Stories of Kindness from Around the World

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Several years ago I was at an informal business meeting/luncheon with my manager. She paid for her meal and went to find us a table. When I attempted to pay for mine, the card declined was declined twice.

I was mortified, so I took my items and stepped to the side while others got their meals. I didn't have enough cash to pay for anything other than a drink, so I went back to the cashier to at least get that. Before I could say anything, she smiled kindly and said that someone (who just left) had already paid for my lunch.

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I was for that small act of kindness. I tried to catch them, but they were gone. I've never forgot it. So when I came across the opportunity to help someone last year in the same way, it made me feel really good. Just paying it forward.

1643 Reads
  • Posted by dmellis53
  • Apr 9, 2014
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A Surprise Snack

My daughter recently returned to work from a maternity leave. And things haven't been going well. 

She's had calls two out of six days to pick up sick children. Today was her first full day back, so I left a container of her favorite snack in her vehicle. 

She called me later, with her mouth full of the sweet snack, saying, "Are you responsible for this?" 

Ha-ha! How did she guess?

1911 Reads

Her First Time Alone

I made a special card for a lady who is having to move into an apartment by herself. 

Aged 81 this is the first time she has every had to move home. Up until now she has always lived with her mother (who recently died at nearly 100 years of age.) 

The card will give her something to open from her new mailbox. And, hopefully, a note that love will make her apartment feel more like a home.

1160 Reads

Cake At The Thrift Store

I work for thrift store and the ladies I work with are great! They make me smile on a daily basis (even when they sometimes make me want to scream.)

However, I had been off work for six weeks and when I returned last week they reminded me every day that I had been missed and they were glad I was back. 

It touched me to my soul. 

So, I baked them a cake to let them know they were all appreciated! I went to work with a sheet cake and came home with an empty pan!

It was a good day!
 

1158 Reads

Those New York City Moments

At a local bakery/restaurant I gave the cashier some money along with a Smile card.  "Please surprise someone by taking care of their order with this today," I said, "and give them this card."  Her mouth dropped open. "Really?" she asked.  "Really." I replied.  "Why are you doing this?" she asked.  "To spread a little bit of kindness," I said, "It feels like a good day to share a little bit of extra love."  Her face broke into the biggest grin. "This is so beautiful!" I smiled thinking about how she was going to spend the rest of the day looking for that "perfect" person to tag. I had no idea that what went around would come around so quickly. A little while later I stood, looking lost, on a subway platform in Times Square. A suit-clad commuter pulled out his earphones and gently asked, "Where do you need to go?" Then he gave me directions.  Soon afterwards I ... Read Full Story >>

5570 Reads

Seeing The Eagles Soar

My niece is very important to me and I love her. 

I live with a disability and she has been there for me in countless supportive ways. Plus, I get a kick out of her infectious laughter and sense of humor! 

Today I took her out for lunch and surprised her with a ticket to see the Eagles in concert. I loved watching the huge smile that took over her beautiful face. 

Better yet, we are going together and we couldn't be more excited!

1289 Reads

Breezing Through The Airport

While traveling last week I found it necessary to use the wheelchair service at one of the larger airports. 

The young lady who was my "chair attendant" was so nice and made what could have been a horrible experience very comfortable. Since I planned on returning through the same airport a week later I told her I would request her to be my assistant again. 

During the week I knitted her a fashionably chic scarf and presented it to her. She was astounded that I did this for her. It really made her day and her smile was radiant. I told her just to keep being her kind and considerate self and go about making people feel good.

1224 Reads

Finally Meeting Rick

Every day I walk to the coffee shop across the street. Every day I see the same homeless person with a sign asking for anything that would help. 

He always has a warm smile for anyone who bothers to stop and say hello. 

There are a lot of homeless in my city; young, old, veterans, addicts. I recognize how lucky I am to have lived my life of semi-privilege. So, today I finally took  the time to stop and meet Rick. 

When I came out the coffee shop I treated him to a sandwich and a cup of coffee. It didn't change his situation but maybe it helped lift his spirits. It certainly lifted mine.

1272 Reads

A Bed Of Clouds

I saw a tired and dirty man struggling to walk in the heat of the day. I pulled over and offered him a ride. 

He said he was trying to get to the bank to pay in a dollar someone had given him. It seemed he had a lot of medical expenses he was trying to pay. So I gave him a ride to the bank and waited outside for him.

He was surprised I was still there. I asked if he wanted to come to my house for a shower and a meal. He was delighted to accept.

He showered, put on some of my husband's clothes, and ate some of my leftovers. (He didn't finish them because he wasn't used to eating so much.) Then I offered him the chance to take a nap in my spare room while I washed and dried his clothes. 

He crawled into the bed and let out a load moan. I asked what was wrong and he said he had never felt anything so soft. He said it felt like he was laying on a cloud.

He slept for about two hours. Then he got dressed again in his freshly laundered clothes.

He told me more of his story and I offered more help. He refused, thanked me, and went on his way.

2807 Reads

Beautiful Girl - Beautiful Father

“Josie Metz's father won't be there to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. But thanks to California photographer Lindsey Villatoro, the 11-year-old was able to experience what it might be like anyway. Her father, Jim, 62, had already been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when he and his wife, Grace, hired Villatoro -- a mother, photographer and founder of Love Song Photography based in Menifee, Calif. Two years ago, Villatoro began offering photography sessions for terminal clients or clients with serious illnesses to document their journeys and was referred to the Metz family. "I try to really showcase the person for who they are and not the illness," she told The Huffington Post during a phone conversation Tuesday afternoon. Villatoro went to Jim and Grace's home for a shoot and offered to do one with their young daughter, Josie. After she left, she posted about the family on her website ... Read Full Story >>

4556 Reads
  • Posted by kperrine@po-box.esu.edu
  • Apr 2, 2014
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Breakfast And A Date

I had arranged meet a former student for breakfast. While I was waiting an elderly man entered the cafe. He was dropped off by a local bus company that transports the elderly and infirm. 

As I watched him cross the room leaning on his walker I decided to surprise him by paying for his breakfast. I told the waitress I wanted to take care of his bill but asked her not to tell him who did it. 

After he left the waitress came over and said, "He told me to tell you thank you and to let him know if you wanted a date!" 

It was a great way to start the day and brought smiles all round!

1750 Reads

Help Me!

This morning I was in the rest-room of a grocery store. I left a sealed envelope on the hand dryer with the words "Help Me!" written on the outside. 

Inside the envelope I placed $10 and a card which read, "Helping you, helped me! Enjoy this and pay it forward if you can. Have a nice day!"

1043 Reads

Saeed-ji: Fakir, Mechanic and Believer in Humanity

Anna, a beautiful soul in Delhi writes about an  encounter with a Saeed Ji - a man who lives on the street, but blessed with a heart of gold.    At first sight he was almost invisible, curled into a spot between the black painted railings that fronted the tomb and the trunk of a low hanging Ashoka tree. Most mornings he was to be found here, wrapped in a long black anorak, knees pulled to his chest as he looked into the distance. There was something captivating about him: an unmistakable sense of dignity, yet a sadness too. "Society today is destroyed. They say it’s developed, but we don’t care about each other. A lot of people see me and probably think: 'He’s just a footpath man, or a beggar, why should I talk to him?'   But society has it wrong. We need more insaniyat, more humanship — 'humanity', as you say. ... Read Full Story >>

16.2K Reads

A Starfish On The Beach

There is always a reason things work out the way they do. When I first submitted my idea to the Kindness Contest, my plan was to implement a kindness day at our local hospital. This was to entail buying some parking tokens and giving them out, taping some ziplock bags of coins to the vending machines in the Emergency waiting area, buying a hardworking nurse or two some lunch, delivering some snacks & baking to the palliative care family meeting rooms. I still plan to do some of these in the future, but for now my plans had to change.   When KindSpring.org contacted me and told me that that they had chosen my idea I was packing to head south for a few months (we are snowbirds) I told them that I would check out the local hospital in Lake Havasu City to see if they would allow me to carry out ... Read Full Story >>

13.5K Reads

Nothing Like That Had Happened To Him Before!

I went along with the Kindness Suggestion today and gave someone a surprise treat! 

I stopped at Starbucks, bought a $5 gift card and asked the barista to use it on whoever came in next. 

I was still waiting for my drink when the next customer arrived. The gentleman thanked me so much for the card and said nothing like that had ever happened to him before. He was so thankful! 

He thanked me again as I left, and said, "God bless."

2528 Reads

Coconut Cookie Kindness

I'm working from home so I don't have colleagues to do acts of kindness for. Instead I'm baking coconut cookies to give to the builders working on the house next door. 

One of them asked me out for coffee the other day, in a slightly flirty way (but the feeling's not mutual.) So, I'm just hoping that particular one doesn't take it as a go-signal! Ha-ha!

1425 Reads

Pink Lemonade

I was running late after work on my way to meet a friend. 

I passed two little girls selling lemonade and something made me turn back. I pulled over, got my cup of the pink concoction, and gave the girls about $5 worth of change. They looked confused, saying it was only 25 cents. A boy on a bike pulled up as I was leaving and said he would take the money "To mom!"

I decided then to give them more money before I left. 

I think - I hope - I might have done more than just buy a drink!

1706 Reads

Saying Goodbye The Sweetest Way!

Lying in a hospital bed placed in the giraffe habitat at Rotterdam's Diergaarde Blijdorp, the 54-year-old man, identified as only Mario, waited for the animals to approach.

"You could see him totally light up," said Kees Veldboer, founder and director of Ambulance Wish Foundation, which arranged the farewell. "It's very special to see that those animals A dying cancer patient who worked at a Dutch zoo returned to say goodbye on Wednesday. recognize him, and sense that he isn't doing well," he told Rotterdam newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Mario, who has a mental disability, spent nearly his entire life as a maintenance man at the zoo, according to the paper.

After the touching encounter, he then bid farewell to his colleagues.  

May this precious man's last day be filled with hugs, love, and sloppy giraffe kisses! 

12.1K Reads

The Boy In The Candy Aisle

I was at the local supermarket and there was young boy, around ten years old, in clothes that didn't fit well. He had no shoes on and he was staring at the candy section. 

I walked down the next aisle and back to where he was. There didn't seem to be anyone with him. 

He looked at me and said, "Excuse me. Do you know what I can buy with this?" He held out a 20 cent piece. I knew he couldn't really buy anything much with it but he looked so hopeful and sad. So, I said, "Hold out your hand and lets see what happens." 

He held out his hand I put enough money in it for him to buy the candy he had been staring at for so long. I smiled at him and walked off.

All I could hear was him saying, "Thank you, lady! I'm so happy!" 

I don't know what he bought and I didn't care. The happiness in his voice made my day!

1517 Reads

Gifts From The Garden

Because of injuries I don't get out much lately. But giving gifts from my garden is something I can do!

I decided to give jars of homemade/homegrown salsa to three neighbors. It was something I could do this morning and I hope it will brighten their day as it did mine!

1913 Reads




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