Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Polish your halo and pass on the kindness

By Julia Pitt Royal Gazette . com Pay it forward: polish your halo and pass on the kindness you’ve been shown Recently, someone helped a friend of mine. I was away and she was in a fix — not an emergency, just one of those situations where you could use an extra set of eyes and an alternate perspective. The helper wasn’t a relation or even a close friend but someone on the periphery who had spotted the distress and simply offered a hand. With nothing to gain for themselves, they took time out of their busy day to meet up, review the facts, offer an opinion and advice and be an additional support. It gave my friend exactly the comfort and confidence needed to make a decision and move forward. When I heard about this random act of generosity and kindness, I was truly touched and deeply grateful for their unexpected effort, especially as ... Read Full Story >>

9 Ways To Introduce Students To Random Acts Of Kindness - Nea Today

9 Ways to Introduce Students to Random Acts of Kindness - NEA Today : A California educator offers his tips on spreading RAOK Month throughout the nation’s schools and classrooms.

The gift of playful freedom

Today I share a lovely experience of yesterday: I've been helping my friend Kathy, who has MS, doing exercise in the pool. We have seen some progress since I met her Dec 31st., glad to say.....but a few days ago I thought she could be so thrilled if she could snorkel in the pool...the liberty of doing so....and so she agreed. She used to be a swimming instructor and did scuba diving.

Yesterday we tried. While her caretaker held her, we began going down the steps with the mask and snorkel. She does not have hand mobility yet, so I would dive in and check on her expression. Once she we adjusted both pieces, we took her -little by little- to the deep floating looking down. There came a point I held her hand and kind of swirled her around (always playful....).

I cannot tell you how thrilled she was and that so made my day! End of the month she has a wedding in Florida so I see her enjoying going into the ocean with her snorkel! I bought her exactly the one you see, she loves blue. Blessings from Above!

Underappreciated Workers

I live in a city where the waste collection is handled by private companies. They send huge automated trucks to pick up waste, recycling, and yard clippings. The driver of the recycling truck frequently goes out of his way to move my can to the street when I haven't put it out. This week I left a thank you card with a gift card for lunch on me taped to the trash can. I wonder how often these workers get appreciated? Felt good to pass it on just a little to someone who has been so kind to me.

"I can't pass by anyone in need"

Yesterday, I noticed an older married couple (elders) parked by the highway with a flat tire. I can't pass by anyone in need.
They didn't have the right wrenches, so I went door to door for  around the neighborhood looking for one in an attempt to find that cross wrench they needed, but with no luck. So I stood by the highway stopping every truck until someone had one.
 
By the time I returned to their truck, a couple of my nephews had seen me standing by the highway, offering to help. Within less than ten minutes, we were done and the elderly couple were on their way home. This morning I found the owner of the cross wrench and returned it, it's important to return tools. 
 

Little Surprises

I worked today and came home to all these little yellow dandelion flowers everywhere. But not just everywhere, only in the places I frequent. Like where I place my car keys, coffee mug, sit to eat lunch and near my hair straightener in bathroom.

Something was up. So I asked. And my 7 year old told me he had picked them all for me today whilst I was at work to make me happy. It did.

Children. Their hearts so precious and divine 💖

An Honest Driver and The Intention to Serve

I was going to Rann of Kutch, from Delhi, for a holiday with my son. We took a flight to Ahmedabad, and from there a bus to Bhuj. While we were in the bus, we realized that my son’s favorite cap was missing. Looking at the photos, we realized that the cap was perhaps dropped somewhere in Ahmedabad.

Since we had taken an Uber cab, we had his number. On contacting him, he told us that he had the cap. On our way back from Rann, we contacted him, and he gave us the cap. I would like to thank the driver because he was so honest. It's heartening to learn that still there is honesty in this world. Thank you Sir!

A Third Grader's Gift Economy Experiment

I run a classroom economy with my 3rd grade students where they apply for jobs, get weekly pay, pay monthly rent for the desks, can buy their own desks and even buy their classmates' desks and become landlords.

With their income they can buy items at our class store, purchase bigger items at our monthly auction, or pay for experiences (lunch with me, rent me for recess, paint my nails).

One student decided to cash in a lot of his funds in order to do a RAOK for the class. He bought a class party...for $2,000. Just to give you an idea of how difficult that is and how giving it is, most students are paid $15 weekly. Rent is $100 a month.

So, instead of using his savings for himself, he decided to use it for his peers. Warms my heart.

#AprilRAOK #BeKindToOneAnother

Restaurant Bill

I met a friend for lunch and afterwards we met our husbands in a restaurant where we shared a large table with an elderly gentleman reading a book. Absolutely out of the blue he settled our bill. I had a chat with him then, and I suspect he did it just to have a reason to strike up conversation. He'd obviously heard our conversation, and was very pleased to speak English to me. He explained that it wasn't as good as he'd like following a stroke. 

Rainy Day Smiles

It has been extremely rainy here (which is great, because we need it) and I was out running a bunch of errands this afternoon when I stopped by a special shop to pick up fresh samosas. My hubby and son love them, and my hubby suggested getting some extra to give neighbors. I got enough extra ones to give to friends all around the neighborhood and they were still warm! One person asked why I was giving them and I said, "Just because it's a rainy day!" It turned out her daughter loves them and she gave me a big hug for surprising them. :-)

Paying it Forward in The Work Environment

I left a job about a month ago to start a new job elsewhere. When I left the old job, my colleagues there were so nice; they made a collection for me, and gave me money in a beautiful hand made 'best wishes' card. It was so nice of them to do that. The messages in the card were lovely; I had no idea I had touched so many people in my five years working there. 
 
When I arrived at my new job, a young woman was kind enough to help me out learning the ropes. She then announced last week that she was going to leave to go home to her country. Yesterday I gave her a small gift that would remind her of her time spent in this country working. She was so happy. 
 

Surpise Joy at the Grocey Store

Went grocery shopping today and had a coupon for free frozen waffles. I knew I wouldn't need them, but decided I'd bring the coupon and leave it on the waffles for the next person to find. While I was approaching the waffles, luck would have it that a woman was reaching for the exact brand I had a free coupon for. So, when I gave it to her, she was surprised and thrilled. Made me feel good to bring her a moment's joy.

#AprilRAOK #BeKindToOneAnother

Baby Booties Expecting and Unsuspecting Mother's to Be

This one is about a woman that I met yesterday and she does acts of kindness. I had gone out to eat and when I went to leave, the cash out line was so long. I sat next to this lady and told her I'm just going to wait it out.

She was an elderly lady and she said I'm just waiting for someone to come that's pregnant and I laughed and said well I know I might look it but I'm just fat and we laughed. She took out her purse and in it she had little baggies of knitted baby booties and she had a cute little card attached to it.

When she sees someone that's pregnant she gives them the baby booties and I just thought it was such a remarkable act of kindness and I made sure I told her that what she was doing was beautiful and I wanted to share this with everybody

Kindness Insisted With a Smile

Recently I was helped by some men on duty (guards and cops) when my car broke down. A week later I wanted to thank them and bought some coffee. They refused and said the macho stuff like "It was my job" etc. But I insisted and they accepted :). And I could see big smiles emerge and left them to it. It felt great!

Mahal Kita-I love you

I am deeply moved by an old song "what the world needs now, is love". I Sent 100 messages today via email to random recipients and the content are just 3 words.

The content of my email was : I love you (mahal kita in my language)

May they forward the love needed by others.

A Word of Encouragement

Riding the bus home after a big day out at theme parks today I was seated behind this young girl.

She begins to sing in another language. It's so beautiful and I tell her so.

I told her because we all need to be encouraged in life. I told her because we all love how good it feels when another person acknowledges us.

But mostly, I told her because in a few years time she would never do this. She would be far too self conscious, holding too much self doubt to ever have that sort of courage.

I am hoping my words and love today will be something she remembers. Something that helps her continue living and being in her most beautiful and authentic self 💖

Supermarket Kindnesses (again!)

Once again, a shopping trip was a great opportunity to experience kindness given and received. With two trolleys full, I was surprised and very touched that other customers stood back to let me become first in line when the cashiers opened another checkout. Of course I let them go through first as my grocery pile was vast, but the gesture was really appreciated. The supermarket I use stacks boxes and boxes of 'specials' at the end of rows, and for some reason thinks all their customers are basketball player height. So, I helped an elderly lady who wasn't tall enough to reach into the box of eggs, then lifted a couple of crates down to make it easier to access for anyone else who forgot to pack their step ladder. As I was taking my trolley back I noticed a couple of ladies slowly ferrying their groceries, in bags and boxes, across ... Read Full Story >>

All Kinds Of Kindness

I really love this saying.."All kinds of kindness", for me basically there's a story behind it. When I used to distribute chocolate with paper doves (Mindy, a KS member who makes cute little paper doves) my friend used to say:  "you're wasting time and money.. no one here trusts anonymous gifts" Frankly speaking. I noticed that  people here do donate in temples,  they give food to poor, or provide clothes and other facilities for the poor etc. I think maybe I am the one who started to think of the dogs in our neighborhood. When I shifted into this new community, there were two street dogs. They were the wounded and homeless kind, everyone used to stay away from them and hit them when they came nearby. But my habit of loving dogs has changed things.  When I pat their heads and give  love to their ears they literally have tears streaming ... Read Full Story >>

Holding Hands

I had one of the most amazing things happen at the place I go to volunteer. No one had told me that because of the holiday, there were no activities. So I said, "Well since I am here I might as well take this gorgeous lady for a walk around the outside gardens." We laughed, stole roses, talked, and basked in the peace.

After that I went around to a few people and massaged their hands. One lady was so upset and angry. She was sitting on the side of her bed, so I pulled over her walker, sat in front of her and chatted. I listened and then I did her hands while we talked.

What happened was special. As she talked about how she hated the place, people, etc., I continued to listen and comment all the time touching her hands. She started to interact with me and laugh at things and life. She blossomed and so did I. When I left and said I would see her later, she was so different and open to the possible in life. What an amazing connection.

Kindness Even On My Special Day

It was my birthday yesterday and instead of making myself something that I like to eat, I had something that is my husband's favorite food waiting for him after he got home from work. (It was something that I don't even eat-being vegan).