Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Thanking Those That Enrich

This week I have come to know a family with a disabled dad. They all live their lives with such love and support it really touched me. Today I was able to express my admiration to them, and share with them how much they have enriched my life just getting to know them.

Their love and kindness, their patience, their presence, shows in everything they do and they are an inspiration.

975 Reads

The Parking Warden's Tale

I wondered how I was going to thank a public servant today, and then it happened. Walking in front of me was a parking meter warden. A sadly, mostly deeply unloved occupation in the UK.

I seized my opportunity and politely asked him if anybody ever thanked him for his work. He looked puzzled at my question and I needed to repeat it. Even then, he had difficulty answering.

So I shook his hand and thanked him for keeping disabled bays free, the traffic moving and doing an important job. He smiled and thanked me.

As I walked away, I saw him talking to another guy. It looked an amiable conversation, and I found myself wondering how the rest of his day would be.

1600 Reads

Chi Connect

I took six of my favorite books to my Tai Chi class. I choose each book by the Chi I have felt from each student. They ranged in age of 30-82. I will never forget the smile in their eyes and gratitude that filled the room.

Now 6 more people know about KindSpring. What joy!

689 Reads

Lifting, Together

I was out running my with roommate yesterday and we saw a guy who was trying to put his BBQ in the back of his truck. He was alone, so we decided to help him out.

He was glad, and we were happy as well. That was a nice day!

701 Reads
  • Posted by mprovencher
  • Jun 15, 2014
  • Comments (2)
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Keep Positive

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

1264 Reads

Hugs for All

I've hugged my postal carrier, the cashier who helped me at CVS, the staff at Panera, the cashier at the grocery store, the cook at the local burrito joint, two police men, a traffic cop, security guard, doorman, waitstaff, tollbooth worker, and custodial staff of a local park.

Share your heart with someone, today! HUGS from my heart to yours.

1402 Reads

Behind Uniform

A government official went out of his way to help me find a 40 year old file which was buried deep in the property department records. We struck up a good conversation about an ongoing religious festival in our city, and I left smiling from this encounter.

Usually these visits to the government offices leave me drained, however today I felt like I connected with a person who is like me, rather than a cog in the giant inefficient government machinery.

Wish to gift him a book next time I meet him as a gesture of my gratitude.

879 Reads

Bloody Caesars

I am a Canadian living in Italy. Most of my long standing BFFs are from Quebec. Today, I made it a point to find time to call one of my dearest friends, who is fighting cancer.

We have both been through major adversities in the past few years and stopped calling each other regularly, just because life was too consuming. I dialed her number seven times to get through to her and on the eighth try, she picked up.

I told her I missed her and wished we could go out for a 'virtual' Bloody Caesar just like we used to. She promised she'd call me back next week and we could have Caesars and chat by phone. YAY!

1111 Reads

Mini Neighborhood Library

My son and I walked down the block to a new 'mini library' on the corner. This small, open, wooden box is nailed onto a 2x4 in a front yard at an intersection.

It is super sweet and painted brightly, and overflowing with books! It is a free library, leave one, take one. We brought two children's books, a couple of YES! magazines I have been saving and decided to pass on, and another bestseller I had been planning to take to the local bookstore as a trade.

It feels good to not always think about the money and just give it away. It always comes back one way or another. I enjoyed doing this with my son and his two friends.

1030 Reads

Tough Times For My Son

I talked with my son tonight about how well I think he is doing - how strong, courageous and kind he has been during his marriage breakup. He describes his wife as the love of his life and she walked out on him while he was away about six weeks ago.

He has not been vindictive or mean, he has been working through many tough feelings and I have been there for him, as have other members of his family - supporting him, loving him, appreciating his true beauty in the world.

1569 Reads

The Joy of Music

I took on a new cello student for partial fee, because if he had to pay the full amount, his parents would not have let him take lessons with me. He is only 10 years old and so excited to have a "real teacher"!

1407 Reads

Ringo - A Dear Friend and Companion

Today, I supported someone who had lost her most beloved horse whose name was Ringo. She was with him the last four hours of his life and as she shared this she cried and cried.

I supported her and listened as she told the story of how beautiful he was and how she had imagined he would carry her around now that her walking was not that good anymore. She is 74.

He got tangled in a fence and there was no way to save his life. It was an honour to be with her as she grieved for her dear friend.

1128 Reads

Lucky Day

I purchased a 'quick pick' ticket for tonight's lottery drawing. I then tucked it under a random car's windshield wiper with a note attached that said "I hope you get lucky tonight".

1560 Reads

Almost Made Her Smile!

We stop each trip at a gas station/food place where the main counter person never, never smiles and seems to be doing people a favor, taking their money.

Today I was determined to make her smile. I engaged her in conversation - the first I'd seen her even try to be involved but sadly, did not make her smile - almost, though!

It was worth the effort and I felt great trying. Maybe next time I'll try a smile card some way.
 

1086 Reads

Life As a Board Game

"Think of life as a board game. For every kind word, you move one space forward; for every loving deed, you move two spaces forward; for every grump, grouch or unkind word, you go back one space. Now play to win."

1894 Reads

Reaching Out

I reached out to a friend I haven't seen for years. She had recently emailed and in all of my busy-ness, I hadn't had the time to respond to her. This challenge helped me make it a priority.

It also made me recognize how important it is to honor our friendships (past and present). No matter how hectic our life might be, always respond to someone who has reached out to you.

925 Reads

Strong And Loved

Today, I helped my grandpa buy supplies so we could make a statue in memory of my family's loved rooster, taken by a bear in the middle of the night. It was hard for my uncle and aunt to lose a rooster that they cared about so much.

He was strong, and survived a chicken disease that was supposed to kill him, and ended up with a dead leg instead. I'm happy to be making a statue for them!

657 Reads

Flowing In Kindness

It's official. Today it was certainly a day for me to be reached out to by others. As much as I purposely went out of my way looking for an opportunity to share kindness, right when I thought I may have had a chance, it was then when someone would reach out to me.

From unexpected help at the store, to long lost friends reaching out to me, to the perfect parking spot, to my father mailing me a copy of His favorite book, these were only but a fraction of what I experienced today.

So in a sense, this may not have been exactly the challenge of the day, but it wasn't until I purposely paid attention to kindness that I AM now in the presence of its flow.

It feels good to be in the flow :-)

926 Reads

Accepting a Compliment

Today, I allowed someone give me a compliment. This may sound strange, but I realized that most of the time when someone tries to say something nice to me, it is my instinct to down play it and contradict them.

I used to think it was me trying to be humble, but have realized that I was actually not allowing them experience the appreciation they were feeling.

Accepting a gift or compliment with grace and appreciation becomes a two way act of kindness.

938 Reads

Role Reversal

DAY 3

There is something in the air. Today I have been experiencing a role reversal. As I was doing in my local Whole Foods, I noticed through the windows how  this man in a suit outside the store. The man appeared to be chasing a plastic bag that was being blown by the wind. He finally caught up to it, and then he began picking some other debris around him.

In my mind, I thought, "He gets it!"

As I went to pay at the registrar, I didn't have the exact change and the cashier noticed it. She said, "if you have one quarter, I have another one for you."  My grin could not fit in my face.

And in my mind I thought, "WAIT! I am the one who is supposed to give you the quarter, not the way around! What's going on here?"

This may not qualify as my kindness act, but there are still more hours in the day. I figured I'd let you guys know that this 'Kindness' thing, it comes back around.

865 Reads




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