Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Feeling My Heart Expand By The Minute

I have usually driven by the folks at the intersection who are asking for help. I've noticed so many people asking and I often feel overwhelmed. Today I felt more open, so I stopped and asked the man what one item he would like me to buy him at the food store (where I was headed).

I felt joyful to be connecting and caring. By the time I got to the store I had expanded more and decided to get him not just the chocolate milk he asked for, but also an apple, cheese and meat jerky. I felt excited about creating a delightful snack. I was so happy to be in the experience of creating a nurturing surprise,.rather than trying to figure out how to not be overwhelmed. I'm so grateful for this expanded experience.

1209 Reads
  • Posted by whalesong7
  • Jul 13, 2016
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Odd Kind of Kindness

This is an odd little kindness I'm sharing here. It isn't even really that kind ... more the opposite! But I am sharing because it took some strength and I'm sharing because I'm proud of me. Earlier today when I was out shopping with my toddler he was in a real playful mood. Holding my hand, jumping up and down, and swinging on and off me. And quite frankly it peeved me off. I felt myself getting all worked up inside. It was SO annoying l. He kept yanking on my arm pulling it back one way then the other. I wanted to yell at him. Wanted to 'punish' him. But I didn't. Instead of reacting instantly to this annoyance I watched it or more so, watched myself. I watched how worked up I was getting. How angry. Then I thought ... "Really Nicole. Really?. Is this that bad? He is 4. He is ... Read Full Story >>

1468 Reads

Love You Always

It was totally tangled around another piece of jewelry. I thought I would never unravel it but I knew I had to, it was important to me. You see, this lovely gold heart locket was a precious gift from my then 13 year old daughter. She had thought long and hard about what she wanted to gift me for my birthday and she must have saved really hard for it too. She refused to let anyone else contribute to it, it had to be solely from her. It is a gold heart  locket which is inscribed 'Love you always' on the back. The little card which goes with it says ' To my beautiful mummy. Love you with all my heart! from Lauren xx' Such a thoughtful and loving girl. Inside contains two little really badly cut photos of her and I. Life with Lauren is very challenging since she was diagnosed with ... Read Full Story >>

1764 Reads

" Thank You, I've Been Given Enough"

I was at the shops last night and saw a homeless woman with a trolley full of all her things. She was sitting inside to keep warm. I went up to her and tried to give her money for her to get something to eat. She wouldn't take it. I said I wanted to help her but she said if she had enough given to her that day and if she had money on her, other homeless people would steal it from her when she slept. I explained that I wanted to help her and could I buy her something warm. Again she said no. She thanked me and said how grateful she was that I had spoken to her and offered help. We introduced ourselves and she said that when I saw her next time, she would accept help. What an amazing woman. So as I walked out into the cold ... Read Full Story >>

1873 Reads

Gifted A Day Off

I was checking out at my grocery's at local food store and started chatting with the cashier about my three year old daughter’s favorite food, which at the time was applesauce. The cashier smiled and then told me that her son who was a year old also loved applesauce. That got us talking a little about kids. I mentioned to her that when they are young like that we need to spend as much time with them as possible, since the time goes by quickly. I also have 2 teenage daughters and had to miss out on a lot of their younger days because I worked outside the home as a nurse. Now, with my four year old, I am able to stay at home and really cherish each minute and milestone. The cashier then told me that she didn't see her son much because she worked two jobs and that she ... Read Full Story >>

1297 Reads

I Paid 2.50 Euros, But The Feeling I Got Was Priceless

One morning I took the bus to meet a friend in town. When I boarded, a young man rushed to catch the bus and just made it right behind me.

I paid my fare, and started looking for a seat, when I heard the young man ask the bus driver whether he could change a €50 bill for his ticket. I already knew the driver was going to say "No", since they don't carry enough change to take on bills above €20.

The young man seemed to have expected this. Shoulders drooping and chin tucked to his chest, he started to turn.

I quickly said: "How much do you need? I'll lend you the money." It was just €2.50 and I'd been in his shoes already, having had only a bill and having to let the bus go for lack of change! I changed my mind and told him I was going to pay his fare, not just lend him the money.

He was relieved and accepted. Digging in his pocket, he found one euro and insisted on giving it to me.

We both made it into town.
:-)

1154 Reads

"Walking In His Shoes"

I noticed that one of our long term volunteers only ever wore rubber Wellington boots, even now that summer has hit us. A bit of investigation revealed that the only other footwear he had was a pair of Crocs which rubbed his feet. I was able to come up with a pair of my son's grown out of but still in good condition walking boots for him. The result was one happy man and a happy me for less clutter in my house. 

1534 Reads

Strawberry Muffin Kindness

I dropped by 7-eleven on my way home to get myself something for dinner. Just outside the door of the store was a young boy in shabby clothing. When I arrived I was surprised when he opened the door for me. So as a token of appreciation I gave him one of the two muffins (strawberry and chocolate flavored) I bought. Yes strawberry muffin is my favorite but I love it even more when I am able to give away something that I love.

1359 Reads

Subway Kindness

I just got back from a fun day in Manhattan. I was able to share smiles and peace doves, (that a KS member Mindy makes) on the subway with a few folks. I had tucked dollar bills in each dove (they fit perfectly if you fold them up and tuck them right in with the blessing Mindy puts in each one). Young boys play music and do amazing athletic "dance" routines, swinging from pole to pole. Then they pass the hat hoping for donations. And in went a peace dove. On the return trip a lovely Chinese gentleman was playing a heartfelt version of Amazing Grace on his violin. When I gave him the dove he bowed to me, I bowed back, and then he kissed my hand. That was a first for me! LOL. My husband gave his seat to an older woman who came on the train. At first she ... Read Full Story >>

1958 Reads

Opposition Against Your Goodness

Sometimes we feel like we are acting well and with integrity but others don't get our goodness and love. That can be upsetting. I always find it helpful to remember Mother Theresa. When she started her foundation in Calcutta, the head nun from her former convent forbade other nuns to keep in contact with her. The reason for this was that the nuns had recognised her goodness, faith, passion and wanted to join her. Some did join but then those who remained were banned from further contact with her. I always take this as a moral lesson in life ie no matter how big your heart or how good your intentions, others may not respect your goodness. Believe it or not, not everyone likes seeing goodness in others. If others who were supposedly Godly, acted with opposition against Mother Theresa, then we can't feel surprised when we find ourselves in a ... Read Full Story >>

1027 Reads

Anonymously In Solidarity With Her

I am part of a forum that tries to help each other with an illness that we all have. We all have pseudonyms so our true identity is not revealed. I happened to have this particular ladies address, which I received the first day I was a member of that site.  She fell and appealed for help via her tablet as she could not reach the phone. I have always admired her courage and fortitude as she is so much more ill than I am, a widow who lives on her own with multiple health problems but still reaches out on the forum trying to help others. She had managed to obtain an electric wheelchair which was secondhand from a charity to enable her to take short trips out to the next local park with her grandchildren or to the local shops. Unfortunately she has been quite ill so has not used ... Read Full Story >>

816 Reads
  • Posted by francesturton
  • Jul 8, 2016
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The Travel Companion

Monday morning I will be flying to Las Vegas to help a 90 year old woman. Her son and I have been friends for years and he is sick. My friend has been living in Las Vegas by himself and no family for over 20 years. 

At the end of May 2016, no one could contact him, so we decided to call the office manager who managed the apartment complex where he lived to see if there was a problem. When the manager opened the door to his apartment, they found him on the floor. He had had a massive stroke and was almost dead.

His mother wants to visit him, however she's too old to travel by herself. None of their family members can accompany her so I was asked if I could go. Even though it is hard for me to afford the $614.00 that it will cost me, I can't see a 90 year old woman going alone, so I will be traveling with her.

1401 Reads

A Ticket Home

After returning to work after a few days of vacation I met a young student sobbing outside on the benches. She was alone and crying. She had been there for only a few days and didn't have any bus money for her ticket home and no one to come pick her up. She had to go to the New Jersey Shore area. I felt for her as in my youth, I spent money having fun and not really thinking about getting home. She came to the University hoping for some help.

She came to the right place! 

We looked up the bus fare amount for her destination and I bought her a ticket home.

There will be one happy young woman arriving home later on this afternoon, and one happy set of parents.

Was it just the price of a ticket? Absolutely not, it was universal bliss helping her! 

1758 Reads

Changes For The Better

I'm starting to be more kind to people. Now I smile more often, I enjoy walking my old dog and actually liking talking to strangers, which for me is huge as a shy person.  I'm more understanding and patient with my child (sometimes I need to react against his father's stressful reactions - by talking calmly I make him view the other perspective, that it is not so "the end of the world" of a situation. It is rather the beginning of our child's opinions and learning from his mistakes - the kid doesn't have to be perfect, just has to understand what's the best path to grow up healthy, happy and kind to others.) At the gym I felt more at ease, not having so much social anxiety anymore and find myself more outgoing. I used to dread Mondays, but my attitude has changed about it, I'm no longer hiding behind social fear.  I'm ... Read Full Story >>

1338 Reads

Being Witness To How Kindness Spreads

Whenever I use public transport and if I get a place to sit, I offer that seat to someone who needs it more than I (especially to the elderly, to women or someone desperately looking for a seat). I have made a habit of saying "Thank you" to people, if I see them sacrificing their places for the fellow passengers on public transport. Seeing this all unfold, I they feel proud to experience that "acts of kindness" are appreciated by people. So many times I have experienced that showing kindness in public places spreads like wildfire. I have seen that people around us get inspired after seeing our kindness behavior and they themselves also start behaving similarly i.e., showing kindness in offering their places and adjusting themselves to accommodate others. Observing  and experiencing such things give immense pleasure and joy.  I firmly believe that goodness will spread profoundly across the world through these ... Read Full Story >>

1405 Reads

May I Please Cut Ahead Of You?

A young lady and her daughter were behind me in line at Safeway the other day; they were just buying one gift card. I was purchasing only a few items, but the mature lady in front of me had her motorized cart full of groceries!

The lady behind me asked the one in front of me if she could go ahead of her, as she only had one item. The mature lady gladly let her go. The immediate thought that crossed my mind was "why didn't she ask me first?" After all, she was cutting ahead of me, too!

As the young lady went to buy her gift card, she and her daughter offered to place all of the groceries on the conveyer belt for the mature lady:). My own selfishness quickly vanished, but I felt a tinge of shame over my own pettiness. It was a beautiful act of kindness to witness. After the young lady and her mother left, all that the mature lady could talk about was their kindness, as she just brushed hers under the rug. I told her that what she did was very kind, too<3.

1445 Reads

A Heart To Share

Today I gave money to a homeless man. I talk to this man frequently and give him money when I can as he comes to sit outside the building where I work from time to time. I feel myself transforming the way I feel about and interact with those of similar challenges.

Just last week I got the courage up to write others in my office, sharing my experience with Reggie (the homeless man) and praying that the love and sense of family we all feel behind our office doors could extend just beyond them as well.

I received mixed feelings in response but there were those that personally came to tell me that it really made them stop and think and question why they feel a barrier to approach those who are homeless. Those conversations made the effort of sending the email worth it, a hundred fold.

954 Reads

39 Roses For Each Year

As I handed folks a rose, I said, "We're celebrating our anniversary and giving out a rose for each year...39! Would you like one?" So many smiles and hugs and stories about recipient's anniversaries we shared over the simple beauty of a colorful rose; the joy (and heartbreak too -- some partners gone) to a deeper connect of LOVE. From the library to the grocery store parking lot, from the restaurant (where I went back and gave our server another rose, because she was so very dear) to the drive-thru coffee shack...each rose my husband and I gave put put a new smile in our hearts. I'm leaving two roses on our front porch tonight (giving out these many roses is exhausting!), so my niece can pick them up on her way to work, and give one to co-worker too. My husband started the tradition of a rose for every year of our marriage ... Read Full Story >>

2452 Reads

On The Bus Ride To Ithaca

To me, school breaks are opportunities to get away from the mundane routine of college and explore. For the Thanksgiving break of 2015, I decided to visit my cousin in Ithaca. It was a 9 hour journey from State College to Ithaca by bus. The first leg of the journey, to Scranton, spanned about 6 hours. I had to switch buses in Scranton for the last leg of the journey, which spanned 3 hours. Unfortunately, my first bus got delayed by a whopping 2 hours. Consequently, I missed my second bus and had to wait for a couple of hours until I could take the next bus. It was 6 pm in Scranton, while I waited for the bus. I called my cousin to notify him of the delay and mentioned that it might be midnight until I reach home. While I was on call, I did not realize that there was ... Read Full Story >>

2662 Reads

Wal-Mart Greeter's Gratitude

I went to Wal-Mart this one afternoon and observed another person"s reaction to the greeter that offered her a buggy. She said "I will get my own buggy." I looked at the greeter and told her "I will take the buggy."

I then told her I have observed how many times the greeters at Wal-Mart are ignored as if they are invisible. I told her I try to smile and greet them back because it seems to be a hard job to speak to everyone when they act as if you were invisible.

She looked me in the eyes and said "You have made my day and I appreciate your caring!"? I always say something to the greeters, it is my little way to bring joy into their life as a Wal-Mart greeter.  It takes only one moment to do so.

1616 Reads
  • Posted by cindyschafer16
  • Jul 4, 2016
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