Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Little Trail of Notes

I just found and joined this website yesterday. I was too excited to wait for my Smile Cards to arrive in the mail, so I decided to kick-start my "Random Acts of Kindness" today. For my first act, I decorated 10 half-pieces of paper and wrote inspirational messages on them, like: "You are amazing, so have a great day." Then, today, I left them in places for people to find. This morning, I helped my mom babysit my niece. When we took her to her t-ball practice, I left a note in the bathroom by the sinks for people to see. Next, my mom and I had a doctor's appointment. (I am sixteen years old, so I have no way to get around without my mom since I can't drive yet.) At the clinic, I left a note taped in the elevator, and another in the bathroom. Then, I put a note inside a ... Read Full Story >>

At a Bus Stop with Popcorn

I was living in São Paulo, Brazil. It is a HUGE city, with more people living in it than in my whole country (Hungary, which has a population of 10 million). We rented a flat in a gated community, but there was a favela (shanty town) quite near. For several months I didn't have a car, so three times a week, I used public transportation to go to the city centre. During these trips, I would ride with the people who took the same bus from the favela to go to work. When I got on the bus, all the seats were already taken. But when people saw that my bag was heavy (full of books), they offered to hold it in their lap, to make me feel lighter standing. At first, I was shocked. Then I realized that these people had absolutely no intention to steal from me: they only wanted to ... Read Full Story >>

A Companion On The Way Home

I was walking back home last night and noticed that the lady walking ahead of me looked nervous. She kept looking over her shoulder. 

Passport To Europe

Someone I work with was asked to go to Europe to sing with her church choir! 

A Boy's First Watch

I had gone to my bank (in Nigeria) to withdraw some money and was given a beautiful, blue, customized watch as a free gift.    As I left there, I thought to myself that I didn't need the watch. I was already wearing one! I thought that there were people who needed that watch more than me, people who had never worn one before.    My sister came around and I handed her the watch to give any of the boys who go around begging with their physically-disabled parents. My sister's hostel is very close to where they usually stay.    A few days later one of the boys, about 14 years old, came around my sister's lecture hall with his blind mother to beg for money as usual. My sister then walked up to him and asked him if he had a watch. He said, "No." And my sister gave the watch to him. She ... Read Full Story >>

The Mumbai Bus Conductor

I use to travel from one crowded part of Mumbai city to another bus in the peak travel hours.  During the forty-five minute journey I couldn't help but notice the conductor doing his job. I saw that he was very diligent and dedicated to his work. After a few days of regular travel on his bus we started sharing smiles. Its very strange to have any interactions with conductors in Mumbai local buses apart from the transaction of buying a travel ticket.  But, something about his way of working always intrigued me.    The more I observed him the more I felt I could learn from him; how he did this seemingly boring job so gracefully. I observed how he controlled annoying passengers on super-crowded buses, young naughty kids traveling on half ticket, and cheats who didn't want to buy tickets.    On the last day of my journeys on this bus I wrote him ... Read Full Story >>

Volunteers In Medicine

I recently moved to another state and no longer have health insurance. 

Love Without Words

A few weeks ago I was blessed to spend four days with some of the kindest people I have ever seen. It was an amazing experience on so many levels and I am a kinder person for having my life touched by them all. One of the great things I noticed with them was the power of some non-verbal techniques is sharing love and compassion. So much love was shared through warm hugs, deep gazes and attentive listening. It was a great reminder for me that those small kindnesses can be powerful and make a huge difference to others, many times more than anything I could say. So now that I am back in the real world I have been trying harder to incorporate those non-verbal kindnesses in my life. I can see it making a difference wherever I try them out. I have been hugging a little more and can see that it ... Read Full Story >>

Paws To Help

We were at the vet's surgery waiting for our dog's regular checkup when my husband overheard a conversation between the receptionist and an older man.

A Quiet Lesson from Steve

A few weeks ago, our dog, who we've had for more than a decade, had to be put down. First, a tumour on her pancreas exploded, and she had to have emergency surgery. Then, the arthritis in her back got so bad that sometimes she would lie down in the middle of a walk and refuse to take another step. When I first found out, I was devestated. She was more like a sister to me than a pet. But if I'm honest, I was also angry at my stepfather, Steve, who informed us that she had been put down a week after it happened. He waited because he didn't want to worry us, and he didn't want me to get distracted and fail my exams. We thought she was still being treated at the veterinarian. I think you can imagine all the thoughts that went through my head: She's my dog too! Why didn't ... Read Full Story >>

A Not-So-Ordinary Wee Man

He was just an ordinary wee man, shakily collecting his cutlery while the waitress kindly took his meal to a table. He was a regular and she knew he couldn’t manage on his own.  I stopped next to him to get some napkins. After a couple of faltering attempts he managed to pick up a yellow sachet. Then he asked me, “Is this sugar?”  Guessing his eyes were weak I explained that he had picked up sweeteners by mistake. “This is sugar,” I handed him two white sachets, “and the brown packs are Demerara (brown sugar,) but I doubt you’d know the difference once it was in your tea.” “Oh, wouldn’t I?” he responded. Then he proceeded to tell me of the years he spent as a younger man in Trinidad refining sugar and exporting it all over the world. He told me how the different kinds of sugar were made and what each was used ... Read Full Story >>

Car Park Cell Phone

Watermelon Smiles

In Mother's Memory

18 Holes Of Happiness

There is a golf course a couple miles from where I live and I used to go fishing at a pond there, usually first thing in the morning.    There used to be a guy named Daniel who would come every morning and do maintenance work. It's an 18 hole golf course, really big. He had a morning routine of things he had to do including mowing the grass, putting up the flags at each hole, etc.    He's a really nice guy. We often chatted about different things and we got used to seeing each other there. This morning, I decided that I would do something for him. So, I drove down to the golf course at about 6:30 am and got all the flags for the golf course (which they keep outside by the clubhouse) and went and put them up at each of the holes. This is one the main things ... Read Full Story >>

Free Money At Walmart

I hand-designed some of my own Smile cards. One is for "hiding" money in unexpected places. It basically says I hope that this will be found by someone who really needs it.  So, I went to a local Walmart here in Hawaii and placed a $20 bill with the card behind a product. I then went to another aisle to see who found it. I so wanted to see how they reacted!    After a while a lady found the money and the note. Then she looked around to see if she could identify who left it. To my surprise she put it back! I guess she really didn't need it. She then went to another aisle to watch who would find the money!   After about another seven minutes a lady with a young boy found the money. They too started looking around and even at the ceiling! I guess they were looking for ... Read Full Story >>

Happy Birthday, Stranger

The Veteran And His Buddy

We live in central Phoenix, near the canal. Every day I used to see a homeless man and his scruffy little dog hanging out down there.   I would tell my fiance we should give him food for the little dog. It wouldn't have been a problem, we have our own "mini farm" of animals! But he would say yeah then blow the idea off.    Being in Phoenix, Arizona you can just imagine how hot it gets here, but this winter was really cold! I had just come from KFC with take-out food. As I was turning by the canal the man and his dog were sitting right there all bundled up. Even the doggy had a coat on!     Not even thinking about it I pulled into the parking lot along the canal and piled up a plate plate of chicken with all the fixings for the man and his little buddy. ... Read Full Story >>

Lunch For Two In PennStation

On my way to a destination in upper New York State, I needed to make a bus transfer and so had to wait at a lower level at Penn Station.  The bus was not expected for an hour and I was hungry. But I had a large suitcase with me and could not go up a level to buy myself something to eat.   I saw a young man in shabby clothes going through a garbage can. He seemed to be searching for food. So, I called him over to me and asked him if he would do a favor for me. If I gave him $20, would he please go upstairs and get me a tuna fish sandwich and an iced tea? Then he could buy himself whatever he wanted and bring me back my lunch and the change. He said, "Sure!" and took the $20 eagerly.   Thirty minutes passed and there was ... Read Full Story >>

Slum School Birthday