Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Blanketed In Love 💕

After learning that a good friend’s husband (back in IL) has been ill with CoVid, we had a blanket covered in positive words and vibes sent to them.

They live simply in a one bedroom, one bath home, so it’s not possible for my friend to follow the doctor’s suggestion to keep distance from her husband.

And besides, Janice is the KIND of soul who has always put loving kindness and compassion forward as a driving force. She exemplifies and LIVES the words on the blanket image below.

I’ll never forgot how she was the first one there when MisterM had a close call and ended up in the ER. She stayed the night with me in the visitor lounge, bringing snacks along with her open heart. 

We may not be physically close anymore (1000 miles between us), yet our hearts 💕 are forever united.

Much love and blessings to ALL that have connected to us along the journey of life and to those who have yet to come our way 🙏 🌎 🕊.

 

326 Reads

Gardening Neighbor

My neighbor's grandfather lives with them. He is maybe 80 years young; I'm not exactly sure. He planted a little garden, sands down tree branches to make into walking sticks. Keeps himself busy.

I told him he could use part of my yard to make himself a larger garden; he did just that! Then he offered to clean up a portion of my yard that is messy.

I said, "oh no, you don't have to do that. I'll get to it eventually." He replied, "no, I like to stay busy." I came home Monday to a yard that was all raked up. He told me he'd take care of the piles soon.

I felt so happy...and a little bad, too. I think I'll ask him on my next payday if I can take him out to eat as a thank you. I'll take photos later on, too.

360 Reads

Kindness Of An Stranger

This afternoon coming back from seeing my mom; reading stories to her and a few scary moments that looked like this was it, I was driving home. I took the route that was more like a canyon Drive with beautiful sceneries to think and process my feelings. All of a sudden I heard a pop. I knew right away what had happened - a big flat tire! I pulled to the side, but this was a canyon drive with not much shoulder space, and it happened to be around a curve that people couldn't see me. That made it dangerous. Cars were speeding up unconsciously passing me. I couldn't get out. Within minutes, I saw a van stopped at a distance behind me. The gentleman walked out, wearing a mask offering help, and I dared to walk out of the car very carefully. It was so narrow. He moved my ... Read Full Story >>

1006 Reads

Walking Through The Drive-thru

As I was waiting for a friend outside of a Starbucks a man approached me. Stumbling and slurring his words, in a language that sounded different than English, all I could make out was "egg rolls," as he pointed across the street as a Jack in the Box. Without getting too close (I was wearing a mask and he wasn't), I made sure he safely crossed the street. The only way to order food was through the drive-thru. I walked up to where one would place an order and soon realized that a car would be needed to trigger the system. Soon after, an auto arrived. I moved out of the way so the car could pull up to the speaker. Soon I heard a voice through the speaker, "may I take your order?" I approached the car and asked if I could place an order ahead of them. The young ladies in ... Read Full Story >>

418 Reads

Donated Some Books

I donated some books and stationery materials to some children, who are living in the slum area and were not able to buy books.

Covid19 has not only affected our health but also affected other parts of our life. Especially these  children’s lives. So many families have lost their jobs and work. It is very hard for them to arrange food for the whole family. Then how can they afford children’s education?

So I gifted books and stationery materials to those children.
So, they can continue their education and enjoy their lives.
 

294 Reads

Flowers For A Flower Child.

Today, on a whim, I bought a cheery little bunch of flowers for a really lovely shop owner (on the way from the bank so I could pay her for my wares).

We had enjoyed a lovely chat and she revealed she was a real hippie flower child. Nice chats about our love for California, the Giant Redwoods and Indian culture and jewelery.

Also, I felt a bit sad because she doesn't want to go travelling any more since her husband died and she is closing her shop (prob because of corona).

So, I handed her the flowers and said I had never met a real hippie flower child and thought she'd love the poesie. Also said I would think of her next time I would go over to the States! She said she had enjoyed chatting with me and wished me all the very best.

And I think she was about to cry when I left her unwrapping the flowers.

 

280 Reads

Listening With Empathy

Last night I had the privilege to sit with a man of 80 who has dementia but senses his imminent death, he spoke of the spirits who visit him namely his grandmother and how he used to be scared but wasn't anymore, he joked about how he would rather have visits from the living not the dead.

I felt very humbled to be part of this conversation with him as I have a passion for End of Life Care and exploring spirituality within my work I am also a strong advocate for a more Palliative approach to Dementia Care.

It was a wonderful experience taking the time to just listen allowing him to express his thoughts, validating his feelings and hopefully allowing him to find that peace within as he makes the journey towards the end of his life.
 

241 Reads

Interconnectedness with a bee

While I was painting in the studio, an insect - I assumed a fly - kept hitting against the window, trying to get back outdoors. I felt a brief moment of compassion, as I imagined its sense of panic. I kept a door open nearby, hopeful for its freedom. Hours later I learned it was a honeybee, as he landed on my easel, then flew right towards me, and landed on the front of my shirt! Amazingly, my first reaction was not fear, but rather one of compassion. He seemed tired, from all the efforting. Together we made our way outside, where he took flight to the skies, presumably back home. A feeling of joy for his freedom came up. I feel grateful that compassion came first. It so easily could have been otherwise. I am grateful I did not lash out in panic or fear or try to cause harm. Today I bow to ... Read Full Story >>

379 Reads
  • Posted by screechingbird
  • Oct 2, 2020
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International Peace Day Celebration

To celebrate International Peace day, I made Peace quote cards with mindyjourney’s message, laminated for durability. Peace dove and a string were attached to hang them. I am grateful to Sister Mindy for her inspiration. The doves were made by sisters Mindy and Cathie during their India trip November 2019. I just added a few. I am also grateful to my brother who helped me with corrections and suggestions in Gujarati translation. Credit goes to Utthan for giving me cards to make quote cards. I am happy to be a little part of this International Peace Day project. I distributed some peace and other quote cards today. Utthan, computer shop and the supermarket received a bunch of them. Others were also given where I shopped on September 21. This is just the beginning. The Peace quote cards will be made when needed to give away regularly along with other quote cards. Peace is the ... Read Full Story >>

246 Reads

Supporting In Challenging Times

Wrote a note of appreciation and concern to a local small business owner, and had no idea how it would impact them---the email back from them said "Nicest message I've received..you made me cry...thank you for the shot of goodness and adrenaline and for making my day." Well, that made my day too!! Wrote two (hand written) letters to friends letting them know how much they mean to me. Worked very hard on preparing a virtual music program and sent kudos to our team members and our lead--this is quite a monumental effort and what I realized today is that many people are looking forward to watching it and it will bring them much joy during the festival of Navaratri coming up. Feel very happy to be part of this. Trying to spread love through our garden's harvest---have given away tomatoes, lemons, figs, zucchini, arugula, basil to many folks in the neighborhood. Baked brownies ... Read Full Story >>

290 Reads

Healing Garden Tended With Love

Healing Garden :–

The healing garden began with just 4 plants. Now I have more than 50 herbs and plants in the garden. It was not easy to create a healing garden with the courtyard’s limited space.

It requires regular care and I didn’t have much time, so in the beginning, many plants went dry due to lack of proper care. My isolation gave me an opportunity to care for the plants and develop a beautiful garden. In the period of lock down, I bought more plants with big planters and started caring for my plants in the morning and evening.

Proper watering, giving fertilizer at the right time, removing grass and maintaining the ratio of sunlight and shadow. After much hard work, now the healing garden is ready to heal you.
 

310 Reads

Random Notes of Kindness

I finished another book today, one I had borrowed from the library. And like I do with all the books I borrow from the library, I place a post it note and stuck it randomly amongst the pages for the next person who checks out the book to find. I love doing this, as I always imagine what a surprise it must be for the person who finds it ♥
 

359 Reads

Small Favor

Easy and efficient -

I cleaned a neighbors trash dispenser for no reason but to be nice. I did it knowing they would appreciate it. Plus, it was becoming an unbearable smell.

So, that's a win-win for everyone :)
 

353 Reads

Learning To Receive From Others In My Time Of Need

I'm a single mom, running my own business and just plain juggling a lot. Because I need to move to a better school district, I've decided that I'm going to sell my house. But before I do, I need to put in a new kitchen. I don't have much money. In this economy, who wants to put more money into their house than they have to, right? But I can't sell the house with the kitchen as is. It's pretty bad. I posted something about my project on Facebook the other day, and got an unexpected response. One of my friends, who is a general contractor, told me that he was hurt that I didn't choose him to redo the kitchen (my brother-in-law is doing it for free). He understood completely, but asked me why I didn't ask him for his commercial discount at Home Depot, that he would very much like ... Read Full Story >>

2454 Reads

Looking Out for a Friend

A friend is trying to buy a house, but many places locally are sold still through word of mouth rather than by agents. We heard wind of a place in a village local to us so my partner rang about it on her behalf.

Someone in the village had the keys so it was then a mission to try and find this mysterious person. Last night we finally tracked him down and as he had time he showed it to us on the spot. I'm glad he did as were able to discover it was unsuitable for friend, but such kindness!

Partner put so much effort into checking this out for her, and lovely old chap opened up his bar and bought us a drink after we looked at it.
 

471 Reads

What I Learned from Isolation

Make more and more friends. Never bring ego into your relationship. Love and compassion are the most valuable things on the earth. We all should try to get and give as much as we can. Dear friends, life can take any turn at any time or movement. It is unpredictable and unstoppable. We can’t measure it. We just need to go with it. One more truth about life is; we can’t spend it alone. On so many occasions, we need people, family, friends and community to live the journey of life. And especially in our struggles, we need them more. On March 16, 2020 my left leg was injured. At that time, I thought it was a simple injury, but a medical doctor later declared it a serious fracture and that I would have to be in bed for three months. It was shocking for me. I never spent more than 8 hours ... Read Full Story >>

615 Reads

Kind Domino Effect

This is a story of a kind act which had a domino effect going from patient to dentist to sweeper (janitor). I gave quote cards to patients waiting their turn in the dentist office waiting area. When I was called in to see the dentist, I placed a “Wear A Mask“ and “Keep Social Distance“ sign on the dentist’s table along with some quote cards. He checked my teeth and said: “Let broken loose teeth fall down, nothing can be done about it.” He refused to take a fee from me. I put a little extra on his table. He was giving me more change back, while cutting down his fees. I politely refused to take it and requested that he give it to some needy people. Immediately he gave much more than my change to the lady who was sweeping the office floor. I was satisfied that I paid the fee and a little extra ... Read Full Story >>

424 Reads

An Elderly Woman's Cry Led To This Beautiful Act Of Kindness And Connection

As I was walking around Residential care this afternoon, I heard a lot of yelling and crying coming from one of the rooms. I had actually tried to connect with this little lady a few weeks ago but she can't speak English and has dementia. A caregiver was in with her and speaking but the lady wasn't responding. I took the lady into the bathroom and she was crying and looking in the mirror. To calm her down I started to brush her hair, it was soaking. The caregiver left and I grabbed a small towel and dried her hair as well as gently rubbing her head. She just kept crying and was terribly upset. So I wrapped my arms around her, rubbed her back and hugged her. At the same time, I was talking very quietly to her and rocking her. She sobbed in my arms. When she calmed down I sat ... Read Full Story >>

2997 Reads

Who Got the Bigger Surprise!

Some of my friends went as a group to cheer up a senior friend of mine who was feeling very depressed due to her inability to travel, a disability of the hand and a few other things. We went to cheer her up and give her flowers, cards (she adores Rumi so we made Rumi posters as seen in the picture) and food, but her kind grateful  spirit touched us all far more! She was warm and open and expressed how she had been feeling lately. She was in tears to see us all. All of us were filled with gratitude for everyone’s presence and for a shared understanding and love. We played a couple of uplifting songs on a portable music player (Carey Pearce - It won't always be like this.)  One of our friends had woke up at 5 am to make cheesecake bread loaves and chex mix for all ... Read Full Story >>

355 Reads

Caring People With Food Insecurity

Despite the early and unseasonable snow, Feeding South Dakota https://feedingsouthdakota.org/ held their mobile food pantry today in the parking lot of our local food-bank, where MisterM and I volunteer every month.

A BIG thank you to all who participated, especially my dear husband, who is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Looking a little deeper into the Feeding South Dakota program, I am heartened and inspired to see what a caring difference they make to those suffering from food insecurity.

Pulling together, my kind friends, we can accomplish so much more than the sum of one.

*photo from the internet
 

279 Reads




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