Stories of Kindness from Around the World

My Smile Deck Adventure

I have received a few Smile Decks and decided I would use one.    I read through the cards and love all the different ideas. I try to make sure I do at least one random act of kindness each week and thought the Smile Deck could help me with that!   There are many ways you can use the cards. Each suite has a different focus and they get progressively more challenging the higher you go. Since I have been committed to practicing kindness I figured I would just shuffle the deck and every few days pull one out and do whatever it says.    So that is what I did!    Yesterday I had the eight of hearts, which asks you to acknowledge an act of kindness by someone else and thank them. I have been the recipient of an act of kindness in the past week so this was a perfect card!    I put together a ... Read Full Story >>

Stepping In to Make Up a $3 Shortfall

Yesterday I was in the electronics department purchasing something small for my son. As I went to check out, a young boy of about 9 was in front of me with a zip lock baggie of money and a video game. The clerk gave him the price and helped him to count out the money. After the bills and the quarters, it became clear that he would not have quite enough money.  The child kept counting with stress mounting on his face.  The clerk told him that he was $3 short.  The boy's face was so sad.  While I had been watching this, I had been thinking, "if he doesn't have enough, I 'll pay the difference for him." I was glad that I was prepared because the boy quickly began to sweep the money back into the bag. I stepped  up and  told the clerk I would pay and reached over to encourage the ... Read Full Story >>

Pre-school Acts of Kindness

Ethan is six and three quarters and Emily just turned seven, and they are best friends. Their pre-school teacher, Kathleen Albert, has been teaching them about kindness. So, for their graduation project, Ethan and Emily decided to raise money to help feed hungry people by collecting cans. When they were done, they had raised 5,304 dollars for the San Francisco Food Bank - enough money for 15,912 meals!

From An Anonymous Well-Wisher

I just finished writing a Thank You card to a group that helps victims of domestic violence. Inside it I put some gift cards, for supermarkets, coffee shops, etc. 

Pizza and Generosity Delivered

I received my "smile" cards in the mail on Friday and was thinking all week what my first "act" was going to be.  There is a local pizzeria that my family frequents, and it gave me an idea.  My 10-year-old daughter and I went there Saturday afternoon. I asked the person working if someone had called in an order for pick up or delivery.  He checked and he said that there was a delivery going out in a few minutes for a party at a home.  The order was for two pizza's and a few slices on the side.  I asked him if I can pay the bill and he said,  "WHY?"  I explained it to him, paid the bill and asked him when they delivered the food to please just give them this card. He said he would comply and he thanked us for being kind. On the way home, my daughter ... Read Full Story >>

Clearing My Closet For The Street Children

I like buying clothes from "flea markets." And my sister's best friend loved buying clothes for me as well! All of which meant I had plenty of clothes! Then one day I looked at my closet and it was like a light suddenly shone upon me. VOILA! Images of homeless kids streamed into my mind. I thought of them begging on the streets to have something to give to their "guardians" back at home. My heart swelled and led me to a surprising act!    I took several plastic bags and filled them with clothes, leaving my closet half full.    I looked for my niece. (She is a teenager. Imagine her disgust! But she had no choice. She was grounded and couldn't leave the house without me.) I took her to the streets for some fun and adventure!    It was noon and the sun was scorching our skin, but who cared about that? (My niece ... Read Full Story >>

The Connection of Being Human

I have been reading a lot kindness stories. Last week, in an unusual way, a stranger showered me with generosity. At an Asian grocery store on a busy evening, I was shopping for the items I needed for my volunteer work of cooking breakfast on Saturday at a homeless shelter in San Jose. I went to the store to buy tofu and fruit. As I was waiting in  line to finish the purchase, the lady next to me approached me to find out how I was going to consume the big box of tofu I was buying. Enthusiastically, I replied that I was buying food for the homeless breakfast feed. While I was getting ready to pay the bill, to my amazement, she offered to pay for everything. Despite multiple requests for her name, she responded that she felt good because I was doing the kind of community work her parents once received when ... Read Full Story >>

Two Rugs For The Price Of One

I recently sold a rug and when the lady came to collect it we helped her load it into the car.  She had two small children with her and had just moved house. From what she said I understood it was quite a job getting the place into shape! She was delighted with the rug as it would cover "a multitude of sins."    I felt I would like to have given her the rug but, as I was selling it for my daughter, I could not. But I did have another rug of my own which I was able to let her have free of charge!   She was very appreciative and went off with both rugs as happy as she could be.    That week we had had several problems of our. By giving our rug to this lady it lifted our spirits and probably made us feel even better than she did. I had ... Read Full Story >>

A Gallon Of Gas And A Gift Card

My husband and I have six children and things have been tight financially.  He is a brick-mason and as a barter deal he agreed to build a sign base for a man who owns a sign company in return for a basset hound puppy.    The job was at the front of a cemetery. As we were working beside a busy road we noticed a well dressed man walking towards us. I looked beyond him and saw his car was parked on the roadside. When he reached us he asked if we had any gas he could have.    My husband reached into the back of the truck and handed him a gas can with a gallon or two of gas and a funnel and told him it should be enough to get him to the nearest gas station.    The man thanked him and walked back to his car. About twenty minutes passed and we finished ... Read Full Story >>

A Two Rupee Joy-Ride

It was a scorchingly hot day, the kind you wouldn't want to have to wait outside for long in. I was waiting to collect some files outside a commercial complex.   One thing that has always been stress-free for me is kids! A fun-fair had been set up right in front of the complex, so I left my vehicle and went to see the kids having fun on the rides.   One little boy arrived after me and stood there just staring at those rides. I could see the spark in his eyes and I told him to go for it. He said, "It's two rupees entry fee. I have five rupees from working all day collecting plastic garbage."    He polished his 5 rupee coin and tucked it back in his pocket. He sighed, "I wish I could know how it feels to go on those rides."   Suddenly, I imagined a shining ring above my head ... Read Full Story >>

Teelu The Puppy

Yesterday afternoon the sky was dark and the rain poured down. I went upstairs to catch the cool breeze. It was still moody, as if sky and the clouds were tired and decided to cry some rain. Yet the climate was awesome and the breeze cooled my body from head to toe.   I went onto the balcony and saw a small puppy near the gate of our apartment. He had been drenched by the rain.   I immediately ran downstairs with a towel in my hand. I rushed to the puppy and wrapped him in the towel.   I cleaned the mud from him, got into an auto, and took him to nearby veterinary doctor. He examined him and gave an injection for his health.    I brought him back home and made a place for him to sleep. I gave him a cup of milk and bread to keep his hunger away. He was good enough and ... Read Full Story >>

Sharing My I-Pod

Alms And More At The Gas Station

There was an extraordinary long queue at the gas station yesterday.   I wound the window down  as the air conditioner had been switched off. That's when I saw the old woman begging alms from the occupants of the car in front of me .    Old age had stooped her, she was wrinkled and weather-beaten. She stood silently by the car with her hand extended. She waited for some time and got no response. Then she walked over to my car.    As she approached I got a better view of her. There were wrinkles around her eyes, but it was her eyes that struck me the  most. There seemed to be a lot of hurt and pain in them. There was a strong feeling within me that this woman had struggled a lot in her life, and in that struggle she had been reduced to this state.   There arose in me a deep feeling of ... Read Full Story >>

Bunny Slippers

I Always Get Smiles In Return

Just imagine - everything going wrong in your life and you can't help but be sad. Then some stranger gives you a friendly smile and make you feel special for no reason at all.

Pooja With Neighbours

The day started well and ended well! 

Secret Shopping In Iceland

I work just minutes from one of London’s busiest railway stations. Another minute or two away is a lovely, lively street with stalls selling Mexican, Thai and French food, as well as cafes, sandwich places and an Iceland which is one of the cheaper frozen food stores here in the UK.   As I was walking around one lunch time I spotted a small elderly lady pushing an empty push-chair slowly along the pavement.     I immediately wanted to do something for her but I felt a little strange following her around so I decided to continue my walk. Fate had other plans though. A few minutes later I passed Iceland and saw her putting groceries into her push-chair inside the store.     That’s when I decided I’d try to pay for her shopping.    The cashier looked at me kind of incredulously as I tried to explain that the money I was handing over ... Read Full Story >>

The Opened Cloak

Today I was out in the world. Something I don't do often enough. And I gathered, as I too often do, my happiness about me like a protective cloak.  

The Power of an Anonymous 'Thanks' at Work

About seven years ago while working at the human relations branch of a large organization as an intern, I was very into the FISH philosophy, which included a "Make Their Day" piece.  I loved this philosophy and now realize it was very close to the concept of random acts of kindness.  One particular experiment I tried was to insert a blank notecard into a new employee's mailbox every day that was addressed specifically to that person and mentioned a particular characteristic about them that was positive and noticed and making a difference.  For example, one might say,  "Dear Jane,  You have been super helpful and positive lately.  It is noticed, appreciated and you are making a difference - THANK  YOU!!  ~Your coworker." I caught a few people in the hallway, knowing they were the person i had tagged that day or week, and you could see this "glow."  The positivity slowly spread, as no one besides me knew who was paying attention, nor did they know who had ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness as Easy as Apple Pie

At work we have a luncheon each month to celebrate the birthdays of the people who were born that month. We take turns supplying the lunch and desserts.

It was not my turn to supply anything for August, but I wanted to contribute.  I have a new boss and she is allergic to chocolate. (I know, I wonder how can she live without chocolate in her life?) Anyway, I wanted to make sure that she was able to eat dessert because August was her birthday month and she was new. I stopped at the store and bought an apple pie to add to the dessert menu!

Little things mean a lot! I'd say that act of kindness was as easy as pie...