Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Four Years Of Raising Smiles

It has been four years since I got my first set of Smile cards!  At that time my family and I were living in a travel trailer. Since then I have gave out over 400 Smile cards (I've lost count!) I am so glad to have done so many good things for others. Now it is four years later, things are better for my family, and I'm still giving out Smile cards! Today I gave out my largest gift yet - a $40 gift certificate to an upscale restaurant!    I have spent weeks trying to find someone upbeat and nice to give it to. I finally found someone today. My daughter went into a place to get her haircut and the young gal who cut her hair was very nice and did a great job. So I gave her the envelope with the gift in it and left a couple of dollars tip.   I ... Read Full Story >>

World Kindness Week Day 4 - Smoothies On Campus

I was walking around a college campus today (not my own) and I picked up two smoothies with the intention of giving them away.

World Kindness Week Day 3- A 100 Days Of Kindness

Yesterday I made a decision to do an act of kindness every day for 100 days and write it on a chart.  It can be something really small.  No sooner had I made my decision than an opportunity came along.

I saw a little girl lose the ribbon from her hair.  He mum didn't notice.  I ran over, picked it up and went running after them.  I gave the mum the ribbon and she gave me something - a lovely smile.

I think it will be fun looking for opportunities to be kind.

World Kindness Week Day 2 - Alvin, The School Bus Driver

I took the bus to school every day when I was in grade school. Alvin, our bus driver, came by every morning at 8:00 to pick us up.   We were lower income families. My parents barely made ends meet for them and five of us kids.   Alvin picked up around twenty kids in our area and dropped us off after school. About once a month he would make a stop at the local drive-in. Someone would come out and ask each of us if we wanted an ice cream or a drink. Alvin would pay for the whole bus out of his own pocket.  The kindness that he showed was amazing.  We didn't get treats like that too often and they are fondly remembered.     I remember him picking us up at the end of the school year and taking us to his home for a barn dance. He would provide drinks and ... Read Full Story >>

World Kindness Day - Started It Off With Gratitude

Hello my kind friends! Happy World Kindness Day! As today starts World Kindness Week I have dedicated myself to doing at least one kind act each day. Today I decided to focus on sharing my gratitude with many of the folks I appreciate. So I spent most of the evening sending out notes around the world to people who have helped shape my kindness character. There are some groups behind the scenes here at HelpOthers that work so hard to spread smiles. I sent notes to them, as I do not even know all of the wonderful people out there but I know what they do matters to me! As I wrote each one I felt an enormous amount of gratitude and love for them. It made me feel great and I know will matter to them too. Many individuals along the way (many of you included) have touched my life in ways ... Read Full Story >>

Free-cycle TV

My husband and I just bought a new television.

Birthday Party In A Box

Annie, a neighbor's daughter, was away for her first semester at college this past school year. She is a very sweet girl but just a bit shy. When her birthday month came around I found out she was feeling a bit blue and lonely.   Her family is quite small and finances are tight so there wouldn't be any birthday visitors.     I wanted to send her a card and maybe a small gift to brighten her day a bit. I got her school address from her Mom and planned to simply pick something up and send it. Then I got an idea!     I thought perhaps a bit more birthday cheer was needed here. I bought some balloons, streamers, birthday hats, and other small novelties at a dollar store.    I took a small recorder and asked three other people in my area at work to sing Happy Birthday and send some birthday wishes ... Read Full Story >>

Cool Water For Pool Cleaners

Wednesday is the day where the pool cleaners come around here. 

Celebrate World Kindness Week!

"This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." -- Dalai Lama  Dear HO family,  Please join us in celebrating World Kindness Week this year from Nov. 13 - Nov 20th! This year, for World Kindness Week, we are asking the Help Others community to join us in participating in our Kindness Challenge - doing one random act of kindness every day this week!   If you are looking around for ideas, you don't have to look too far!  We have tons of kindness ideas on our site that might help.  We are also including some of our favorite kindness ideas below for you to share with your friends in celebration of World Kindness Week!  Enjoy the Kindness Challenge and thank you for helping to spread the ripples of kindness and inspiration to ... Read Full Story >>

A Heavenly Butterfly

My mom is pretty much bed-bound and I come over twice a week, or whenever she needs me to.   Last week the weather was absolutely beautiful so I decided to take her out on the porch for some fresh air. I helped her out to her lounger, then went back to get her tea, her back support, her heating pad, and her blanket because her legs are always cold. By the time I did all that I was ready to sit down and enjoy the calmness and a nice long talk with my mom.     She started to talk about God and how she felt her time was coming and I told her that God is always with us. Just then a butterfly flew onto the porch and landed on my mom's shoulder.     "See," I told her. "Here's God now!"     That butterfly lifted her spirits so much that for the next ... Read Full Story >>

Leaving 'Crumbs' of Kindness at Grocery Store

 I once read an article about people who leave money around for other people to find. It sounded like fun, so I started doing it years ago. I live on Social Security, so needless to say I'm not dropping any hundred dollar bills. But, usually at the grocery store, I will leave a dollar on the shelves here and there, and quarters on the lower shelves for the kids.

Knitting For Soweto

I knit for the little children abandoned in Soweto because of the Aids crisis.  

Reverse Birthday Gift

Today I was blessed to turn forty-five years young.  I enjoy reading all of the awesome ideas from this wonderful site about people giving on their birthday, so, I decided this would be my chance to experience the joy of giving on my special day.   My husband took me to the Olive Garden, and our waitress was very nice. We had a great dinner experience and then I tried a warm apple crostata that was scrumptious. Then the waitress, Carlini, brought our bill.    When she came back to the table to get our credit card I knew it was my time to give. I sat the gift bag on the edge of the table and simply said, "In honor of my birthday, I want to bless you with a gift."   Ohh, the shock on her face! She said, "No, not for me! It’s your birthday!" Then she said, "Can I open it in front of you?" ... Read Full Story >>

Some People Do Survive

Inspired by this site, I let the woman behind me in the line at the check-out go first because she looked sick. She then told me she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor that very morning! 

The Mind's No Guide In Kindness

I had two tickets to a local festival that I wanted to give away. I carried them in my purse, along with two Smile cards.    I walked through a couple of parks near the festival, noticing groups heading towards it. I had a decision to make. Out of all of these people, who should I offer the tickets to?     I had already attempted to give them away three times; twice to people I knew, once to strangers. They had all said, "No, thank you." So now I looked for someone else.     I was having a hard time deciding. Two tickets, and so many people. All of them deserving, how could my brain choose?   I decided I couldn't choose with my mind. So, I would listen for guidance instead, trusting it would appear. I had no idea who they would be or when it would be, I just felt I should head ... Read Full Story >>

From Neighbor to Neighbor

These pages are filled with such wonderful hearts.  Today, during my morning walk, I noticed a city worker shoveling sand off the sidewalk. As I neared him, I stopped. "Thank you!" I said. He looked at me, almost dazed. Then, the sweat running down his face was re-routed by his smile. "You are very welcome, Miss!" We laughed, then he shoveled and I shuffled away. On the way back home, I began pondering how rare it is to hear a 'thank you' these days. I returned home and, with some help, crafted up ten printed cards with a rainbow and smiling flowers. Inside, I printed a simple verse: From a neighbor to a neighbor Thinking of You and Sending Lots of Happy Wishes Your Way. Have a Grand and Marvelous Day ...Pass it on! Then I randomly chose ten names from the phone book and off they went...! All the warmth and smiles shared here are now spreading throughout my little town! ... Read Full Story >>

A Customer's Gift

I recently returned to work after taking time off to recover from an operation on my elbow. On my first day back, I was the cashier in the basket-only line, as I was unable to assist with packing goods into bags due to my elbow. However, it got busy and a lady came to my line with a full cart. I didn't complain, and gave her some bags so that she could pack her goods. Towards the end of the sale, the lady suddenly exploded, shouting at me for not helping with her packing and calling the manager over to complain about me. My manager started to help with the packing, and she explained that it was my first day back after being in hospital. But the woman continued to shout that it was no excuse. Once she had gone, I tried to continue serving. But I was so shaken that I burst into ... Read Full Story >>

Post-It Note Smiles

One summer day, my best friend, Ronnie, and I were talking about how society puts a lot of pressure on girls to have the perfect body. There's a sense that women need to be all around perfect, without realizing that they already are perfect the way they are.

So, we decided to set out on a mission to our local library.

Upon arriving, we wrote, "Smile You're Beautiful," on 75 post-its and placed them on the inside page of every depression, anxiety and eating disorder book we could find.

That night, I went on Facebook and saw that a girl I knew made a status about her journey to the library and how she saw one of our post-its in an eating disorder book. She mentioned that she's been struggling with her eating disorder and seeing that post-it note made her day.

I told my friend, and it made us so happy to know that we had put a smile on at least one person's face. It made our entire day worth it.

With a Handful of Flowers

I have performed many acts of kindness in the past, but recently I became the receiver!

One day, while walking down the street with my dogs, I noticed a young girl with a small handful of flowers walking towards me. She approached me and asked about my Chihuahuas. 

We chatted for awhile. 

Then, she asked if she could give me a flower. 

It was a small gesture, but it made my day so much brighter.  She seemed so at peace with herself.  Her calm energy flowed to me and I felt good all day. 

It is so great to know that kindness can happen at any age.

Water for the Guards

Throughout the week, I accumulate empty water bottles. They end up being perfect to take along when traveling or going on hikes.

Usually, I recycle the bottles to help the environment. But today, I tried something a little different.

Every day, a security guard comes to watch over the house. Today, I filled one of my clean water bottles with water and tried to keep it cool. Then I gave it to the guard.

The first time I did it, the guard broke into a smile and said, "Thank you."

I had such a warm feeling in my heart it even made me shed a few tears. And gave me encouragement to do it again.

Thought I didn't do it everyday, I made sure to regularly make time to bring security guards water.

Every time, they were always so grateful.

Every time, I was always glad that I did it.

This simple gesture taught me the power of doing a little act of kindness every day. It really illuminates both our own light and that of everyone else around us.