Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Summer Sharing!

A friend had mentioned in passing the other day that she wondered about how the ice cream was at a new shop that opened in town....so yesterday when I was grocery shopping near that place, I picked up a tub of ice cream from the new shop and surprised her family with it after their dinner! They were delighted and surprised :-)
And it turned out that the ice cream there was quite scrumptious!!

Sent a heartfelt gratitude/friendship card to a special friend

Sent beautiful nature photos that I took while hiking to various friends to brighten their day.

Spent some time with lost tourists who had lots of questions about the hiking trail/directions this morning, and they were very grateful.

1599 Reads

Kindness In The Car

I gave a woman carrying groceries a ride on the way to work. Then I went to pick up my patients prescription from the dr which is 45 minutes away because she was too sick to drive and her family out of town.

1412 Reads

Perfect Timing

Yesterday I was able to thank someone I have been meaning to for quite sometime. Recently, I've had troubles with my mobile phone which has required me to take into the store multiple times. The young man Pete who has helped me every time is so great. He is so passionate and always cheerful, which is sadly a rare sight these days.

On my last visit to him I wanted to gift him something as a thank you. I thought about a lunch voucher in the mall where he works, but there were none available. So as I passed a news stand selling lotto tickets, I knew that was exactly what I was to buy.

The best part was when I arrived to gift it to him. A man was speaking to him asking him if he had good work ethic and references as he wanted to offer him a job there and then with his company. The perfect time for me to approach Pete and gift him with thanks. The man said "Wow there is your reference right there if this lady speaks so highly of you and has bought you a gift!". I couldn't have asked for better timing. Yet I'm not sure what was the better gift: the lottery ticket or my words of praise when he needed it most.

1382 Reads

Putting in Petrol

At the garage yesterday the lady in front of me could not work her petrol cap, so I got out to see if I could help. It turned out that she has arthritis in her hands and did not have the strength to remove the cap. I removed it, helped her put in her petrol and put it back on. She called me an angel! :) For me, it was a lovely encounter, full of smiles and an opportunity to say hello to someone I would not otherwise have met.

1191 Reads
  • Posted by samsrainbow
  • Jul 10, 2015
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Harlem Globetrotters

This morning I surprised my boys by telling them I was taking them to see the Harlem Globetrotters tonight. They didn't even know they were in town! We all had such a great time. My two young boys love them. However, the kindness didn't end there....

On the way in I was able to do an act of kindness! Parking outside the arena had a $5 cover charge. So when it was my turn to pay I handed the man two $5 notes and told him I wanted to pay for the car behind. He was bewildered but eventually understood.

It's so easy to be kind and I thank this place for inspiring me to do such acts!

1441 Reads

Watching the Smiles at Red Rocks Ampetheater

I recently read a story here about a father and daughter who shared free water and soda at a recent community event accompanied by SMILE cards.

It inspired me to grab a case of water to give away the last time my daughter Birdie and I went out to exercise at the amazing Red Rocks Amphitheater near Golden Colorado. We set up a board that said "Free. Please enjoy one. Remember, every day may not be good..BUT there is GOOD in EVERY day!" which is my daughter's mantra.

Some people were hesitant, but by the end of our workout, there were only three bottles left and we handed them out to some thirsty passersby. We had taped the smile card to the front and it was fun to glance over to where we had put the water bottles and see people read it! I'm not sure what they expected, but I hope a few pass on the favor.

Even though it's rough lugging a case of water up many many flights of stairs, it was worth the trip!! We will be doing that again on our next trip to Red Rocks! Birdie and me, Golden CO

780 Reads

Scones For New Neighbors

A new family moved in down the street, so my girls made scones to bring to welcome them. It turns out that they have 5 children under the age of 9, and the baby is only a few weeks old. Glad we brought her something that may have eased her burden!

1480 Reads

The Deli

Yesterday I waited a long while in a line at the local gas station/coffee shop/deli waiting to make a purchase. Everyone in front of me and behind me had a long wait, too. It appeared they were training a new cashier.

Everybody's gotta start somewhere! Right? One young man was holding a place in line for himself and his friend as they waited for their Deli order for their lunch break....as they were in work clothes. When their time came to pay, the cashiers could not figure out how to charge the EBT/food stamp card they were wanting to use.

The young men apparently didn't have an alternative way to pay and were asked to give the sandwiches back.......so I paid for their lunch. They're young, they're working, they're hungry? What more needs to be said? Thanks to the young men who are working to make our world better.

884 Reads

Her Spine Might Be Crushed But Not Her Spirit.

I have an acquaintance that was in a horse accident. Her back and her leg are broken and she is in a wheelchair, which makes caring for her family of 5 hard. A mutual friend organized a meal train and I brought her some salad, bread and some of my Dad's amazing baked chicken. She LOVED it! We may not be able to heal all of her wounds, but we can do small acts of kindness to ease her pain.

1143 Reads

Painted With Love

I was painting my window sills yesterday and when I finished I had some paint left over so I asked my neighbour if she would like hers done. She works nights so hopefully seeing her gleaming white ledges will cheer her up when she got home this morning x

1365 Reads

The woman who went up a mountain and came down different

I've suffered with crippling social anxiety and anger issues as long as I can remember. I never directed the anger externally but had a habit of being (retrospectivly) vile to myself. A couple of years ago I came up with what I thought was a cunning plan of positivity: every time I became irrationally angry about something I couldn't change, I'd do a random act of charity. Things like loosing money or not getting a promotion saw me donating goods to our local food Bank. At the start of this month myself and my partner went on our first holiday in years. Just a week in Tenerife but at risk of sounding dramatic, a life changing week. We climbed Mt. Teide and as I stood at the top soaking in my first taste of high altitude, something in my brain burst. Be it a life changing experience or a neuron dying through ... Read Full Story >>

3489 Reads

Starting A Breakfast Programme

I'm setting up a breakfast programme at the school I teach at part time. Its heart breaking seeing hungry kids, and its reflected in their behaviour. I admit, my first thought was "why doesn't someone do something about this?"

I remembered that quote, and I am 'someone' I have moments of motivation and moments of fear and feeling over whelmed at how I am going to get it going, funded, staffed and to the kids that need it most (usually the ones who come to school late). My Mum kick started me off with a donation of $50!

830 Reads

There For A Stranger

An old man was standing unsteady outside of the drugstore I came out of tonight. He seemed uncertain about what to do. He started shuffling away and I called up to him "sir, sir, do you need help?" He said he was looking for a bench to sit down. I told him he was going in the wrong direction and offered him my arm just in time to prevent him for falling down.

1452 Reads

Take A Smile

I placed "take a smile and have a beautiful day - kindness rules" signs with tear off smiles in both elevators in our apartment complex. By the end of the day most smiles had been taken and I am sure there were more smiling people in our complex.

1126 Reads

The Gardner

I live in a small block of flats, very quiet and secluded. We have a neighbour called Jeff, he's a retired man and dedicates many hours keeping the garden tidy and seeing to anything that needs maintenance. He does this without charge and without any selfish motives. Some people talk the walk, he walks the walk. Amazing Guy. Thanks Jeff.

1410 Reads

Recycled Bird Feeders

Goodness. A day with my class of little 5 year olds. We made bird feeders out of recycled plastic bottles and filled them with bird seed. My big surprise was that a lot of the children hadnt spent time actually watching birds eat or forage for food. We left little piles of bird seed on the playground and went back inside to watch them eat through the window. I hope I have inspired them to notice birds again.

723 Reads

Gratitude Journal

During my yoga class a few weeks ago, we all spoke about gratitude and gratitude journals. One lady mentioned how she has always wanted to start one. That night I went home and ordered her this. A great journal for gratitude. It arrived today just in time for our very last class. I can't wait to gift it to her. She will be so surprised!

972 Reads

3 Bunches of Flowers

I was at the store yesterday and bought some lovely flowers. One bunch for me, one bunch to thank a friend for welcoming me into the community that I have just moved to, and ibe for a stranger. I left the store, bought some beautiful wrapping paper, wrapped two of the bunches and as I strolled through the mall, a lovely old couple were walking the other way hand in hand. I noticed on the lady's badge the words "school cleaner", so I walked to her and presented her with one of the bunches of flowers.

I said, "These are for you, have a wonderful day!", smiled and kept walking. I did glance back for a moment only to see her filled with joy looking at the flowers and smiling with her husband. I felt so happy I almost cried! So wonderful to give daily. Great for you and the recipient. I hope I made her afternoon. Have a beautiful day.

3969 Reads

Weekend Kindness

Got up extra early to volunteer at the soup kitchen because this weekend we are having music rehearsals at our house all day and I had to get back by 1. (I thought I would go and help prep and then leave early)

But when I got to the soup kitchen, I found that there were not nearly enough volunteers! So we all doubled up on our duties and miraculously got everything set up and served lots of folks too....I stayed on as long as I could (12:45) til almost closing time (1) and got home just in time.

It made me really glad that I could be there when there was such a need for helpers. I was also able to save pita bread for the nice Armenian gentleman from last week (I remembered he liked it and set it aside for him, and he was so touched that I remembered him) and since we only had one packet of it, I was glad that he got it.

Also glad that I was able to make special food to serve to everyone who came to rehearsal today!

1239 Reads

A Mac Razor

I went to the town center where I live and to a store to buy a shaving razor. I went to the cashier and couldn't find my debit card. There was a young guy next to me who noticed what had happened, he turned to me and said he would pay for the razor. Time seemed to stand still in what I can only describe as "oneness". I felt privileged to have met this kind person and sincerely thanked him for his most generous and selfless act.

1019 Reads




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