Stories of Kindness from Around the World

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

Challenge - Day 11:

When I had my knee replacement surgery 3 years ago, I was having a particularly bad night because of a pinched nerve in my lower back. I will never forget the kindness of the nurse that I had that night. He went above and beyond to help relieve my pain and discomfort.

So, to pay it forward, I talked to the nurses at the oncology center where I go with my friend for chemo every week and have made plans to bring in treats or something to brighten the drab, colorless room once a week.

This week I am filling small colorful "favor" boxes with treats for each patient and in subsequent weeks, I plan to make cookies, buy bouquets of balloons for each aisle, and provide some Halloween treats for the patients. 
 

2120 Reads

Fun In The Candy Aisle!

I had a bit of fun at my local store today.

As I was checking out with just my normal purchases, I decided to tuck a $1 bill and a Smile Card between two boxes of candy bars in the check out line.

I hope whoever finds it enjoys a good chocolate bar half as much as I do!!

978 Reads

Gifting toys to poorly children at christmas

I've packed a bag full of toys to send to Great Ormond Street children's hospital. My partner and I set out to buy toys for different ages and a mixture for boys and girls.

I really wanted to be involved with the spirit of giving, especially for those people who may not get to enjoy the festive season like most of us can. Many of these children have long term illnesses and so I hope to make them all smile and remind them that they are being thought about.

1142 Reads

Magic Chain of kindness!

A year back, my friend and I had gone to a nearby town to attend a wedding. After the reception, we were waiting for a public transport bus to go back home. It was nine o'clock at night, and although many buses passed, none stopped. We waited for an hour and were getting desperate. We wouldn't be able to stay overnight because it was a weekday, and we both needed to work the next day. It was almost 10pm when a family who had attended the same wedding passed by in their car. Probably sensing that we were waiting for some means of transport, they stopped and gave us a lift. I was so overwhelmed by their kindness, and I expressed my gratitude to them. When we reached my hometown, the family dropped us at the nearest point from where we could catch a shared rickshaw to get back to the spot we ... Read Full Story >>

3180 Reads

Carnelian For Clarity

I made a lovely pair of faceted carnelian earrings with 14k goldfill wire spirals and popped it into a mailer with a birthday card to mail it off to someone who will never ever expect it.

She's a lovely young woman with much heart and strength. I gift my earrings constantly and donate them for fundraising auctions etc. My personal goal is to give a pair to every powerful wonderful beautiful woman I know. 

1543 Reads

Knit One, Save One

Using yarn that's been donated to our elementary school, our third-grade knitting club makes little knit caps for premature newborns. I just finished a striped one (see photo), and one of my students put the pompon on it. :) Today, I started another-- a little yellow one.

A simple knit cap is an essential tool to help keep newborn babies warm, especially if they are of a low birth-weight and don't have access to things like caps and incubators. It takes about two hours to knit this life-saving measure for a baby in need, and it fills our hearts with immeasurable love to think that we are positively impacting the world of another family, nearby or worlds away.

Here's a sweet six-minute video story about it, with our students' voices. :)

2847 Reads

How A Wedding Reception Fed The Homeless

The Fowler family turned a disappointment into an act of tremendous generosity: when their daughter's wedding was cancelled 40 days before the event, the reception had already been paid for. Instead of cancelling the event and losing their deposit money, the family decided to invite an entirely different set of guests: 200 homeless women, children, and families. Willie and Carol Fowler, the bride's parents, contacted Hosea Feed the Hungry, an organization their daughter has volunteered for in the past, and offered to host 200 guests at Villa Christina, an upscale venue in Atlanta. "When they first called, the administration thought it was a prank call because it was too good to be true," Quisa Foster of Hosea Feed the Hungry told ABC News. "It's a very creme de la creme wedding venue, so to say that you're going to host 200 homeless individuals at Villa Christina - it sounds like a prank ... Read Full Story >>

3678 Reads

A Little Something

Recently, in the spirit of kindness, I've been trying to do a little something every day.

I noticed the hand blower in the public restroom broke, so I put paper towels. I gave small treats to children at Sunday school, gave an acquaintance a baby gift, bought extra soda for a friend while getting groceries, donated some vacation time towards an unknown person in a medical situation, shared my lunch with a co-worker, and try to smile and say "Hi" to each person I see throughout my day.

These experiences have helped me to stop and appreciate the day more, and I notice myself counting my blessings and feeing grateful to be able to share so much with others.

1663 Reads

Tuesday's Kindness Report

It's amazing what can happen with you venture out with the mission of kindness! Yesterday, I had a most successful trip out. :) First, I started off by recycling and picking up trash around the dumpsters. Then, I put a muffler, hat, and gloves in a bag to give to the woman who lives under a bridge near her home. I didn't see the lady who would give it to her, but I have the bag ready-to-go in car for when I do meet up with her. Then, while running some errands, I chatted up with the clerks at Trader Joe's. It was nice to have some laughter and good conversation. After that, I swung by the bank. I had been to the bank about six weeks ago, on my birthday, and the new teller remembered and asked how my day had been. We ended up chatting about kindness, and I shared ... Read Full Story >>

2665 Reads

Candy Machine Smiles

I came to work at 7:30 in the morning today. Right next to the restroom there is a candy machine. You simply deposit a quarter in the slot, and it in turn pours out a handful of M&Ms for you.

Today, on top of this machine, I found 50 cents and a smile card. :) It totally made my day, and now it's my turn to spread kindness...!

2004 Reads
  • Posted by paula_alzate
  • Nov 3, 2014
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A New Family

I moved into my current home when I separated from my husband. This was the first time in my life - at the age of 41. I rarely used the dining room, living room, spare bedroom/office and basement. I heat and cool these spaces. I pay for the square footage. And my house is considered SMALL! I would often entertain the idea of putting the space to use - by taking in foster kids… but I work a lot and travel for work often — not really conducive to single parenthood.  I could take in people fleeing intimate partner violence… but I work a lot and travel for work often - not really conducive to be awoken in the middle of the night or to be a consistent and reliable place for people to “land.” So I continued to struggle with this question. I also have (wait for it) 6 ... Read Full Story >>

6345 Reads

Love Is Kind

We went to breakfast yesterday with a friend that we haven't seen for some time who wanted us to meet her fiance - they are near 70 and being married in 2 weeks!

So, although not I was not invited to the wedding and didn't need to give them a gift, I decided to buy a beautiful wedding card with lovely sentiments and I found a small pewter angel that says "Love is Kind, etc." on it.

They were pleasantly surprised. I think. They said they are going to hang it on their First Christmas Tree Together in Florida this year!

1564 Reads

Passing Notes Over A Home-Cooked Meal

Yesterday, I wasn't home for dinner because I was attending a baby shower. So, in the morning, I put a stew in my slow-cooker for my husband, so that he would have a home-cooked meal when he got home. I also left him a note with a blueberry pie for dessert.

He was really happy to come home to the savory smell of a home cooked stew, and he wrote a note back to me.

The small gestures lifted both of our spirits and made us feel good.

1629 Reads

Reminder From A Visit With Mom

I've been doing the kindness challenge, and yesterday's challenge idea was to "call a loved one". I have had a strained relationship with my mother, but after reading that idea, I knew I had to go see my mom.

I went by her place for a visit, and brought her my son's latest school photo. She loved it, of course. Then, while I was there, I was able to help her take down her summer blinds. We spent a couple of hours together, just enjoying each other's presence. It was pleasant and there was with no controversy.

Grateful for the reminder that we only have today to be with the people we love.

1476 Reads
  • Posted by susanshewolfe
  • Oct 31, 2014
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Love From Trees

A day away from technology, spent lots of time outdoors, being quiet & still, enjoying the sun, trees, breeze. Renewing . Grateful .

"What you will see is love coming out of the trees, love coming out of the sky, love coming out of the light. You will perceive love from everything around you. This is the state of bliss."
Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

2499 Reads

Bonding Time With My Daughter

My 3 y/o daughter has had a cold and was not feeling well to go outside and play. So after coloring in her coloring books i randomly asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween. She told me a "pink pirate!" I said let me check what i have (fabric wise) and we spent the next 2 hours working on her costume. It was homemade with love and came out great! She was so proud and excited to be wearing it and was showing it off to her grammy (my mom) complete with the eye patch and earring saying ''arrrrrr''. The pure joy she derived and the happiness i felt from seeing her happy was well worth it and better than any thin- store bought costume. And as a plus, we are ready & early this year!

1278 Reads
  • Posted by supermom21
  • Oct 28, 2014
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Big Girl Pants On

To be truthful my mom and I have had a contentious relationship due, in large part, to issues that stem from a series of unfortunate events in her life, plus some mini-strokes she suffered.

In the light of all that I have made peace with loving her, even though she might not always make it easy. It requires a lot of deep breaths and patience when I enter her world. 

Today I called my mom and invited her out to lunch. I will also ask if she'd like to attend my daughter's first basketball game this afternoon. 

I love her and want the best for her. Here's hoping she's able to meet me halfway today. If not, that's okay. I've put my "big girl pants" on.

2460 Reads

A Gift Card For A Weary Cashier

The supermarket cashier looked weary; like she had worked one shift too many. "I coulda been home by now," she called to another cashier as I approached. "Thanks a lot!" "I love you!" came the reply. (I couldn't tell if this was sincere, sarcastic, or both.) "No, you don't!" retorted my cashier. "Yes, I do!" I already had the supermarket gift card in my hand. Now I knew whom to give it to. "Put five dollars on this, please," I said. Since there was another customer waiting behind me I paid for my purchases, walked away, then circled back when there was no line. "So this five-dollar gift card ..." I said. "Yeah?" the cashier said apprehensively, meaning "Is something wrong with it?" "It's for you," I said, handing it to her along with the KindSpring Smile card. "Just to help your night go better." "Really? For me?" She broke into a goofy grin. "You didn't have to do that!" "I know ... Read Full Story >>

2697 Reads

Beautiful In Mom's Blouse

A friend at work and I have helped each other through the recent deaths of our mothers. Because we know so very well how each other is feeling we meet up from time to time just to talk about how we are getting through the grief process.

She was dressed very nicely today and I stopped her to simply say, "You look stunning!" 

She smiled a very appreciative smile and said, "It's one of my mom's blouses." 

Knowing how much that would have meant to her I was so very glad I had noticed and made the effort to say something.

1820 Reads




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