Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Dessert On The House

A friend and I went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch last weekend. Since we are vegetarians we customized our order.  

The Traffic Warden's Toes

I was recently on a working trip to Mumbai. One evening I took an autorickshaw home from work. It was around 6 p.m. and there was heavy rush hour traffic. Because of this the rickshaw was traveling at a snail's pace. I was lost in my own thoughts, thinking about the day's events, when a Mumbai police traffic warden materialized as if from nowhere. He ran alongside the rickshaw and slapped the driver three times, quite violently, across his face.    I was shocked by this sudden turn of events! I asked the driver to take the rickshaw to one side of the street and stop. I asked if he was hurt and he said his eyes were sore because of the slap. Other than that, he said, he was fine.    I asked what had happened. He said that, by mistake, he had  run over the traffic wardens shoes. I told him he should ... Read Full Story >>

Best Day Of My Life

Today is the best day of my life!   I say this every day before I even get out of bed! Then I think what I am grateful for - a nice warm bed, heat in my house on this cold, wintery day, coffee, running water, a nice house, my family, my health, my kids, my hubby, his job, our town, etc. Then I get up and get on with my wonderful day!   As I drove into town I saw a lady my grandma knew walking along. I stopped and offered her a ride, which she gladly accepted. I dropped her off at her destination, less than five minutes away.   Next, I did my grocery shopping - and noticed someone waiting for a ride outside! I knew her face so I inquired if I could help. "Sure," she said. "My ride won't come for an hour and I could call and cancel when ... Read Full Story >>

Spreading Smiles With Breakfast

I recently received ten complimentary vouchers for free breakfast sandwiches at a popular fast food restaurant. 

At A London Bus Stop

One late winter's evening I was standing at a bus stop in gloomy, wet and windy London. Then I noticed a young man running as fast as he could and just behind him there was a number eight bus. 

I held my hand out and stopped the bus. The guy was still running, so I proceeded to walk slowly towards the bus. I put my right foot on the step to keep the door open and, finally, the young man reached the bus stop! 

He Made My Day - The Old-Fashioned Way

While stopping for gas one morning I was checking and filling my transmission fluid when a frail elderly man came up to me and took over. 

A Warm Gift Left In His Basket

It was early on a cold December morning. I was making a quick trip to the post office, and along the way, I saw a man riding his bicycle through the dirty, heavy slush, left over from last night's snowfall.

He was dressed in a tattered, old black coat. A knit beanie cap covered his head. As he parked his bike on the sidewalk and went inside (to warm up, I assumed), I noticed that his hands were bare.

While he was out of sight, I reached to my back seat and grabbed a pair of thick leather gloves that belonged to one of my boys. Then, quickly, I ran to his bicycle and placed them in the basket that he had tied with twine to his handlebars. I hurried back to the warmth of my car and waited. Even though I had been in a hurry, I couldn't leave without seeing that he got them. About twenty minutes passed.

I watched as he returned to his bike, picked up the gloves, looked around for a moment. Then, he put them on and slowly rode away. 

Feeding Two Teens From The Dollar Menu

I picked my daughter up from school today. She was hungry and asked if we could stop at McDonald's so she could have a quick bite to eat. I said I didn't have much money, but she could order from the dollar menu.    As we pulled up to the drive-thru window. A young man, about 16-18 years old, approached my car. He had a sad story about his mom being hospital and him having no money or food.    I asked him, "What is it you want? Food?" He said he didn't care, anything would be good.     So, I told him to go ahead of me and wait, that I would order something and bring it to him.   My daughter asked, "Mom, do you believe him?" I said, "I don't know if he's telling the truth or not, but I know he must be hungry or he wouldn't be begging at McDonald's."    So I ... Read Full Story >>

A Warm Embrace And Presence

It was a usual day at the hospital. I was running around doing what I needed to get done for my patients. Then I stopped in my tracks because I could feel my cell phone vibrating in my pocket. I almost always keep my phone on. In the event of an emergency my family and friends can that way get in touch with me. It was an emergency. There was a death in my family. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I was excused early from work that day, but came home to an empty apartment and didn't know what to do next. I cried. I didn't know if I wanted to be alone or phone my close friend. I didn't know if I should have bothered my friend. Death is a sensitive subject for some people. Different people handle it in different ways.  What does one say? What does one do? After deliberating for a ... Read Full Story >>

Coffee Shop Kindness - With Extra Ripples

The other day I was in a popular coffee shop. I got my order and looked around the crowded cafe for a table to sit at.  I asked a woman sitting at a large table if the seat in front of her was available. She said, "No. I'm waiting for a few people." 'Okay,' I thought. 'Fair enough.'   I went on to the next person, a young man who had his coat covering the chair opposite him. I asked if the seat was available and he happily lifted his coat from the chair. I sat there, sharing his table, eating my sandwich and drinking my tea. Then I noticed another young lady walk up to the woman I had talked to. I watched her looking around for any other available seats.    Next to me was another young lady on her phone with an available spot but no chair. I looked around some more ... Read Full Story >>

Pennies For A Loving Cause

I am collecting pennies at work for a co-worker. He doesn't know I'm doing this. 

Kindness Cookies From A Conference

I'm attending a conference at a hotel this week. The hotel provides a continental breakfast as well as an afternoon snack selection.  When our session ended today I noticed there were still some cookies left. Knowing that the way home would take me through an area where there are homeless people I was inspired to pack up some of the extra cookies in napkins and take them with me to give away.     Granted, cookies are not the healthiest food but they are an indulgence I imagine few homeless people get to enjoy. And these cookies were really good!   I gave two to a homeless gentlemen, left two neatly wrapped on top of a container in another public place where I often see homeless people, and have two more with me to give away on the way back in tomorrow.   It's an idea you might consider if you happen to be staying at a ... Read Full Story >>

Thank You For Your Thank You

This morning I received a beautiful hand-made card in the post. The envelope was marked "Thank you!" and I didn't open it immediately whilst I tried to work out who it had come from. Who could be saying thanks to me?   Happily I had a few choices. When I opened it I discovered it was from a lady I had sent a free gift to on eBay.    She was completely overwhelmed by this random act of kindness from a stranger and has since joined the HelpOthers family.   She had made the card especially for me with pink butterflies on the front. It was lovely! The thing that surprised me the most was that she actually used the words "I love you" to me. How wonderful to be such a positive spirit as to love so freely . Most of us are very cautious when using those three words.     I hope she enjoys ... Read Full Story >>

Groceries Bought And Left Behind

The other day I was in the grocery store. I was hurrying to get a few things I needed in between soccer games. In the line behind me was the sweetest lady who was quietly searching through her wallet to find the money she needed to purchase the seven or eight items she had in her cart. I imagined she probably lived on a limited income and might benefit, even just a little, from having her groceries paid for her.   I turned to the cashier and said, "Go ahead. Run her items through. I'd like to pay for her groceries."    My children, aged twelve, seven and three, quietly watched what was going on.   "I can't let you do that," the lady said.    "But I just did," I replied. "Have a great day!" And then, smiling, I walked with my children out the doors.   As I walked away, I heard her ask the cashier, "Did he just ... Read Full Story >>

Handing Out 'Smiles' to Friends and Beyond

At first I thought that I would never get these "smile cards" but finally one day they arrived.  And I was very happy. Although there were only 10 cards, I tried to give them to people that were most deserving.  These people are my close friends. And after a week, one friend told me that she keeps her card in her wallet and every time she opens it, she smiles. It made me feel inspired and I realized that I just want to give that little joy to others -- not only my close friends, but for all of you.

A Stranger In My Car

While out running errands today I passed a woman walking along a busy highway. I continued on my way, but I couldn't help thinking about that woman.  

Spare Change and Burritos

The one thing I enjoy is helping the homeless, the ones begging for change or food on the street near a stop sign.  I know a lot of people complain and say that these people probably make more money than the person they are asking money from. 

I don't think that way about it.  I think that these people are in need of something and I enjoy driving up to them and giving them whatever is left in my ashtray, which is where I keep all my spare change. 

One day I just finished working and thought I would drive through a fast food restaurant and pick up a few burritos.  I pulled up to a stop light afterwards and saw a guy with a sign being blown off by every single person in the row of cars.  I rolled my window down,  told him to come near and emptied my ashtray in his hand.  There was probably only $3 in it but he seemed very thankful. 

I then handed him my lunch and drink.  He really appreciated it.  I then drove home and realized I was hungry so I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Laundry-Buddies

I helped a older lady load the tumble dryer earlier and put the quarters in the machine for her. The quarter slots are hard to manage sometimes even for me. 

The Cab Driver On A Rainy Day

I woke up the other day to a phone call from a taxi driver who had my friend's cell phone.  My friend had apparently left it in the cab the night before. The driver had called others but I was the first one who had answered.    It was a rainy morning which for cab drivers in this big city is a very busy time. He asked me where he could drop the cell phone off. I told him the street where I lived and quickly jumped out of bed and got dressed so I could meet him on the corner. I guessed that if he had taken on a passenger of two he could have made some good money from driving all that distance.   When he arrived I thanked him and blessed him for having such a kind and beautiful soul. I was so happy for my friend who had only recently moved ... Read Full Story >>

A New Job And A New Friend

I started training for my new job this week. There are only four of us training and we spent four hours together yesterday talking about customer service. "Wear your smile!" they say. Well, I think I have that part "aced!"  When the first day of training came to an end a colleague and I went to grab our things from our lockers. He was having trouble getting his combination lock to work and I heard him muttering to himself.  "Come on! Open! I'm going to miss my bus!"    I asked if I could give him a lift but he said he lived quite far away. He would take the bus - if he could get to the bus stop in time! It was late, the mall was closing and soon the busses would stop running.   I told him not to worry, I would take him to the bus stop. And if the last ... Read Full Story >>