Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Not Yet

I want share a act of kindness bestowed upon me .... A close friend of mine recently passed away and his memorial service was held at his home. When it came time to leave I felt distressed that I would be leaving his home and that connection to him for the last time. Feeling myself getting emotional and upset, I put my sunglasses on as I said good bye. A friend pulled me into a hug, and sensing how upset I was would not let me go until feeling my breathing relax. Four times I attempted to end the hug, at which point she just squeezed me a little tighter and said "not yet". She calmed me down without saying anything. Usually when some one in my world passes I am filled with intense gratitude and feel blessed that I had the opportunity to have them in my world. And while I do ... Read Full Story >>

1922 Reads

Smile Bags :)

I made some SMILE bags to have on-hand. Each one has an origami peace dove, a SMILE card and either a restaurant gift card, woven bracelet, some cash or a kindness/blessing token.

Blessings of sharing the SMILES, my kind friends! :)

1562 Reads

Parking Meter Coins

On my way to the gym, I left all my spare coins in the bottom of the parking meter for the next person coming along. When I got back to my car and walked past the meter again, all the coins were gone.

1036 Reads

It Continues To Amaze

It continues to amaze me how amazing you are and how amazing this place called Kindspring is!

I am in awe of you all!

No matter what is going on in my day or life I can always check in here and feel uplifted, inspired,loved and an overall sense of peace, calm and joy!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for being so amazing!!!!!!!!!

1217 Reads

One Kindness Follows Another

One kindness follows another - yesterday, though my budget is a little tight - I decided to buy fluffy new pillows for the family that lost their son and home to a fire. When I went to check out the clerk honored an expired coupon that I had found in my wallet making the pillows unexpectedly affordable - I believe that most people are just looking for an opportunity to be kind and we just need to keep reminding them that it is the right thing to do!

1069 Reads

True Giving

I shared recently that I will leave $5 with the cashier for the person behind me every time I go through the drive-thru in the small town in which I work.

I struggled a little bit with wondering who would be next. What if it was someone in a Mercedes or Cadillac? What if they didn't need the $5? What if they were a jerk or abusive?

I came to the conclusion that my job is simply to leave the money....give the gift....do the act. It is the giving of the gift that is important, not how it is received or who receives it.

I trust God to put the money to good use...maybe if they don't need it they will pay it forward and it will eventually get to someone who needs it. It's an important lesson to be able to give with no strings attached. That is the only way to truly give selflessly.

1674 Reads

What Goes Around

Finished my first 21 day challenge. It's so amazing how what you do to be kind comes back in such unexpected ways! The person I bought a sandwich for recently (I posted this as a kind act :-) ) gave me tickets to a show. They couldn't make it and instead of selling them thought of me :-). The show was great, and led me to meet an old colleague there, that I'd not seen for ages, and we had a great catch up.

1348 Reads
  • Posted by SmoothSkin
  • Jun 13, 2015
  • Comments (5)
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I Wrote A Birthday ...

I wrote a birthday card for a prisoner in prison today. I often do this. Pick someone, anyone I feel drawn to who I feel could benefit from words of love and inspiration and write to them. I use the "writeaprisoner.com" website.

Inside this card I included one of Mindys beautiful peace doves with a lovely quote I found by Robert Fulghum I want to share here ...

"Peace.
Its not something you wish for,
Its something you make.
Something you do.
Something you are.
And something you give away"

After the quote I then add ... "And you dear *** I gift this peace dove to hang somewhere of your choosing, to remind you always, that peace begins with you" ♥

1063 Reads

Mah Jongg Travelers

My story begins with a friend of 50 years who is under going chemo for a cancer that is not curable. To keep her going, my other 2 members of our Mah Jongg group have started the traveling lunch bunch to keep her in the loop each month. We bring the lunch, munchies, and fun so she can still play with us as she manages her treatment. Movement and breathing are so difficult that this gives our friend good days with us. Just knowing that we bring the outside in to her, gives us joy. BW

881 Reads

Aruna Shanbaug

Hi everyone! I haven't been to kindspring for a long, long time. Today, Aruna Shanbaug passed away. She was a woman who lived in a vegetative state for more than 40 years in a hospital in India after being brutally raped.

The judiciary rejected a plea for mercy killing. Euthanasia is not yet legal in India. Shanbaug was a nurse at the hospital. The staff took care of her for 40 years. This story has a lot of kindness in it, but also a tremendous amount of pain.

After reading about her passing, I felt the need to visit a space of positivity, and the first place I thought of was Kindspring. 

I am grateful for this life. 

1173 Reads

Sunflower Saturday!Hello Friends~Saturday I ...

Hello Friends,

Saturday I did some volunteer work for a non-profit "Friends of Cherry Valley" which is a national wildlife refuge and land sanctuary located in the Poconos.

This was our Spring Fling and I got to enjoy manning the table of sunflower seed planting. So many children had the opportunity to play in the dirt, place it into pots, plant the sunflower seeds, and then mark their names on specially created sunflower tags. I think I had more dirt on me than the kids.

There were many other activities such as bird house building, fishing demonstration by the local Fish & Wildlife agency, salamander and local species educational booth, and so much more! Everything is run by donation only and the attendees were more than generous. Plus we had free food and beverages for everyone!

We're planning a Fall Festival for some time in October. Cannot wait to help out and see all of the children again.

I was 12 again...for the entire day!

2064 Reads

Saturday Sweets

Before work, I went to the post office. My friend there told me they have been working overtime because they are short-staffed. I could see that they looked very tired. I pulled out some mini chocolate bars from my bag and passed them out to the workers, in an attempt to brighten their day just a little bit.

1179 Reads

Perfect Timing

A student came to my office hours with a glass Mason jar full of a clear liquid. I jokingly asked what it was (Moonshine?!) and he laughed and said it was his water---he had lost his water bottle. Unfortunately, he had been mugged earlier this semester. This student has been coming into my office through the course for help, and I have really appreciated his effort. I had just been to the dentist the previous day and they gave me a free water bottle which I had kept in my car (still wrapped up!). I told the student this and asked if it would be okay to give it to him (I didn't want him to think it was weird) since he didn't have one. He was so happy and it made me so happy that the timing was just perfect! How often is it that we have exactly what someone needs at the time?! Beautiful harmony.

962 Reads

A Green Dove

We had a very rainy and foggy hour-long drive into the city yesterday. I am grateful that I got to make origami doves as passenger. Keeping my hands busy brings me such calm. I can even fold them in the dark now!

I gave a dove to a helpful saleswoman during my time in the city and she exclaimed, "Oh, I love this, thank you! Green is my favorite color too."

Blessings of sharing a peace of positive energy, my friends :)

1861 Reads

A Simple Favor

Today, I mowed my neighbor's front yard. He is working 3 part-time jobs and taking care of 2 young kids because his wife is away for a business trip this week. He seemed a little overwhelmed the last time that we talked, so I thought I this was the least I could do to support him. 

1267 Reads

Sharing Smiles on the Road

I don't drive often since I prefer the peace of walking, but yesterday as I was driving into town, I waited patiently for a woman on crutches with a broken leg to cross the road. I could tell that she was concerned that she was taking too long, so I just waved her on with a smile. I wasn't in a hurry. I know that I am often that pedestrian crossing the road and I feel guilty because of the looks that I get from drivers. Smile at the next pedestrian you see! :)

834 Reads

Little Action, Big Effects

A friend, who started up and ran her own youth theater group, lost her husband to cancer 2 years ago. Almost immediately after he died, she found out that she had cancer too. She is still going strong and her treatment is working well for now. She always has a smile and kind words for everyone. One of the hobbies I have had over the years is to take photographs, particularly candid shots of people laughing and smiling. I have a great headshot of my friend and her husband, from about a year or 2 before he died. They both have the loveliest smiles in the photo. I ordered an enlargement of it andpopped it into a nice frame for her. I gave it to her last night at a meeting of the theater group. I was very nervous of how it might go but, although there were floods of tears from her ... Read Full Story >>

2934 Reads

Haircut Happiness

I was getting my hair cut at the hairdresser yesterday.

I go to a salon where you can choose a basic hair cut then get the extras like a wash and shampoo, blow dry, straightening, etc. I was thinking I would get a haircut and a blow-dry (both cost the same) and I overheard the woman next to me saying she had needed to wait a while between haircuts because she had a big power bill to pay as she had been unwell and used extra heating. 

I decided to forgo my extras and paid for her haircut instead. I just left a little hand-written note saying that I was glad she was better and out and about, and it was a gift from me with blessings. 

The hairdresser gave me a hug.

1193 Reads

A Picture Of The King

I am currently in Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer. A few days ago I taught an English lesson to a group of about fifty police officers. The lesson was only about forty-five minutes long but afterwards everyone was very thankful. The sheriff presented me with a giant framed picture of the King and promised to protect me throughout my service here. 

I am still in awe of how gracious and kind the Thai people can be and I believe I can learn from them daily.

813 Reads
  • Posted by alyssathescott
  • Jun 9, 2015
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A Draw of Luck

I often pick an address and name from the phone book at random and then write a card to that person. In the card, I tell them how loved and amazing they are, and that I wish them the most blessed life. Today, I decided to add a 'little extra' to my random cards of love that I send and add a lottery ticket! 

1308 Reads




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