Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Candy Bar

There was a young man in front of me at the grocery store. The only thing he was buying was a candy bar. It was on the belt in front of my food purchases. As the belt moved closer to the register, I put his candy bar with my food items and told the girl that I want to pay for his candy bar. The young man was shocked, he acted like I was buying him a car! I gave him a SMILE card and asked him to pay it forward. We both felt sooo good! 

601 Reads

Speaking up for my friend at School

This one day I was at school doing work and the bell rang for recess. I went outside and met my friend behind the portable outside and he was crying. "Why do people have to be mean?" he said. "I don't know. Why? Who's being mean to you?" I replied.   "Him," he said as he pointed to this kid that usually is not very nice. "How long has this been going on?" He sat quiet there for a couple of seconds before he answered, "About two days." "Have you told anyone?" I asked. "No," he said. So I got up and walked to the other kid that has been mean to him and said "do you know what you've done?" "I have no idea what you are talking about," he answered. "You have not been nice to my friend over there and you do not have the right to be mean to others. If you think you will ever ... Read Full Story >>

824 Reads
  • Posted by charlisesmile
  • Apr 4, 2016
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Seeing his goodness

We flew home a few hours ago. In the airport and around the Gold Coast where we stayed, there were lots of koalas. All these fiberglass koalas were painted and decorated by various artists and charities. There was even this one in the departure lounge (pictured with my 3 year old).  In the airport I was able to sow a bit of kindness to an elderly petite man in the food court. He was working so hard, cleaning all the tables and picking up after everyone (why people leave such a mess is beyond me). I wanted to appreciate him, so I did. I personally went up to him and thanked him for all he does. I told him how I'd been watching him and noticed how hard he'd been working. I told him how so many people here probably don't realize that these places stay as clean as they do because ... Read Full Story >>

827 Reads

Children Leading the Way, With Kindness

From Long island .com Moriches, NY - March 14th, 2016 - The Moriches Elementary School Student Council and members of the student Peer Mediation group have come together to “cultivate kindness” through a school-wide kindness program inspired by the book, “A Little Rees Specht Cultivates Kindness,” the story of a young farmer who discovers that kindness, like a seed, will only grow and spread if one takes the time to cultivate it. As part of this kindness project, teachers throughout the school received hearts to give out to students who are caught performing random acts of kindness toward someone else and placed upon a “Tree of Kindness” located in the school’s main lobby. The students’ goal was to post 100 hearts upon the tree of kindness by the 100th day of school last month. The students surpassed that goal with 111 hearts on the tree. On each heart there is a card that states, “You ... Read Full Story >>

2610 Reads

Soldiers of the Night

Last Saturday, we were walking back home after a nice evening with family. I asked my friend if we could walk through the town and not take our usual shortcut. So we did. Suddenly, a few steps ahead, we saw a woman sitting on the edge of the side-walk.

She looked bad and when we kneeled to ask her if she felt alright, we realized she was badly injured and covered with blood. While my friend ran back to our closest friend's place to get a thick cover (it was freezing), a young fellow joined us and called an ambulance.

All along I sat next to her, talking and listening, talking and listening to keep her awake until the ambulance arrived as she was badly shocked and started to fall asleep. I know that it is a very dangerous thing and she might have lost consciousness. Hope she is safe and sound now. She called us "the soldiers of the night."

1164 Reads

Reflections

I love the reminder at the top of this page asking us "How did you practice today?" Whenever I read it, I am reminded of all of the opportunities to practice - and feel challenged to just pick something and intentionally do it, in the spirit of kindness, and in the effort to make kindness go viral in this world.

So, from yesterday, I practiced small acts of kindness as I worked with my elementary students: I bought some interesting books and gave them away to my struggling fifth grade readers, I shared my lunch with our afternoon custodian, and I thanked our temporary custodian who is leaving and then left a surprise dove and gift card for him to find.

Whether we think our acts are small or large, no matter if they are hard or easy for us to do - each of us knows that truly nothing is small and all acts matter. How did you practice today? 

905 Reads

Free Books at the Health Club

Last time I checked the little 'free library' outside the health club, there wasn't ONE book in there! So, I have assembled a few books for husband to donate on his way into the the club. I am also including a SMILE card and origami dove in each. :) Maybe, I need to donate 2 or 3 books every time I go past, instead of just one.


1200 Reads

A Gift to Change a Life

I was recently given a gift that was amazing. It was a gift card to "KIVA", which is an organization that allows me to choose someone to lend the money to. The money will be paid back and then I can lend it again. The loans go to people in over 80 countries so they can start a business, go to school and improve life for their families. 
 
The person who gave me the gift card is incredibly thoughtful and I love that I don't have to find a place to put the gift or to dust it! The hardest part was selecting a recipient, because there are so many worthy people trying to do their best. LOVED and loved giving it away even more!
 

1133 Reads

"The day isn't about you"

This morning. Today. Completely unexpected and 'unplanned'. Our dishwasher is having issues and today a man was sent to out home to fix. Something I thought would be 15 mins. Maybe an hour max, turned into over 3 hours. Yet the whole time he was here I knew he was sent to me for a reason. He spoke of his pain and lack of faith in things. And I filled him with so much love. So much faith. It was completely draining for me (I am an introvert by nature who likes her own 'space'). Yet I'm grateful. It taught me so much about myself today. How I say I want to give and serve and be kind. However .... only when it's "convenient" for me. Today wasn't. Yet I gave anyway. I loved this man. He was a "downer". Spoke so negatively which is something I'm not used to. Yet I brought him ... Read Full Story >>

773 Reads

More Love Letters

Tonight I shall write some encouraging letters to people going through difficult times.I found this great website where people write in about the struggles of their friends or loved ones, and then after reading their stories, people can send in letters or cute hand-made cards, which are then curated and sent in a bundle to the person. I'm excited to be part of this, I thought it was such an inspiring project.

851 Reads

Our wishes for a dear one

We (girlfriend and I), took dear person to his month long treatment place. It was both a happy and sad experience. I made a care pouch for this dear one: one rose quartz crystal for its healing significance (emotions) and an amethyst crystal ( sobriety). and some words and -wishes for him: "Forever stay open, curious, fearless, transparent and willing to be and love being exactly who you are." (Don't know who said this).  And my wish to him: Leave pride at the door and your ego as well. A humble heart is the one that learns and repairs. Remember the stairs you built? You were an excellent observer and you "noticed" the mistakes. The next steps you built were more to your satisfaction. So here you are and another opportunity for self discovery. Proceed with an adventurer's heart. RESTORE your "home" that has seen disrepair for many years. This is your project: ... Read Full Story >>

853 Reads

Gaming Day

Kind acts come in every shape, way, and form. My husband had the day off yesterday and decided to play computer games. I was thinking of the list of jobs I could leave him with, but then remembered that he rarely asks me to do anything, so I left him his day to enjoy.

982 Reads

Easter Egg Surprise

My best friend is thinking about buying a new and bigger house. My husband and I met up with them at the 'open home' to have a look through it and give our opinion. We are going with them to the auction too. The real estate agent gave me a bag of Easter Eggs, I thanked him and said, "Ooh, great, Ill pass them on as a random act of kindness." He laughed, and then gave me another bag! I plan to give them to my Mum to pass on at her retirement village. 

1305 Reads

Kindness at The Water Park

I went with my friends (and their kids) to the water park again today. There was a 4 year old boy there with his au-pair and he asked me if I could push him on the spider web 'thing' that went around and round. I started pushing him, then the other kids must have thoughtOooh, free push" and I waited while several more kids climbed on. (I did think to myself, that coffee and cake in a café would be less tiring) and Hamish was saying "go faster Aunty" but they loved being pushed around on the ride and a few of the mothers thanked me afterwards.  later on we picked up litter in the playground, and I left the public bathrooms cleaner than when I went in :-)


634 Reads

Flowers, because I'm thinking of you

I've just arranged to have some flowers delivered to a friend that's having a hard time. I feel so useless because there's so little I can do, but maybe these will remind her that I'm thinking of her.

794 Reads

Just to Brighten a Friends Day

I was down town and thanks to Angels and serendipity I saw my friend Ali. She hasn't been well and we had both been too tired to text or ring. So we sat down near some of the shops and had a great talk. It was very uplifting.

Something popped into my head and I don't know why, but I said, "let me buy you some flowers!". We were sitting near a small supermarket with flowers and she sat with my stuff as I sniffed out -so to speak - the right flowers. I was trying to find flowers with the right vibe. I had picked out some white lilies and they smelt divine and I was about to buy them and and I changed my mind. I found some beautiful daisy's. 
When I gave them to Ali she just loved them and she just glowed and looked as pretty as the daisy's herself. So grateful to catch up with a dear friend and to brighten her day.

1458 Reads

Kindness Catching On

Behind me in the grocery store checkout was an elderly woman in a motorized cart with a walker in the basket. Seeing her struggle to get up I told her not to bother and emptied her cart for her. She thanked me at least 10 times. The best part was before I left, the man and his teenage son behind her offered to help her out before I had the chance. It makes me happy when being kind catches on. It made my day.

1474 Reads

Sprinkles of Kindness


Today it was cool and rainy and I saw a man standing at an uncovered bus stop, without a hat or umbrella. I stopped and gave him the umbrella I carry in my car along with a smile card. I had missed yoga today because of daylight savings but because I missed class I was able to do this kindness act, which for me is most important and enjoyable. 

I try to carry extra umbrellas in my car for this purpose... to help those caught in the rain! It's a fun one. Later I went to the grocery store and bought a bag for the next person who needs one and left a smile card. Yesterday I paid people's tolls. Lots of little things to spread Love and Smiles. :)

 

2478 Reads

As Simple as New Toys

Today we had relatives come over to visit. One of their friends and her little boy recently moved in with them. She had left all his toys at their old place. I went to the store and bought him a few things. It wasn't much but the smile on his face made my day!

1058 Reads

Winning the Kindness Lotto

Yesterday I wanted to up my game. It felt like forever since I had done a random act of kindness for someone so decided to remain open for any opportunities. I hadn't left the house all day but later that night needed to go into a local store to grab a few things. Whilst there I went into a newsagent to put my lotto (lottery draw) on for the week. The man in line before me was having all sorts of trouble understanding. He was a foreigner and our local 'trolley boy'. I knew this as I have seen this man my times collecting trolleys from car parks. I waited patiently behind this man who was still having trouble deciding what to purchase and which lottery game was which. So many choices and all different costs. I could tell he was looking for the cheapest with the biggest prize draw. During all of this ... Read Full Story >>

1090 Reads




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