Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Sharing Extra Clothes In Afghanistan

Today I was looking through my clothes and I found some t-shirts I haven't even worn. 

I thought to myself, why should throw these away just because I am not using them? Surely, it is better to give them to a someone in need of clothing! 

So, I took some cash and clothes and I went to the street and started sharing them with poor people. 

It felt so good! 

We can all do something like this if we have extra clothes. We might add in a little cash, or fruit, or food. Let`s be united and help each other. 

Thanks for reading. Love from Afghanistan!

1629 Reads

The Honest Roofer

The man who is going to fix our roof has to be the most honest business person my husband and I have ever met. 

My husband knew the back roof over the porch was fine and wanted to see what this roofer said when he gave his estimate. He told my husband that that back roof was just fine and then gave the estimate for the rest of the roof: $2,400.

He called last night to tell us he can do the roof on Monday but told us he had measured the roof incorrectly by forgetting to add on the front part of the roof. But instead of giving us a new estimate (which would be higher) he told us he was going to do the roof for what he quoted us. 

My husband asked him what would the correct estimate have been. He said $3,000. Well, that's what I had thought it would be so that's what I set aside. My husband was simply amazed at this roofer.

The roofer doesn't know it yet but he'll be getting the $3,000. He's honest and is planning on taking the hit on the mistake. My boss has been kind to me when I've made mistakes in the past and now I get a chance to pass that on.

2589 Reads

A Little Girl In Need

I was shopping at our little local shopping center the other day and I was just coming back to the underground car park with my bags when I heard a little girl shouting, "Mama, Mama!" I looked around and saw a 4 year-old's head stuck out of an SUV's open backseat window. I went over to ask her what was the matter and calm her down saying her mom would surely soon be back. But she said she needed to go to the bathroom urgently. With no mom in sight, I told her to get out and I would take her to the bathroom (the entrance of which was 20 meters from the car.)  She was very glad and ran with me to the bathroom explaining that she was not allowed to get out of the car by herself. Afterwards she washed her hands and I took her back to the car. Still, ... Read Full Story >>

4080 Reads

Welcome To The Kindness Game

I am a member of a blogging site and through sharing my stories and commenting on other people's I have made a few good on-line friends. 

One of my friends wrote a blog about an unexpected electricity bill she was struggling to pay. She said her kind-hearted daughter was prepared to give up most of her wages from her summer job to help pay it off. 

I decided that this deserved a reward! 

I sent my friend an email asking her to trust me with her address. She did and I sent a little gift box filled with goodies for her daughter, and a card to let her know that she was being rewarded for being awesome! 

Today I found out that she received it and wants to join in the game of random acts of kindness - even though she's been doing it already!

2150 Reads

Balloon On A Kindness Journey

I finally did it! I am so happy! 

I've had this idea for a while but I didn't have the guts to actually go through with it - until today.

I bought 10 helium filled balloons, drew a smiley face and wrote the date they were released on each them. I had set up another e-mail account for the project. I wrote the e-mail address on Smile Card and attached them to the balloons.

Then I took them outside and released them into the air. I hope to get some awesome stories back in return.

3694 Reads

Saving The Smiling Turtle

It was a hot day and my mom and I were driving down our street. Mom saw a moving lump right in front of the car and screeched to a stop. 

I stepped out and saw a turtle limping along the road. My mom got out after me and we worked together to lift this heavy creature of of the road onto the grassy strip at the edge of the road. 

It seemed to me like the turtle smiled a little before slowly wandering off into the grass. I laughed before running back to the car.

2353 Reads

My Neighbour's Mail

My neighbor lives "upstate" but also keeps her house next to us empty for emergency use. She only visits for a day at a time and often doesn't visit for months on end. 

Her mail box was often stuffed before I offered to collect it for her while she was away. Not only do I collect her mail but I get rid of all the junk-mail because I know she hates it. 

She sometimes pays me for this; no more than five dollars - which I put into an envelope and sneak back into her mail! 

Each time she opens one of those envelopes she smiles from ear to ear and, when she sees me, she gives me a hug that nearly snaps me in half.

Kindness costs nothing!

2486 Reads

God In A Silver Car

Yesterday a family of five I knew were in desperate need of food. Unbelievably, not one agency could help them for at least four days! 

So I gathered up three boxes full of groceries, enough to feed them all for the next five days and took them on round.
 
After I I delivered that food the family paid me the huge compliment of saying I was like "God in a silver car" for them!

1958 Reads

Ice Cream Kindness On Our Date Night

One of my favorite things in life is my monthly date night with my daughter. We try to include some kind of Smile Card activity whenever we can. This time was no exception! It was 119 degrees today where we live so we thought we would make our kindness act something cool.  After eating we went to an ice cream shop. As we paid for our ice cream we told the woman behind the counter that we were doing a random act of kindness and we would like to buy ice cream for the next person who came to the counter. We handed her the Smile Card to give them and told her how we would like to remain anonymous.  She read it and told us she thought what we were doing was awesome. She said she would do it and we sat down at the table near the counter. My daughter wanted ... Read Full Story >>

5525 Reads

End Of The Month Food

As the end of the month approaches many of my co-workers run out of money. Even the government assistance they get to help with groceries will be gone. 

I noticed this a while back when one young lady was not eating on our break. 

I now try to stay mindful of this time of the month and bring in a bag of bagels, a loaf of bread, and pound of lunch meat. Or I buy a pizza for lunch and share it. 

I'm not sure what I'll do at the end of this month, but you can be assured I will try my best to help keep my friends' bellies full.

1437 Reads

Giving Needs Receiving

I was going through my wallet in the grocery line to pay for the groceries I had selected when I noticed the woman behind me counting coins to pay for the little that she was purchasing.  So, I turned to her and said, "I'll pay for it for you."  She looked up at me with hurt pride and said, "No thank you!"  I felt really humbled and disappointed. As I payed for my own groceries the cashier asked if I had some coins to pay for part of my bill so she would not have to change the larger note I offered.  I did not.  The woman behind me reached forward with a quarter and said, "You can take it out of this."  I was stunned. She could hardly pay for her groceries but she was willing to offer her quarter to pay for mine! I was tempted to say, "No, thank you," but when I ... Read Full Story >>

7060 Reads

A Smile Card Apology To A Lonely Lady

A few days ago I was sitting in a Thai restaurant enjoying a meal when I got on a phone call with a friend I hadn't spoken to in a long time. In my enthusiasm and excitement I talked slightly louder than usual voice and in Spanish, my mother tongue. A few minutes into the call the lady sitting at the table beside mine got up, seemingly offended, and asked the restaurant staff to relocate her to a table as far away as possible from this man who won't get off his phone. I sank in my seat out of embarrassment. I ended the call soon afterwards and felt the urge to go over and apologize. Before getting up I looked around to see where she was and she was, indeed, at the table furthest away from me. Kudos to the restaurant staff. I noticed that the lady was alone and staring out ... Read Full Story >>

9385 Reads

Sharing Muffins For Breakfast

When I go to my favorite coffee shop in the morning they serve yesterday's muffins in bags of three or four for a knock-down price.  

I usually buy a bag, have one, and give the rest to someone I see on the street who needs it. 

It is a small thing and costs very little, but it means that two people get to eat.

1768 Reads

The Perfect Time For Dinner

I made a dinner for a single mom and her boys after learning yesterday that she is working extra hours when they are at their dad's house so she can spend more time with them when she has them.  Because of that (and health problems) she is very sleep-deprived. She is also worried about one of her sons' health situation.  I put a lot of love (the secret ingredient!) into the dishes. Then I called her and said I wanted to bring dinner over for her. She answered by saying, "Really? What's the occasion?"  I said, "I just wanted to bring you dinner today."  She told me that her son had just asked, "What's for dinner?" and she replied that there was nothing in the fridge so they might just have to settle for cereal!  She was totally floored by the timing. She said that it never happens that their fridge is totally empty!   Needless ... Read Full Story >>

2773 Reads

Zapping His Expectations

I was feeling splendid this morning!  When approaching the bakery I saw a man asking for coins. I've often seen him and usually don't react well to his whiney tone of his voice. This time I decided I'd give him something. After I'd paid for my tea-to-go, I got a 5 Euro bill ready.  Leaving the store really slowly so he'd have a good chance to approach me, I nearly ran into him. "Would you maybe have some coins for me?" he asked.  I said, "No, sorry, I don't," and watched his face fall already at what he thought was a refusal, one of many thousands he probably gets each day. "I only have this for you", I said and held the bill in front of his eyes. The way his jaw nearly fell and his eyes widened were priceless.  "Err ... wow!" he said, doing a double-take. "That's really ... Thanks." "No problem," I said. "I'm doing well ... Read Full Story >>

1921 Reads

The Rickshaw Man's Shoe

When I was in Delhi I wandered into an area with few tourists. The streets were busy and dirty. I watched entranced as the people went on with their noisy, hectic lives.

As I was people-watching I noticed an old man pulling a load that looked ridiculously heavy on a hand-held rickshaw. A donkey would have found it too much of a burden. 

As he passed me I noticed his head turn in despair. He looked at the shoe that had slipped off his foot. He was unable to stop and pick it up as the rickshaw was on a slope and too heavy for him to stop. So, I quickly retrieved his battered old shoe and ran to catch him up. 

When I handed it over he gave me one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen. It made my day. A beautiful connection!

2525 Reads

A New Nickname

I am a pharmacist and one of my patients at work has started calling me "Smiley."  

I wasn't sure how to take this at first, thinking it was not exactly in line with my professional image. Then I thought about it some more and decided that if, at the end of my life, it was said of me, "She was a person who smiled a lot," that would be a pretty good testament to a life well lived! 

So from now on when he calls me "Smiley" I will take it as the highest compliment and give him my biggest smile in return.

2164 Reads

God's Insurance Agent

I own an insurance company and every once in a while I will help out
my customers with their payments, both the ones that I have been in business with for over twenty years and the ones who simply need it more than I do. 
 
They come to me with their struggles and life problems, some of which make my problems seem like nothing in comparison. They call me their angel from God and I am very thankful that I am able to do that for them.
 

2023 Reads

When Kindness Rolls Down Windows

On my way home from work, I got stuck in line waiting for my turn to pull out onto the highway. A young man, his wife, and two children were standing on the side of the road. He was holding a sign that asked for money.

I looked at him, wondering, "Does he really need it? Or is this a scam of some sort?"

I felt compelled to look around my car for money, anyway, and I found  a few dollars. Bunching the bills together in my hand, I rolled down my window and called out to the man.

He graciously accepted, and thanked me for my kindness.

Within seconds, more car windows rolled down and money was being waved at him from other drivers nearby. I don't know what he will do with the money, but I feel happy knowing that kind people are still out there. Maybe they are just waiting for someone else to take the first step. :)

1584 Reads

Morning WIth A Blue Jay

This morning, while I was out walking my dog, I spotted a blue jay on the ground.

It was still alive, but obviously hurt, and on the opposite side of the very busy street. I carefully crossed the street with my dog, and picked up the blue jay. It had been lying right on the side line of the road, and destined for an end.

As I took the bird into my hands, it was a bit apprehensive, but realized it was in no harm. I gently lifted it up and placed it on the grass yard nearby. Even if its destiny was to pass, at least it would be comfortable.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to offer comfort to another life, even if only for a small, delicate moment.

1517 Reads




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