Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Kindness Tuesdays

Every Tuesday, my daughters have two hours of softball practice.  This is when I head around the corner to the library and work on my weekly class newsletter, grade papers and visit HelpOthoers.  I also do acts of kindness.  I have put homemade smile cards in library books and also left money with a 'please enjoy this random act of kindness' note at the reference desk to pay someone's late fines. Tonight, I attached a homemade smile card and Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) card to a small bag of Lindor chocolates.  As I walked into the library, I headed to my usual area near the reference desk and placed the bag on a table.  I sat in a comfy chair near the table and did some work. It was so interesting how quickly the library staff noticed! I heard at least four different workers say something like, "Hey, did you see that?" as they ... Read Full Story >>

10.2K Reads

A Lesson In Kindness From My Mother

I was at the drugstore getting ready to leave when I saw an old lady standing at the main entrance. She looked like she might be lost, so I asked if she needed any help. She said, "Yes, please. Where is the drugstore window? I need the get some medication but I don't see very well."  
 
I took her by the hand and led her into the store. I helped her get her medicine and helped her get the money from her purse to pay for it.
 
I asked her how she had managed to get to the  drugstore and she told me she had walked from her house, which was four blocks away. I offered to take her home and she agreed to let me. She told me she was a widow. She had no children and lived by herself. She was 95 years old. 
 
I helped her to her door and she told that she was so blessed to find people like me who would help her. In truth it was all down to my mother who had passed away five months before. The time I spent caring for mom taught me a lot about compassion. She taught me the real love and kindness aren't just reserved for family, but are meant to be shared with everyone.

13.8K Reads

A Different Kind of Pep Rally

A group of us decided to start a Kindness Pep Rally, where we hold signs with messages like, "Honk if you love someone," "You Are Awesome," "Kindness is Good for the Heart," and "Dont Give Up, Ok?" We are well into the third week of it, and still going strong! Our "Pep Squad" began two weeks ago with two friends, and today something amazing happened! An hour into our "Pep Rally," a total stranger stopped by to chat. During the conversation, the stranger revealed that her name was Amanda and that she had just moved to the area. She said that she was touched by what we were trying to accomplish.  "This may sound strange, but I believe that meeting you and seeing the amazing thing that you both are doing is a sign that I belong here in this city. I want to become part of this."  We shared that our next event would be holding signs that ... Read Full Story >>

10.6K Reads

"You Look Nice Today!"

About seven years ago, whenever I would notice that someone looked nice, I started telling them that they looked nice. Shorty afterwards, I came up with an observation: If you tell five people during the day that they look nice, at the end of the day, six peole (you have to count yourself!) feel great. Over the years, I've had many fruitful experiences with this. Here are a few: One day, I was riding around town with a friend when we rolled to a stop at a traffic light. As we waited for the light to turn green, a man walked across the crosswalk. He looked very together, so I called out, "Hey, you look sharp today!" Pointing towards a building, he said, "Thanks, but I was more sharp in there." His comment puzzled me. But before I could ask about it, the light turned green, and we drove on.  I ask my friend who was driving, ... Read Full Story >>

7932 Reads

Smiles In The Snow

Here in the Mid-west we have been experiencing unusual amounts of snow lately. This has resulted in large amounts of cars being stranded on the roads, some with people still in them!  
 
My husband took his four-wheel-drive truck, and a few smiles, and hit the roads to help those who were stranded.  

He came home later, delighted at how happy people were to see him - and how amazed they were that he didn't charge a penny for his help!  

1592 Reads

A Hand To Hold

For a couple of days now, it's been difficult for me to get up in the morning. It's both because I'm having trouble going to sleep at a decent hour, and because I'd much rather stay in bed where I feel safe and won't have to face the daily challenges. Minor ones compared to what most people in the world face, I grant you, but still. Finally, I got to school in time for the last one and a half hour of classes. My usual seat was taken, so I sat besides a really nice woman, a bit older than me. The subject triggered her telling me about some health issues she'd had some time ago, and I took her hand to show my empathy. It was a bit forced, because I got the impression that she's got a thing about telling generally bad stories to garner attention, but anyway, that's what ... Read Full Story >>

1932 Reads

A Semper Fi Hair-cut

My husband, a retired Marine, went to the local barber shop (on yesterday to get a hair-cut.
 
There was a young Marine in the chair next to him. Upon the completion of his haircut the young man presented a debit card to pay for the barber's work. The card didn't work and each subsequent card the young man presented didn't work. He had no cash on him so my husband paid the bill for him.
 
He simply told the young Marine that many had assisted him in his time in service and he just wanted to pass it on.

1969 Reads

"You Raised A Wonderful Child, Mom."

I feel like I am always either at school, sports practice or a game, so I have to find different ways to do little acts of kindness.     My good friend and co-worker has a mom dealing with cancer who is living with her during treatment. I decided to send this mom - whom I've never met - a card thanking her for raising such a wonderful person. I told how her daughter was such being a good listener, someone who I can share my troubles with, and someone who makes me laugh.   I was a little uneasy about it afterwards and wondered if my friend would think it strange.     Tonight while sitting at basketball practice I received a text from my friend. She wanted to tell me that the card I sent her mom was one of the most beautiful things she had ever read and how lucky she was to ... Read Full Story >>

13.5K Reads

The "Take What You Need" Sheet

Last week I made a tear-away sheet for the staff at my school. I secretly hung it up for teachers to take what they need by way of the tear-off slips - strength, courage, patience, understanding, etc.
 
The principal asked for digital copy and shared it with the other principals in the county!
 
Today I was at my daughter's weekly softball practice. There was the  usual questioning of what kindness acts I had done during the week since I'd last seen them. Then one of the moms said she had thought of me earlier when she was at her daughter's school. Walking by the teachers' lounge she had noticed a tear-off sheet just like I had described to her. She was excited to see that two "needs" had been torn off and she couldn't wait to share that with me.
 
A perfect example of the "ripple effect." From me to my colleagues, from my school to another school, to unknown teachers who may then share the kindness with others because of what they've taken from the sheet to make it a good day.  
 
Yeah! 

5717 Reads

Making Last Memories

She was fragile and well on in years. 
 
Her original care taker had broken a limb and was unable to perform her usual duties but someone else was holding the fort while she recovered.
 
We visited her for the Christmas Barrel drive. She was weak, and unable to talk, but she was able to hold our hands. We dropped by to give items that were donated by lots of people around the island. 
 
It was a team effort. We also visited an orphanage, single parents and a young disabled man.
 
It was not long after our visit that she passed away. I'm glad she was able to experience kindness and we were able to experience her humility and grace. The entire team was touched and very happy to have made a positive contribution to her last days (with the help of the young woman who was nursing her.) 
 
We were also thankful for our fellow islanders who opened their hearts to give to the less fortunate in the way that they did.
 

1980 Reads

The Cupcake Connection.

My mother makes these amazing pudding-filled cupcakes with homemade icing that we all clamor over each other to eat. We are a caring bunch by nature but when it comes to Mom's cupcakes all bets are off!   This morning I stopped in at Mom's and, lo and behold, she had made a fresh batch! After much convincing (my step-dad has a hard time letting them go) I managed to score four of the delectable morsels, one for each of my boys (her grandsons) and one each for myself and my love.   I stopped at my boys' respective work places to deliver some love from grandma - which brought smiles to their faces as well as mine, watching their faces light up in the middle of a mundane workday.    Down to two now! I was already making excuses in my head as to why I should get both, after all my other half did ... Read Full Story >>

6729 Reads

Motivational Chocolates

Where I work they were having a competition to get people motivated, and I won two Boxes of chocolates! 
 
I couldn't resist opening one box right there and sharing them with all my colleagues.
 
Everyone loved them and I think those little tasters might inspire them to try and win a box of their own!

2138 Reads

Surprise Breakfast Treat

Last night around 2 am, my brother and I felt a little hungry. He asked me if I could go to a store by our house and pick up a snack. As I decided to go, a thought came to my mind to not spend all the money on food. Instead, I'll save some money for a person in need. On my way, as I walked towards the shop on the main street, I came across a homeless person sleeping on the footpath. As I passed him, I knew exactly what I was going to spend that money on.  I said to myself, “This person is sleeping outside on the road in this cold weather. He needs care and good treatment.” I wanted to put a smile on his face, first thing in morning. I wanted to help him. But how? There was no way I was going to wake him up in ... Read Full Story >>

2021 Reads

Highlights from a Week of Kindness

Hello my kind friends!  Earlier in February, there was a Random Act of Kindness Week.  All that week, I tried to do something each day. 
On one of the days that week, I bought some extra boxes of heart chocolates and left them along with a Smile Card on six random people's desks at work. I purposely picked the desks of those I know haven't been tagged in the past to spread a few new smiles.
Later that day, I was just about to pull into a front row parking place at the store, but then I saw a mom pull around who could use it more. I motioned her to take it.  Little things here and there make a wonderful difference!

1836 Reads

A Week of First Grade Kindness

     I teach first graders and want to share about a big kindness activity we did earlier this year. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Jan. 16) until the 100th day of school two weeks later, students performed and recorded 100 acts of kindness. These acts were collected on small hearts and organized in the shape of a huge 100. The kids worked SO hard to share kindness with each other both at home and at school and parent feedback and support was incredible!       That was also the start of my HUGE kindness project. Random Acts of Kindness Week started February 11th, but our preparations started weeks before: We wrote letters, decorating cards and planning for a great week of sharing kindness within and outside of the school. For many of these items, I printed and attached cards that read, “Please enjoy this random act of kindness.” As I’ve said before, I consider ... Read Full Story >>

7495 Reads

One Candle at a Time

I've got this friend, Rachel. She's a bit older than me, with a sort of shy, but radiant smile. She's usually tan, as she loves the outdoors and spends as much time outside as possible. No matter the weather. In the winter, she'll often go for walks outside. In the summer, she'll sit in public parks strumming her guitar, reading, or napping on the grass.  She has the leisure to do these things because, suffering from multiple psychological traumas, she is unable to work. Well, unable to work in a "normal" workplace, that is. Because she does work. Her vocation is 'making' candles. She buys ready-made candles, usually the slightly translucent kind where the body of the candle will radiate the light, too. Then she puts designs on them by hand, working for hours at a time in her kitchen. She literally makes hundreds--if not a thousand--of these in a year. And then, ... Read Full Story >>

7663 Reads

Taxes, A Plant, A Hug

Yesterday, while I was having my taxes done, my tax preparer told me her father had passed away two days ago.  She went on to tell me that she would not be able to attend his funeral, as he was in another country and, with this being tax season, she could not leave.  My heart went out to her. "Is there anything I can do?" I asked. "No, but just you asking made me feel better," she replied, tears welling up in her eyes. I told her to call me if she wanted someone to share stories with about her father. After my taxes were done, I immediately went out and bought her a lovely yellow tulip potted plant.  I enclosed a card that read, "Thank you, You make my world a better place." Then, I added a note to express how I deeply understood how losing her father felt. 
With my heart soaring, I gave her the plant. And she gave me the most wonderful hug. 

1602 Reads

Birthday Gift of a Compliment

Recently, I switched to a different cell phone service provider. We visited the new service provider's store and one of the sales managers assisted us with our request. He was a very efficient and charming person. He was very good at what he was doing, gave us some honest opinions, and got us involved in some interesting conversations while we were waiting for our order to get processed. When we were about to leave, he politely told us that we could leave our feedback about today's service through a phone survey, which we'd receive soon. I asked him whether there was another way to leave feedback because I am not very good at attending phone calls. He replied that the phone call would be the only way. Before leaving, I quickly registered the name of the sales manager in my mind. The next day was my birthday. I really wanted to do something special for ... Read Full Story >>

9106 Reads

Found on the NYC Subway

Pay It Forward Day has come and gone, but one New York City metro rider is keeping its spirit alive. The anonymous do-gooder left a sweet note along with a prepaid unlimited metro card for another rider to find, use and pass on. New Yorker Michelle Attardo spotted the card on 2nd Avenue between 88th and 89th and took a photo, which she shared on Instagram. The note reads: Unlimited - good 'til midnight. Use, if you can; leave for someone else when you're done. We love everything about this note, right down to its impeccable semicolon and apostrophe usage. Whoever you are, thanks for making our day -- and someone's night! ... Read Full Story >>

5332 Reads

My Smile Deck Week

I recently received a Smile Deck, and decided to do a challenge, by drawing one card randomly every day!  Here were my opportunities for smiles this week ...  7 ♣ - Thurs. Sent encouraging notes to family members who are far away A   - Fri. Gave hugs to first five people I saw in the morning. They were exercising in the park. I announced my mission – to give hugs – and was enthusiastically accepted by 4, somewhat reluctantly by one. 6 ♣ - Sat. Made a lunch for my husband and included a written note with a joke in it. 9 ♣ - Sun. Put on a vintage “Sun, Wind & Fire” video for my husband & did a little joy dance to this fine disco music. 8 ♣ - Mon. Did a chore for a neighbor .Took out & carefully folded his dried laundry in our apartment laundry area. 9   - Tues. Donated a favorite recipe ... Read Full Story >>

4061 Reads




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