Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Floating

I rearranged my schedule so some new tenants who were driving cross country (towing a trailer no less) in our monsoon could get into their new house earlier.

My pets may not think it was a kindness, but I flea-treated all of them.   I followed my own advice, ran a lovely bubble bath, lit candles, sunk down in the water to my nose and read a delicious book.

Now my next treat to myself  is coming on here and reading everyone else's wonderful acts today...this is becoming a nightly ritual. I will continue it beyond the 21 day challenge. Thank you, All!

1529 Reads

Courage And Peanut Butter

A friend just self-published her second book, a work of fiction, available through a number of internet sites. She is an introvert. The idea that someone would leave a negative online review was worrying her to the point that she was missing out on the joy and celebration of having just written and published a second book.

I sent her a message that said no matter what, there will always be naysayers, especially when people can remain anonymous. I told her to acknowledge herself for her courage in stepping out of her comfort zone and following a dream.

I suggested that she adopt the mindset that if the naysayers are not out there in the arena with her (and they never are) then she shouldn't care about their feedback. I told her that sometimes curling up under a blanket with the TV remote and a jar of peanut butter isn't so bad either.

She sent me a text with a big thank you and a picture of a jar of peanut butter and a spoon..

1580 Reads

Loving Today's Challenge!

My 13-year old son and I had quite the adventure this morning! We frequently walk by a beautifully landscaped yard with a cute little flower garden. I wanted to acknowledge the time and effort put in by the gardener, but I've never seen him or her, so we went to a local nursery and bought a gift card that I will leave with a note and a smile card the next time that I pass by. We also ran to Target and bought a few $10 gift cards along with some notecards and our other groceries. While we were putting our things away in the car, my son observed that a lady that had just parked next to us looked a little grumpy. As soon as she entered the store, we grabbed a notecard, dashed off a quick note, and added a gift card and a Smile card for her to find ... Read Full Story >>

2973 Reads

Attentive Listening

Yesterday while out birdwatching, I ran into a person who I perceive to be not terribly friendly toward me. I greeted him and asked a question about a bird he had seen.

I listened to his response & answered - he then went on to tell me an anecdote about something that had happened to him in the past. I listened attentively and when he was done gave him my reaction to his story.

I can have a hard time with this since I always seem to be thinking about how I'm going to respond or I jump in and say something before the person is finished.

As we went our separate ways, he said "It was nice seeing you"... I continue to recognize how these kindness practices bring change to my life...

1520 Reads

Thanksgiving Joy For A Homeless Man

Sometimes the people who are noticed the least can do the most to lift us up... On Thanksgiving morning I got up early to run in the local 5K, figuring it would give me the motivation to get back into running. It was barely above freezing that morning so everyone getting ready to run was hopping around trying to stay warm. On the side of the road, sitting in the grass, was a man wrapped in a blanket. It was pretty obvious he was homeless and as usual, most people pretended not to see him. I went over and talked with him for a few minutes before the race. In the midst of the idle chit-chat, he told me that he was a veteran and had hoped he might be able to earn a few dollars that morning to be able to go buy a Thanksgiving dinner. He had a glimmer ... Read Full Story >>

4241 Reads

The Perfect Thanksgiving

I began my Thanksgiving day writing the things I'm grateful for in my journal. More often I simply say them in my head. Today I had time to write them. You cannot go wrong beginning your day being grateful.

Next I made two small donations. The first was to The Soup Ladies, a volunteer organization that travels to areas faced with emergencies or disasters and feeds the first responders. The second was a small pledge to Molly Hahn, creator of Buddha Doodles. Each morning her lovely illustrations are waiting in my email box. No matter how I am feeling, her messages change my thoughts to the positive. She provides her daily emails for free. She is trying to support her growing small business, so I gave a little bit to it.

Sent out some Thanksgiving ecards to family and friends. I am off to do some cooking, one of my favorite things.

Blessings! 

1634 Reads

Inviting Everyone

Every Thanksgiving a lot of families gather around a table full of food and give thanks for the blessings we have. Starting many years ago my family learned to spread the blessings to others not only on Thanksgiving but for every holiday. Back when I was young I always remembered people I didn't know showing up at Thanksgiving, Christmas, about any holiday! I learned later on the tradition my family started years ago that we still partake even today. Every holiday that my family and I celebrate we challenge ourselves for each family member to invite someone who doesn't have somewhere to go on the holiday. Sometimes we have tons of people and sometimes not too many. Our tradition includes taking pictures and looking over the pictures sometimes we cant even remember the names of everyone in the picture! At Thanksgiving yesterday I had invited a neighbor who I know didn't have anywhere to ... Read Full Story >>

2842 Reads

Listening And Learning With The Mailman

 I ran into lots of people today and focused on listening with my undivided attention. One "listening" that I loved was with our mailman.

We had never spoken before, but today I learned about what it's like to switch from a car with a typical American left hand drive to a mail truck with a right hand drive. According to him, parallel parking is much easier when the steering wheel is on the right.

How fun it is to consider things that have never crossed my mind before. How fun it is to connect with strangers.

1584 Reads

My First Smile Card :)

After a short vacation with my parents, I returned to the country where I'm volunteering and I was missing my parents terribly. The next day, I was back at my desk and what a surprise awaited me! The smile cards I had placed an order for had arrived while I was away and were waiting for me on my desk! My day instantly lit up, I was at peace! Thoughts of how to go about sprinkling the world with kind acts began dancing in my head. The next day I took  a small purse and a smile card with me with the intention of giving it to someone who really needed a surprise. Martha is a lady who cleans our office, gives us tea, food, etc. I found her in the office that morning touching her head in exhaustion as she ended a phone call. Turned out, one of her children ... Read Full Story >>

2015 Reads

Family Harvesting

Today was a harvesting day as  coolness is in the air and the garden and wood needed to be tended. So as a family we worked together, my son and his wifely one, myself and my husband.

We laid the garden to rest, thanking the soil, the sun, the rain, the seeds for growing into these amazing plants. We cut and split wood and filled our wood shed full - all working together and it felt so good.

Now we have tomatoes to ripen and can, apples and plums to process, and in the end we will give some away to people who will appreciate a fresh jar of jam or some fruit leather or....

This is one of my favorite kindnesses - to work together with my family - being warm, kind, and helpful.

1292 Reads

A Check Out Lane Redirect

Today at the store, I put my purchases on the counter to check out. As the clerk began ringing it all up, I noticed the guy behind me had one single item.

His legs were shifting back and forth, his fingers tapping, and mouth pressed. He looked annoyed.

At the end of my check out, I turned to him and offered, "I'm sorry, I did not notice you had only one item. You could have gone first."

His face softened.

His lips curved into a smile, and he replied, "Oh, that's okay."

I had goofed up by not seeing him, which rippled into some anger and impatience on his end. But an apology soothed both of our feelings, and paved the way for a more positive day.

1317 Reads

A Daily Reminder

I was stopped at a red light when I noticed a homeless guy walking towards me. This man had a sign that read "not much needed just hungry".

I didn't have any cash, all I had was my own lunch I had packed for myself. I rolled my window and said I have a banana, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a bottled water- it's yours if you want it. He smiled and said Thank You.

I was scared at first that maybe he was looking for something different than what I had to offer, but he walked over to his crate, sat down and ate the food. I pass him every day and everyday he smiles and mimes "Thank You".
 

2296 Reads

Pez for Christmas

When my daughter and I traveled home on Christmas Day we made a small gesture that still makes me smile. We had wrapped Pez dispensers and we gave one to each toll-worker we encountered, adding Merry Christmas-sorry you had to work today!

We got smiles and waves and some even leaned out of their booths to watch us leave. Those smiles and waves made it a holiday.
 

1024 Reads

Life Is Better Than The Day's Headlines!

I took five dollars out of my wallet and paper-clipped them together with a KindSpring smile card. Setting off on my run, I looked for an ungated front porch with a freshly-delivered newspaper on it. I tucked the money and card inside the paper, and I was on my way.

I hope this surprise will remind someone today that life is brighter than the usual grim headlines!

1424 Reads

Food For Thought

My co-worker who is a single mom of two is one of the hardest workers I know. She never complains and she is always smiling. However, I have noticed lately that she does not eat lunch and she looks like she has lost weight.

I was worried about her so I sat down to talk to her. She opened up on how is is struggling financially and I voiced my concern about her health. She said she doesn't eat a lot because she is low on food and her first priority is to feed her children.

So last night I went and bought her groceries and a gift card for more groceries once she needs more.

 

1220 Reads

Genuine Compliments

Yesterday I had a follow up appointment with my new rehab doctor.I took her some freshly baked pumpkin bread. At the end of the appointment I told her how much I appreciate the fact that she read my records, asks the right questions, listens to my answers and respects the fact that I know my body and have a high degree of professional expertise in this area. She treats me the way I treated my patients.

She expressed her appreciation for my words and said it was nice to be acknowledged. 
 

1127 Reads

A Personal "Volunteer" Day

Today was my personal "volunteer day" :) First, I woke up early to walk my friend to the animal shelter a little over two miles away. Then, at the shelter, I did "cat socializing" (AKA: playing with them) for around 30 minutes before I had to leave to walk another 4 miles to the beach to volunteer in the clean-up of an Autism Speaks 5K walk. On my way there, I asked for directions and ended up getting a ride for the remaining two miles. Once I got to the beach, I helped clear tables and spent a couple hours picking up garbage (there was a lot!). Afterwards, I turned to go back home and ended up getting a ride back to the animal shelter, where I spent another 40 minutes doing "cat socializing" :) before going home with my roommate/classmate/friend. On top of that, our professor offered us a ride home. I also ... Read Full Story >>

4520 Reads
  • Posted by lightshade11
  • Nov 18, 2014
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Gems of Support

I belong to a women's group, and I am very grateful for the love, support, laughter and inspiration it provides for me.



Feeling overwhelmed for the women in this group and the space of care that we carve out for each other, I took my jewelry making skills and supplies, and made something special for each woman in my group.

During our group today, a special, anonymous gift will go out to each member, along with a smile card. I'm glad to have the opportunity to let each woman know that they are loved and appreciated, just for being who they are. :)

2075 Reads

Kindness Contest Winner of the Month! - The Kindness Coalition

A friend and fellow teacher and I were talking, making plans after attending the Greater Good Summer Institute in Berkeley this summer. We both work in an inner-city elementary school, where needs are great and burnout is high. We wanted to try an experiment to see if we could begin a movement toward a more compassionate, kind community, and in the process, renew ourselves. This is how the Kindness Coalition was born. We submitted the idea to KindSpring, and won the monthly prize! In the two months that have passed, amazing things have taken root. We began by giving everyone on staff a personally grown, small potted plant, along with a kindness quote, and encouragement to pass it forward. Since then, we buy small gifts and anonymously place them in mailboxes or workspaces, along with a quote and a tag from the Kindness Coalition. We keep track of people we've tagged, and ... Read Full Story >>

3750 Reads

Lightening a Load on London's Underground

I was traveling on the London underground subway, and got off at my destination station. I started climbing up the stairs when I saw a couple carrying luggage up the stairs. They were each dragging two heavy bags up the stairs. The gentleman was doing a decent job, but the lady was struggling to lift them. I offered to help her, but she said that it was really heavy. I still insisted to help. Then, I squatted, lifted the bag from the wheels side, and together we smoothly carried the distributed weight up the stairs.

By doing it together, it took us less than a minute to reach up the stairs, and we were able to avoid further wear and tear to the bag!

The couple thanked me, and as I was walking away, I heard them talking about how we still have such sweet people who help others. :) I smiled and said to myself, "You should visit kindspring.org to find a world full of them!" 

Gratitude for all of you, for inspiring me to grow in kindness! 

1970 Reads




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