Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Young Souls Old Bodies

The woman who lives across the street is in her late 80's and 2 years ago I was gifted with the chance to help her a few days a week.   I learned that she is a kindred spirit and so we became great friends.  Lately she has been down in the dumps and has expressed that she is just tired of being alive. She feels very lonely and frustrated with her inability to 'do' much of anything anymore. We have begun talking about the stages of life, especially the final stage where our bodies become less able and we learn to focus on our spirits. Following the prompt yesterday, I passed on a book to her that describe how caterpillars just know that there is more to life than crawling and eating.   Eventually they take a chance and become butterflies! It seemed fit for where she is in her life right now. ... Read Full Story >>

2719 Reads

Simple Sunday

Today, I brought my friend a book and jar of jam, took her for a coffee by the sea and had a wonderful time with her.

I also bought a small chocolate cake for her daughter who participated in a theater play today and made an excellent appearance.
 
My mom got a bunch of flowers from me; she and dad cooked for everyone, today.

1441 Reads
  • Posted by smareljamuic
  • Jul 3, 2014
  • Comments (1)
  • Share Story

Lovely Quote and Words

Lovely quote and words to live by. I'm getting there, but still working on it, especially under times of stress.

"When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are." - Ram Dass. 

What a beautiful reminder!

21.4K Reads

Awkward Years

I have a daughter who just entered the 7th grade, which is known in our area as one of the most awkward and socially difficult years for girls. I did not want my daughter to be someone who did things just to be popular but confident in her own shoes and following her own likes, ambitions. I have done activities from the Dove Movement for Self Esteem and then a friend shared Awkward Years Project. Women submit a picture of themselves, now, holding pictures of themselves during the awkward part of their lives. They write a bit about how their life was and how it turned out, always a positive uplifting twist. My daughter and her friends love checking the website and discuss how they identify with the women who have shared. I shared about the end of 5th grade when my mother convinced me to cut my hair short... Oh, how awful ... Read Full Story >>

1820 Reads

Sister Judith Answers the Door

My friend, Sister Judith, taught English at the local Catholic High School. Her room was "the" gathering spot for many students. Because she spent so much time with them, she fell behind in grading papers.

One morning, she was at school early, determined to grade that whole stack of papers before school began. She locked her door. No interruptions! Then came the knock on the door. One of her favorite students, who wouldn't go away and insistent on coming in.

She marched over to the door, opened it abruptly and said, "I'm very busy, this better be good." His face fell, his eyes filled with tears and he said, "Oh, Sister Judith I just wanted you to know my father died last night."
 
When she told me this, her eyes filled with tears, and she said, "And I'm a nun!"

Need I add that those papers were NOT graded that morning?

1340 Reads

June Kindness Contest Winner! - In Giving, True Abundance We Recieve

I had written for the Kindness Contest and am grateful that Kindspring helped me make a wish come true. My intention was to reach out to the homeless elderly on the streets in India and felt a pair of footwear would provide them a bit of comfort. But I was still unsure that what I perceived as their need, may be far from reality. With the amount received from Kindspring, I took a part of it and headed out. It also happened to be a Hindu festival called Akshya Tritaya and the tradition is to give in kind like food, clothing, footwear, umbrellas, etc for those in need. The first withered lady I met was Kuppamma and I asked "What would you do, given Rs.300?" She said that she would probably eat some food. I asked her what she needs beyond food and she responded that she needed a saree to ... Read Full Story >>

6194 Reads

A Thousand Cranes - A Scavenger Hunt in Reverse

Yesterday morning, I spent a glorious few hours with a group of close friends.  We were sitting down in a cozy corner of the cafe, sipping on delicious coffee and catching up on the past year.   As we were leaving, one friend found a beautiful blue oragami paper crane, casually perched on top of the mantle of a fire place.  Attached to the paper crane was along a lovely quote that read, "You don't need to know.  Life wouldn't be this grand adventure if you knew what was coming.  Love the mystery."  Later, we discovered another piece of paper that shared the story of the paper cranes.  It read... "On Valentine's Day of 2011, I came home to find a beautiful mass of moving color.  My ex-boyfriend had folded 1000 paper cranes and hung them on my porch.  He left a note saying if I made a wish, it would be ... Read Full Story >>

11.0K Reads

The tiny, mud-free space that meant a lot!

I'm in Boulder, Colorado, and am one of the fortunate ones without much flood impact on my home. Today, I went over to a friend's house to help with the cleanup there. The house is less than a block from one of the creeks, and the flash flood broke a basement window, filled the basement up to eight feet, rushed up the stairs to the ground floor, and flooded that floor as well.  A crew of her friends had been pulling up carpet and moving furniture all morning when I arrived. She asked me to help move damaged items out of a back room where carpet was already pulled out, and start getting the layer of chocolaty mud out. With one other helper, I got busy shoveling and scraping; once we got the heavy layer off, I started running the wet vac. There was a three-foot square of tiled floor in front ... Read Full Story >>

3575 Reads

Granny At Breakie

My boys and I went to our special breakie (breakfast) place, and saw a little old lady come in with her son.

She started chatting with my kids, reminiscing about when her grandchildren were little and how she missed spending time with them. You could see that talking to my kids just made her day.
 
As we were leaving, Gero went to her and told her that she was a great 'Nonnina' which in Italian means 'Grandma'. We decided to pay for their breakfast, and asked the owner to tell them only at the end of their meal. Nice lady!

1375 Reads

Kindness At School

I just started teaching at a new school after teaching 17 years at other schools. It has been somewhat difficult to fit in and become acquainted with the new staff.

Instead of feeling left out, I wrote every teacher on my hall a personalized card with stickers and all. I also sent a card to my principal, librarian, and counselor. I had my students deliver them, setting an example to them about kindness.

I have challenged them to complete kind acts the month of September. I have had a few compliment others. I have even had one student run in a charity race to raise money for the humane society.

1675 Reads

Sundays

Just popped in to read a few of your shares & immediately felt happiness. Thank you all for being who you are and for sharing yourselves here. That in itself is an awesome kindness act to others!

Sending love and light to all of you, and wishing you a positive and joyful day of loving one another.

((((HUGS))))
 

1779 Reads

Thanking a Tireless Advocate

At the end of a long day, I emailed a nationally known leader, a tireless advocate for a cause about which I care deeply.

"I can't imagine how hard you work," I wrote, "but I know how hard I work, and how tired I get. I pray you get the rest you need and the love you deserve."

2407 Reads

Compassionate Heroes

Thirteen years ago, we lost our home in a fire.The firefighters were amazing, the first thing they did was toss our child's first year album (she was 13 months at the time) out the front door with smoke and fire everywhere. How did they know? They are truly compassionate heroes.

After the fire, I would bake brownies and take them down to the fire station with our daughter. We have been friends all these years. It has been quite a while since I have baked for them, and today was the perfect opportunity!

As I walked into the firehouse, I was greeted by a firefighter with the warmest smile. He was so touched by the gift and welcomed me in. He wanted to know how our family was and hoped we would meet again.

I often run into one or two of the firemen who saved our lives that fateful night. We are family, and I am always touched by how caring and loving we can be with each other, if we are open.

 

3496 Reads

Thank You to the Bus Driver

Everyday when I go to school, I thank my bus driver before I get down, and say good morning when I get on in the morning. He seems like he is starting to appreciate it more and more. I am going to try and do this for the rest of the year.

Hopefully his heart will be touched.

2398 Reads
  • Posted by LoveAll999
  • Jun 22, 2014
  • Add Comment
  • Share Story

Thank You Drivers

My vehicle is incapacitated, so I usually walk and ride the bus to get around. I usually make a point of saying thank you and wishing the bus driver a good day. Today, she did me a kindness. She stopped a block early and let me and another lady off, so that we could connect with another bus more easily.

People here drive rather rashly and it is tough for pedestrians cross the street easily, without nearly getting run over. Today, a woman stopped when she could of easily turned the corner before I crossed. I made a point of waving to her and saying thanks to her for waiting and letting me cross the street without the fear of getting hit.

3655 Reads

25 Tips to Turn Kindness As Your Superhero Power!

(Originally posted on mindbodygreen.com) My poet’s heart has always been soft, and I tend to err on the side of being more kind than necessary. This has always been misunderstood and perceived as naïve, and even weird, by others. Quite frequently in a new situation my kindness was perceived as disingenuous, or as having an ulterior motive. Why would anyone be nice without expecting something in return? I had no explanation other than that it simply wasn't the way I was wired. Finally, as an adult I came to the realization that kindness is my superhero power. Every day our lives serve as either a warning or as an example to others. My life at times has served as both. I now choose to have it serve only as an example. Kindness is my message to the world, and I’d like to think this message is gaining traction. From my heart to yours, here ... Read Full Story >>

7141 Reads

Two Monks and a Woman - a Zen Lesson

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his 
journey. The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how ... Read Full Story >>

344K Reads

Returning The Buggies

Every time I go to Walmart, I am amazed with the many, many shopping carts out in the parking lot. Today, I parked my car, walked to the far edge of the lot and retrieved 3 buggies. A simple kindness to the attendants who work pretty hard in the heat of an Arkansas afternoon.

1388 Reads

Food For Thought

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”

― Sam Levenson

2895 Reads

Kind Carriers

Left a Dunkin' Donuts gift card for our mail-carrier today, with a note on a smile card -

"Just a show of gratitude, because among the bills and things we'd rather not receive, you bring us smiles in form of cards from family and friends, and magazines with articles we enjoy.

"There is always happiness inside our mailbox because of you. So here is a smile for you, hope it brings you some happiness, and a thank you for all you do!" 

I came home from the kids' soccer practice to find our card gone, and a note inside the mailbox -

"Thank you for the kindness, your note brought a smile to my face.and that was gift enough. So to pay it forward I will use this gift card to buy donuts for the Post Office break room. Have a great day."

3799 Reads




Submit your own
story of Kindness

Search by keyword

Tags

Subscribe to the Kindness Newsletter

143K subscribers

About Us

KindSpring is a place to practice small acts of kindness. For over a decade the KindSpring user community has focused on inner transformation, while collectively changing the world with generosity, gratitude, and trust. The site is 100% volunteer-run and totally non-commercial. It is a shared labor of love.

Other servicespace Projects Include

KindSpring.org is a project of ServiceSpace. BY-NC-ND 4.0