the concert. Not giving it away would just mean that there was extra money in the till. Instead, I went to the ticket table and told the person selling tickets that this was going to be Random Act Of Kindness.

She was to give the ticket to the next person who was going to purchase a ticket. I don't know who it was. I didn't see the ticket seller later. I do wish that I could have seen the look on the attendee's face and I wonder if they might have given an extra donation or passed the kind act forward.

991 Reads

Forgiveness Is A Gift You Give Yourself

I was travelling between 2 cities overnight by bus. I was new to this place and happened to get off at a stop as suggested by the bus driver. Here, I took an auto cab, telling him to drop me at a bus stop from where i could get a direct bus to my final destination. With de-monetisation difficulties in India, I had very little cash and let the auto driver know , so that he could drop me at the closest point. The auto driver tried negotiating with me on the way, trying  to judge my situation. He was also trying to find an ATM for me. He was keen to drop me at home, so he could make more money. However, ultimately he realised I was actually out of cash and he better drop me at the bus stop. This point was not too far away but realizing that I ... Read Full Story >>

1317 Reads

Encouraged To Care, Even at The Risk of Failing

I like to share a story that happened a few days ago but it still makes me happy. I live in Germany and at that time of the year, darkness sets around 5 pm. It is cold, the streets are often wet and everyone likes to get home or to a warm place as quick as possible. This was the setting of that early evening. I was walking the sidewalk to my destiny and saw a stuffed animal, a bunny. My first thought was joy. 'Oh! Bunny! Sweet' The next :'mind your own business!' the following  was--(trained by small acts of kindness) How can I be of help? and Who lost the bunny?' Then I remembered that a woman with a carriage had just passed. I picked the bunny up, called to the woman, showed to her. She turned around, wondering, checked the carriage, with her sleeping child and came back with ... Read Full Story >>

977 Reads

My Monthly Tradition For The Nursing Home Residents

One of my practices to cultivate connections is to make small floral arrangements and distribute them to people living in one of the local nursing homes or elderly housing. I save glass jars to use as vases, and about every other month when I have compiled about 1/2 a dozen or so I will make vase arrangements.

My niece's and nephews help by making cards to go with them. This was my project tonight. Tomorrow I am looking forward to giving them out. When I first started doing this I would leave the arrangements at the nurses station for them to give to the people they thought would enjoy It. My favorite part now is giving them out and the visits that come from doing so.
 

1183 Reads

Taking the time to Listen

A couple of days ago I noticed my friend's cleaning lady was not very happy so I asked her how she was. I sat down with her and stayed for a little while as she told me how much she misses her family in Poland and how little money she has to get tickets to visit. I tried to make her feel better by mentioning all positive things about her and her family. My friend and I went out and while shopping I decided to buy a little gift. When we got back I wrote her a card and together with a Smile card and the gift left it for her by her belongings. When she finished, before leaving, she came upstairs with a huge smile and thanked me :-)

849 Reads

Love and Randomness

So all the charity Christmas cards have started arriving again and this year I've decided to take up a challenge. My own challenge. One I did a few years back. The challenge is this. To write at least one Christmas card a day (preferably more) which are full with love, hope and encouragement. Spreading joy and company for the lonely. I send them at random or place them in places where they will be found almost immediately. Inside the card I insert lottery tickets, scratch cards or $20 gift vouchers. I explain in the card that I don't know the person and that I have chosen them by random from the online phone directory. Or left the card here for them to find. It's so much fun and I trust in the universe and God that I'll always be led to the address and person that needs the card most. So far I have written ... Read Full Story >>

974 Reads

Love People, Change The World

💕City Shares💕 Back home now from today's trip into the city, which presented a few opportunities to share love ❤️ Must be why I feel a bit of "heart-glow" now :) ✨ I Started with fun banter with taxi driver who I had met before. He told me he remembered me because I had given him a peace dove last time & he showed me that he had tucked Mindy's blessing in his dashboard, having given his dove to co-worker who needed some TLC. Gave him another dove with his tip. We had a really good conversation about kindness during our ride too 👍 ✨ I Saw a homeless woman playing her flute in the subway station again today (I had posted about her in another story). We bowed to each other & shared BIG smiles. It felt good ❤️ ✨ I felt some really nice energy shared with gal at check-in desk at the ... Read Full Story >>

759 Reads

The Homeless Woman Who Mattered To Me

In November I joined a wonderful initiative  called the You Matter Marathon, sending for and passing out a YOU MATTER card to someone every day for the month, or leaving it somewhere to be found, like a favorite library book. One person I gave it to was left by poor circumstances begging. I stopped and gave some money, and one of these cards. She took it, looked at it, then at me, and asked what it was for. I explained what it meant to me "to matter in this world," in just a sentence or two. Basically that her human life was precious and that I thought she was an important part of our community, all of us being as important as each other...that at the level of the heart she counted very much. She kind of looked at me blankly. I figured I hadn't explained it very well and let ... Read Full Story >>

1099 Reads

Distance Didn't Stop This Lady's Determined Holiday Giving

Gave even more thought of what to give a friend for Christmas, who is elderly and disabled. She lives in another state. Like me, as we get older, we don't need anymore "stuff", and she's too far away to visit. I called a grocery store in her area and purchased gift cards for groceries. Since neighbors are doing her shopping they are for groceries only, no buying alcohol, tobacco ot lotto tickets.I had no idea you could do that! 

717 Reads

The Bully and The Girl With The Book

Today I made a new friend, and maybe even made her day. I was walking and reading in P.E. during my second-to-last period of the school day, right when I saw a girl walking alone with her head in a book, as well. I decided to strike up conversation, and asked what book she was reading. I have forgotten the name of it already, but I remember her asking me if I’d talked to her after I heard another girl shouting profanities at her. I had not, but we made fast friends and talked about all sorts of things - from sorting shelves at supermarkets to TV shows. When we were called in, a girl - who I presumed was the one shouting profanities at her earlier - bumped into her and cursed under her breath. I am extremely glad that my new friend wasn’t as hot-headed as I am, because I ... Read Full Story >>

1249 Reads

Angels At The Hy-Vee Grocery Store

I want to share a story that happened on the 23rd of November. The day before Thanksgiving. I received word that my good friend had passed away that morning. I had to go pick up a cake for my Thanksgiving dinner. But my friend's parents (also good friends of mine) were heavy on my heart. I went to pick out a flower for them at the Hy-Vee grocery store that I had ordered my cake from. I had picked out some flowers but it really did not seem like the ones I wanted. A young lady, Liz, came over and asked if I needed help. She asked if they were for my table. I told her about my friend and wanting to get flowers for her parents. Then of course I started crying. She was so kind and came around and gave me a hug. She helped me pick out a pretty ... Read Full Story >>

1158 Reads
  • Posted by michelelpurcel
  • Dec 20, 2016
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Unwrapping The Present Of A Food Bank Donation

On Friday when I called my parents,  who are in their early 90s now. They were upset as they confessed they didn't know what to send me or my adult kids and their families for Christmas presents. Both of them very recently have suffered serious health setbacks, and I begged them not to worry themselves, that all of us had what we needed and didn't need anything more if the truth be told. Not happy with that, they insisted on getting us all something, even though this year it would have to be less than usual and easy to send to us all. My mother said that she was giving the other siblings fruit and gourmet food baskets. That gave me an idea. I asked her to please consider, in that case, giving whatever she would have given us to a local food bank. Or easier yet, donate whatever money she ... Read Full Story >>

1474 Reads

My Samaritan Daughter Nicola Bringing Warmth To Others

I just love my daughter Nicola. She is 23 but does not live with me. This evening though she rang me to ask if she could borrow an electric heater for someone at work whose boiler has packed in. They are going to be without heat for a few days. Nicola also has a heater which she can lend but she does not live near her work place whereas I live 5 minutes away. She will also bring her electric heater in tomorrow for this guy. I love that Nicola wanted to help someone who needed help. I also love that she knew I would help and so she had no hesitation asking me. She just called to collect the heater. The person she is helping is a supervisor who has been mega nasty to her. This truly brings tears to my eyes, as she left to bring the heater to ... Read Full Story >>

1405 Reads

Bringing More Love to Share

Our conscious community was devastated and deeply grieving with shock and horror Trump's victory. I felt their pain and wanted to offer healing and nurturing.  I have always believed that no matter what the pain, conflict or suffering the SOLUTION is always MORE-LOVE. So I and some friends headed out to the crossroads of our village with Love-signs. We stood and greeted every car with our declaration of loving them and as they responded we shine back their joy; so many very dear 'embraces' and joyful smiles flourish. WE are now week  #3 of our joyous More-Love Celebration  and 'OMGod' it has been constant ecstasy of love and joy.  We love every person child and dog that passes by and our heart's fill and overflow with their embrace. Almost everyone responds and embraces us with more love, smiles abd joy. Wow! Imagine how your heart-energy feels when you get to Love and declare 400-500 lovers ... Read Full Story >>

1194 Reads

Putting My Blue Mood Aside For Kindness

I am sad, election blues. This too shall pass, eventually. I know we need to keep kindness at the forefront now more so than ever.
Yesterday - I went to ALDI and as I was leaving an elderly woman was struggling with her cart. I rushed to my car to put my purchases away and I returned to help this lady get to her car. She said she was 97 years old and her son was out of town and he is the one who helps her. She was very thankful for the assist. Of all that took place yesterday, my time with this elderly woman was the best time. 

1229 Reads




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