Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Cans For Gas

I went to the gas station to fill up my car and while I was there a Vet ran out of gas just as he was about to reach the forecourt. We pushed his car and I noticed he had bags of cans in the back seat and in the trunk. 

Talking to him I found out that he was actually on his way to turn in the cans to get money for gas. So I stepped in and handed him $5.00 for gas, told him to have a nice day and handed him a Smile card. 

He was so thankful he almost broke my ribs giving me a hug! 

It may not have been much, but at least he was able to get gas - and then sell his cans for more money for more gas.

3831 Reads

The Dancing Butterfly Balloons

I was at the local grocery store and kept running into this young father with his small daughter (perhaps 4-5.) It was obvious that these folks did not have an easy time financially. What they had in their cart was pretty meager.  It was odd that I kept passing them in various aisles and would overhear their conversations. The little girl would ask for something and her father would reply, “We just can’t get that today, honey.”  Bless her heart, she never fussed.  Then - wouldn't you know it – they ended up right in front of me at the checkout! That's where I heard the little gal ask her dad if she might have the big balloon that was floating overhead, attached to the till.  It really was quite magnificent ... a brightly colored butterfly with an impressive wingspan and the words "YOU ARE LOVED!" printed across it.   Oh, how this little girl ... Read Full Story >>

5706 Reads

Of Cats, Gardens, And Neighborly Peace-Making

Yesterday, my older neighbor who painstakingly cares for part of our garden was in for a shock. Apparently, my cat, Rocco, had left a turd in his perfect flower beds. Fortunately, I wasn't home when this happened, so he vented to my friend and neighbor, K. She was kind enough to listen to him and to go down into the garden with him to have a look. She even took a picture! When I got home, she had left a message on my answering machine about the incident. Hearing it was about my cat again, my stomach turned. The year before, he'd gotten so upset that he had threatened to put rat traps on the premises, hoping that would intimidate me into keeping my cats indoors. So, I was a little apprehensive. But I couldn't help but laugh when I heard K tell me what the whole fiasco was all about. I understand ... Read Full Story >>

2799 Reads

Stay Open

There is a Facebook page for a community of priests from India. The other day a man posted, saying, "There are Christians and Muslims in the community and sometimes what we may say may hurt them. Why not make the group a closed one to avoid this?" 

I responded, "Why post things that may hurt? Stay open - and stay loving."

1274 Reads

Bubble Gum Tag-Back

I am a mom of two young children whom we home-school. This means that they are with me almost constantly.   Whenever possible I will perform random acts of kindness; simple things like paying for the order behind me in the drive-thru lane, holding doors, etc. So, they are very familiar with the concept and are, of course, encouraged to also do "nice" things for others. Just a few days ago we stopped by our local grocery store to pick up a few things which quickly turned into an entire cart load of stuff. We got into one of the two open checkout lanes and waited our turn. While waiting a young man came up behind us with only a few items in his basket. I told him to go ahead of us as we were in no hurry.   He seemed very pleasantly surprised and graciously accepted. As he began putting his ... Read Full Story >>

4974 Reads

The Second Smile Card Of The Day

A couple days ago I was driving across a bridge on my way to a friend's house. As I neared the toll booth I spontaneously decided to pay the toll for the car behind me. 

I rolled down my window, asked to pay for the person behind me, and handed the toll booth operator a Smile card. That's when I noticed a puzzled look on the toll booth operator's face. 

"What's going on today?" she asked, her brows furrowed. "You're the second car to do this!" 

"That's great," I said. "It's a good day!" I smiled back and kept smiling ear to ear as I drove away.

How uplifting to see that Smile cards and paying-forward the bridge toll are becoming more and more mainstream!

1781 Reads

Oragnic Lemons And Curtain Rails

I helped a friend pit up her curtain rails a couple of days ago. 

The first attempt didn't work out too well. The drill was too feeble to make the required holes in the wall.

Despite that she gave me a lemon! Her son's father had just brought them as a gift from his home in Italy. They were totally organic and so nice I can't bring myself to use it!

The rails are up now after a second attempt with a more powerful drill. Hopefully they will stay up and I will enjoy my lemon!

1794 Reads

Peace And Love On The Bus

London bus drivers are not usually effusive in their greetings when passengers board, so when a bus driver said something to me on my way home last week I thought my bus pass must have been out of date or something. It took me a few seconds to realize that he had said, "Hello, good evening, peace be upon you." He said something similar to every passenger, always with unwavering enthusiasm. Some responded positively, many ignored him, some smiled. The most moving thing was how undeterred by any rudeness or lack of response this lovely man was. He just kept right on greeting passengers with great sincerity and love.  I waved to him and smiled as I alighted from the rear door - and he waved right back! He was keeping an eye on the back door as well as greeting new passengers. It was a tangible way to experience simple love and kindness ... Read Full Story >>

6829 Reads

Spreading Smiles, Smile Cards And Chocolate :)

Yesterday afternoon, I bought a few things from the supermarket. I decided to buy a chocolate bar for the checkout operator, and gift it with a smile card. The woman at the check-out counter was an older lady, and at first, she seemed very grumpy. After paying, I was nervous to give my gift to her, because for the whole time we interacted, she didn't smile at all. Nevertheless, I picked up the courage and gave it to her, explaining that it was for her.   It was the most amazing reaction ever! :) She seemed shocked at first but then a huuuge smile spread across her face, and she was so happy and thankful! She told me that no customers had ever done anything nice for her before. I felt so happy that I was able to make her smile! :) Then I went out to wait for the bus at the bus ... Read Full Story >>

6939 Reads

Book-marking The Anniversary

I am an artist amongst other things. Wherever I go I always feel the urge to brighten the world up through color and art.  

Last year I donated more than eighty hand-drawn and laminated bookmarks for my local library to do with as they wished. They ended up selling them for $.50 each to help with library funding.  

This year the library is celebrating it's 150th birthday, and I am drawing like crazy to make another donation before the big event.  

This morning I counted thirty-three done, and I'm not even nearly finished yet!

1935 Reads

Gifts, Cakes, Love Letters And Coffee

Weeks go by so fast that sometimes it can be difficult to keep track of everything that has happened.

This week, the girl I have been tutoring had her last exam. To celebrate, I gave her a farewell present, and baked a cake for her mother and for her mother's best friend who I have never met. Later, one of my beautiful companions from the Service Space community had his birthday, and on his behalf I composed six letters of universal love, sent a gift to a friend who has been feeling under the weather and bought coffee for a stranger.

Towards the end of the week, I made a list of ideas to help a friend expand her business, and listened to someone who needed a listening ear. Tonight, I will make the time to listen to another friend who is going through some tough life challenges.

 Life is good, and I wish you all a very blessed and blissful weekend.

3744 Reads

Sharing Loss

An old school friend of mine I hadn't seen for a long time needed someone to be with her in a time of distress. She was losing a pregnancy she really wanted and her "partner" hadn't supported her through the process.  

I spent the day with her, empathizing, listening and trying to keep my good advice to a minimum.

It was wonderful seeing her again; being with her, sharing her sorrow, allowing myself to be touched and yet not feeling dragged into the story behind it.

I was sad to leave her but also happy that I didn't get sucked into the "gotta save her" thing I know so well.

If you would be so kind, please pray for my friend B. She is a wonderful, creative woman and needs to find herself again. Thank you.

1798 Reads

Two In A Taxi For Four

The "share-taxi" normally wouldn't have left until it had four paying passengers in it. The only other passenger was a lady who seemed to be in quite a hurry, so I agreed to pay the remaining fares and got in.

Her mother had suffered a heart attack and this lady was going to collect her and take her to hospital. She started chatting, telling me how her two elder sisters do not care for her mother. She does all she can for her mother while having a husband and two children to look after. 

She had just pawned her jewels in order to raise money in a hurry.

She was glad to have someone to talk to until we reached her destination. I wished her well and said a silent prayer.

2993 Reads

Bike In The Night

I was at a paid bicycle-parking area at the railway station when I saw a lady entering. She had come to collect the bike she parked there earlier, but she looked worried. 

It was midnight and I remembered my first time trying to understand how the parking machines worked;where to put the credit card, which buttons to press, where to place the front wheel of the bike, and so on. It was stressful for me and that hadn't been in the middle of the night.

So, I said to my daughter, "Let's wait and see if we can be of any help." And we were! We made sure she could work everything and just having other people looking out for her seemed to be a comfort for her especially at that time of night.

She thanked us warmly. I smiled all the way back. This is the kind of example I want to set for my children. 

1312 Reads

Staying Past Our Stop

My husband and I were waiting to board a buss when we noticed a woman nearby. She had several bags and a child with her, so my husband and I helped her get on the bus. We carried the bags while she held her baby.

Because she wasn't sure where to get off my husband and I stayed on past our own stop to make sure she got to her destination. We helped her off the bus again, then got a taxi back to our house.  

The journey would have been difficult for her because her baby was very restless. We were delighted to be able to help and she was so thankful!

1829 Reads

Fast-track To The Ferry

I live on an island in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland in New Zealand.  

I was driving my husband to the 8am ferry and we were running late but we could see there were other commuters also running for the boat. So, I stopped and got as many in the car as we could fit.

My husband still made the ferry on time - and so did others who probably wouldn't have if I hadn't stopped.

1808 Reads

Oreo Smiles

I work in a busy department store. With the seasons changing right now the women's clothing department has been extra busy and our fitting rooms are loaded with clothing to be returned to the racks. 

I am like a "mom" figure to the girls and am always reminding them to stay busy and keep smiling when the going gets tough.

Today I wen out and bought chocolate covered Oreo cookies individually wrapped in bright colored foil. Towards the end of our day I went to my locker and got the cookies. I drew smiley faces on the foil and wrote Thank You on them. 

I gave each girl a cookie and  let them know that I appreciate them trying hard to keep everything neat and clean with a smile on their faces! 

I am not their manager, just a co-worker, but I know it made them feel special and appreciated. They couldn't wait for their shift to end so they could go eat their special treat.

Little things mean a lot. 

2538 Reads

Midnight Roses

I was in Thailand for a holiday with some friends and we went to a night market to have a look around. 

Walking around, well after midnight, I saw a lady, probably over seventy years old, selling roses. She looked fragile and week, like she had been working all day and then into the night.

Right there and then my heart broke. No one of this age, I thought to myself, should be out past midnight selling roses to make a couple of bucks.

So, I gave her enough money for a day's work but declined to take any of her roses. 

My friends and I left to get a drink at a place nearby. The lady followed me and insisted on giving me a rose. I tried to decline again but eventually took one of her roses and left.

There is still so much suffering in the world. It's important to look up and strive to be a better person than you currently are, but it is also important to look around and realize how fortunate we are. We all should be grateful for the life we have and try to help those who are less fortunate.

1891 Reads

Follow Me To Chaldon

Today,  when I got back to my car, an elderly lady parked very close to me. She looked so sweet and frail.  

She asked me if I knew where a place called 'Chaldon' was and I said that I did. But it was very difficult to describe how to get there as there are lots of twists and turns.  

I was in a rush, but I told the lady just follow me and I would take her there.  

Her smile was so sweet and she was so grateful. I managed to help and still get to work on time.

1558 Reads

A Long Way From Iraq

A family of Iraqis live in my neighborhood. The father of the family served as an interpreter for the American Forces for ten years.   When the Americans were withdrawing they gave my friend's family visas to come to America. They didn't give them much else. Two years before Ali, my friend, came to the USA he was able to get two of his sons out of Iraq and they got jobs at Walmart and ATT. They have good English skills and are college educated.   My friend Ali is in his 60s and has worked as an English/Arabic interpreter much of his life. He has worked for some very important international companies doing business in the Middle East. But here in America he is just an old Muslim man trying to get a job.   After more than a year of trying he has finally got a job as a security guard ... Read Full Story >>

4842 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