Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Time For Breakfast!

Every morning at work, I get the best made to order omelette in our cafeteria. The best part is that the guy who makes them is always cheerful and happy. It is a great way to start my morning.

I decided to let his manager know what a great job he was doing and he said he would give him movie passes as recognition. He deserves this as he gets my morning off to a great start!

797 Reads

How she celebrated her 35th birthday!

The last thing Kim Powell-Woods wanted for her birthday was a newspaper story. But her day on Wednesday was just too unusual to ignore. Instead of a traditional celebration with gifts and a birthday cake, the Limestone woman wanted smiles. Her plan: For her 35th birthday, she would do 35 acts of random kindness for strangers. "I thought of it a couple weeks ago, and I sat down one afternoon and started making a list of things I could do," she said. She added that her job — as a 911 operator — put her in touch with people who were having very bad days. She wanted a day when she might help people have a good day. "And, as a single mother of two, I know a lot about what it's like to be in all kinds of predicaments. So, I wanted to give people a little boost," she explained. She started at ... Read Full Story >>

2960 Reads

My Son's Big Heart

I'm having a tidy up in our home office. A thought popped into my head regarding my son, he was about 8 years old at the time. His school was having a food drive for 'the poor' and he wanted to take something to school the next day.
I was a full time student and struggling along to make ends meet at the time, the thought of a brighter future once I was qualified kept me motivated. Our pantry was all but bare apart from one or two cans and a jar of homemade jam.

My son made his request again, and in despair I said to him "For goodness sake Logan, we haven't got anything to give, WE ARE THE POOR!" He looked at me in astonishment, and said "no we aren't Mummy, we've got a house and we've got each other" humbling, and he proudly took the cans and the jam to school.

1592 Reads

Love card for a waitress

I ordered cards from "The world needs more love letters". My 3-year-old daughter handed one to our favorite waitress that said "you are loved". It brought tears to her eyes, and mine. Now people are telling me that she carries the card and tells people the story. Yay! 

765 Reads
  • Posted by jessiraffa
  • Jun 23, 2015
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Opportunity to help a security guard at work

Increment Amount (The Joy of Giving) Few months back, my office security guard was diagnosed with mouth cancer and had a tough time. I was really concerned about his health and the mental trauma he was facing. I prayed for him, counseled him and sent a request to all my co-workers for a small amount of contributions for his hospitalization expenses. A few colleagues were quite generous and contributed for him. He was on Chemo and had only one chemo left, when the hospital asked to pay around 20K. Being only working as a security guard, of course he did not have that money. I prayed for him and promised myself to help him during this difficult time. I got my salary today with some increment and I sent the increment amount to meet his last chemo expense. What I've learned from life, is that you can earn more money but the opportunities to help ... Read Full Story >>

1910 Reads

Helping a villager get back home

I was waiting in my car and noticed a lady with a small child, distraught and hesitant. She seemed from a village here in India and seemed lost in this city.

She looked at me hesitantly and I asked her if she wanted to say something. That gave her the courage to talk to me, and she told me that she had come from her village for treatment and now had no money.

She hadn't eaten and neither did she feed her baby. I gave her money for food and for traveling back to her village. She took the money with tears of gratitude.

I wouldn't have reflected on this at all and it would have passed away as something that I do without a blink... but penning it for KS has made me reflect, feel good and also to consciously do good. Thank you KS

593 Reads

Sharing Time

A neighbor last month was diagnosed with skin cancer. She has just returned this past week from surgery (out of town). So I went over and sat and talked to her. We spent time together. I believe time is the best gift I give to people. She was very happy because some of her next door neighbors and good friend have avoided her since the diagnose I believe they are scared and do not know how to react.

819 Reads

Nice Cashier

The young lady in front of me at Safeway had rung up about $85 in groceries but did not have a club card. I was going to offer mine, but I wasn't sure how the checker would feel about that. I soon found out, when the checker asked me if I had a club card for the young lady <3. She was able to knock off a little more than $10 from her bill! I then noticed that I was overcharged for an item, which I brought to the stores attention. Rather than just refunding me the overage charge, Safeway refunded me the entire amount :)

1039 Reads

Mobile Recharge For A ...

So today was a blissful day. I met with an accident but was saved by the divine. My car broke down, but I thanked God as it could be worse. A few friends helped me to take my car to the workshop. So God gave me the opportunity to walk little and share more with this beautiful world.

A friend of mine is facing difficult times and does not have cash to recharge her phone. After reaching home, I immediately recharged her phone without telling her and she was surprised after getting the amount in her account.

She understood that it is me who has done this and called me immediately with a heavy voice and I could feel the tears of joy in her voice. I may not have helped her that great but as a long distance this is the best I can do. Happy Calling.

1769 Reads

Kindness Is A Love Song

My husband's entire life is kindness. If I made a list of all he's done and is day-by-day in the 16 years I've known him, it would take me days to type. He's not a praying kind of guy but his life is a prayer.

He doesn't use flowery words, but his language of love is compassion, hard work, and just so many thoughtful things he does. He just handed me a big green shake.

Earlier he cleaned out the fridge joking the entire time about various, er, science projects. I'm constantly astonished that this gorgeous guy loves me enough to stick around so long. Trust has never been easy for me, but he has shown me why trust is the best path, and kindness is a love song.

2351 Reads

Anonymous Kindness

I was the recipient of a kindness yesterday that still has me in wonderment. My husband, who has ALS, was in his power wheel chair and got stuck in the driveway, with his foot under the chair, which is too heavy for me to lift. Four cars drove by on our street as I was trying to get him unstuck, and I was almost in tears because I just can't lift much with my bad back. A woman in her late 50s to early 60s finally stopped and helped me get him back into his chair and get his foot unstuck. I am so grateful to her, and I never even got her name!

1991 Reads

You made my day

I have studied philanthropy and its effects on the wellbeing of the giver. Yet even though I know the 'science' of why and how it works, each time I get the giver's high.

Recently , I wanted to do a small act of kindness ... and I noticed a woman in line across form me at the McDonalds counter buying lunch. As she was wearing a US mail service uniform, I told her I appreciated the mail service in my area and would like to pay for her lunch she had just ordered.

I went ahead and did . She was beaming and left with her lunch thanking me and said I had "made her day". In reality, I was left feeling it was she who 'had made my day!!!"

1938 Reads

Nearly Two Months Ago ...

Nearly two months ago, there was an area that was covered in trash. After walking by this area for many years, I decided to try and beautify it.

I cleaned it up and planted some flowers. I hadn't watered the flowers in more than a week, so I went up this morning to feed them. Lo and behold, this is what I found! I couldn't have been given a greater gift this morning <3. Purple is my favorite color and it appears to have light shining from its center. My gratitude cup is overflowing <3 <3 <3


2068 Reads

just listen

Sometimes it's just about listening. being present for someone and helping them see past their fear.

Today I got to be present for a friend and help her process thru "stuff". When we sorted thru all the "stuff" we found that she wasn't feeling safe.

Once we figured that part out then we talked about what that means and how it's showing up for her right now. I got to be "there" for my friend and she got to realize that she is perfectly safe. I

was reminded that the most precious present there is, is simply being present.

735 Reads

A Place to Stay

A friend of mine is having financial struggles and has been caught in a bad housing situation. Luckily, I have an apartment and have been able to invite her to stay with me for as long as she needs. I feel honored to be able to help her as she got me through a really bad time. Over the last few years, especially when I was very ill, she has been an amazing friend to me. It's good to be able to return the favor.

2154 Reads

Paper Smiles

I printed out a free 'Take a Smile' poster and put it up in my building. It's been a few days and now there are only two smiles left :) It makes me happy whenever I see it and I hope it gives other people a quick smile, both literal and paper!

1619 Reads

I Asked The New ...

I asked the new grocery clerk what candy bar she liked most. She said they were all her favorites, so I picked out a KitKat, paid for it with my groceries and gave it to her, along with an origami peace dove.

The way she held it to her chest, with this HUGE smile on her face as she looked directly into my eyes with gratitude, just about melted my heart.

Blessings of giving and receiving, my friends. It really is the same.


925 Reads

A Simple Cup of Coffee

While helping out at a local nursing home, I was passing out cups of Hi-C fruit punch. A little German lady kept asking for a cup of coffee. There was no coffee in sight so I went to the kitchen and rounded up one for her. When I brought it to her she thanked me for treating her like a "human being".

1511 Reads
  • Posted by bhouston1015
  • Jun 17, 2015
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Reading Aloud

Yesterday I read for an hour to an elderly man who can't see very well. We do this together every fortnight and have read some really interesting and entertaining books.

1764 Reads
  • Posted by spurginhussey
  • Jun 16, 2015
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School Kindness Project

I teach Theology at a Catholic High School, and as a project they did acts of kindness and left the "Smile" card behind. The students loved doing it and sharing the stories in class. Hopefully, they started a "ripple effect" of kindness. :)

1182 Reads




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