Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Flowers For A Stranger

Today I went to the hospital to visit a friend in the Intensive Care Unit. I stopped by the gift shop and got a small flower arrangement to take to him.   The nurse told me I couldn't bring flowers into the ICU so I left them on the counter feeling really disappointed.   After my visit I retrieved the bouquet and headed for the elevator. I saw a woman leaning up against the wall looking tired and stressed and as though she'd been crying. I asked if she was okay. She sighed, and said, "The people around here sure don't give you any emotional support. They tell you they're too busy saving lives to do that."    We chatted for a minute and I kept wondering why the elevator was taking so long. Then I realized, I was meant to be there with her at that moment.     I handed the flowers to her and ... Read Full Story >>

A Heart Touched By A Musical Soul

I was feeling a little blue because my mother had been laid off from her job and she had lots of bills to pay. It left me wondering what was going to happen to us now. But it reassured me some when my mother told me she was relieved to be leaving since her boss wasn't the nicest person to be around. I got off the college shuttle bus and started walking. That's when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people and the traffic. I walked a little slower so I could find out to where it was coming from. Through the crowd I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a carriage next to her.   She was singing songs about love, keeping on trying, and not underestimating the power within yourself. The way she was singing comforted me a bit. I stood there ... Read Full Story >>

Making Someone's Day - Cheaper Than A Latte!

I was in the check-out line at the store a few hours ago. The gal ahead of me asked the cashier to take two items off because she could tell by the subtotal she wasn't going to be able to afford them.     Off came a single-serve container of strawberry milk and a can of that La Choy Chunk King Chinese food stuff.    Once the cashier was done ringing everything else up, the woman looked at her significant other and said, "We have enough for one but not the other. Should we get the milk or the La Choy?"   He said, "The milk. I'm REALLY thirsty!" So, the cashier added the milk and the gal handed her the payment.    I reached into my purse, grabbed one of my Smile cards and some cash, then I looked at the woman customer and asked, "Can I buy the other thing for you?"     She gave me a ... Read Full Story >>

To Whoever Finds This

Lately it has seemed like every time we got a little ahead something would come along and we would have to start all over.  Today I had to pick my son up early from school and decided to go to a local store. While I was looking around I noticed there was an envelope on the shelf. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it. Even though it was addressed "To Whoever Finds This" I thought I might get in trouble if I took it.  I looked at it for a while then decided to risk it.    I waited until I got back to my car before opening it. I honestly didn't know what to expect. I was surprised to find a note and a Smile card, along with two lottery tickets!    We didn't win the lottery but the pleasure I got from such a small act of kindness will stay ... Read Full Story >>

Gratitude for a "Glimpse of Hope"

I want to stop and tell you all how amazing you are. I have been reading some of your stories and I am in tears now -- good tears though. I have been through so much and things are so hard for me right now. I have just recently freed myself and my children from a really bad marriage.  He is currently in jail for domestic violence and attempted murder,  If that says anything.

Living this life of violence and abuse for so long, I thought when I left him that things would be so much easier, that everything would fall into place. I never expected things to be so hard. I have been looking around for some inspiration and something to distract me from the struggle I have been going through with starting over and I stumbled across this website.

It is nice to see that kind-hearted people are still out there. It is so nice to see that there are people out there who still care about others. I was losing hope in all of humanity, so thank you for showing me people still care. I really needed that little glimpse of hope. Thank you for helping me stop and breathe. 

The Hands We Are Dealt

There is a homeless man who always seems to be perched on his bike somewhere along the main road running through our town. We see him every time we leave the house. He is either bundled up, hunched over his bags and blankets in the winter, or riding up and down the street in the summer when I suspect trying to catch a little breeze in the heat. Whenever I see him I want to bring him a coffee, or a water, or a blanket, or a fan - but I never do.   His name is Bruce. I only know this because my brother-in-law saw him one freezing day on his way to our house. He asked his name and why he was sleeping in the field. Then he gave Bruce the coat off his back and the hat from his head!   Today I had a notion to venture to the mall with ... Read Full Story >>

Be Kind With Your Words

This morning I woke up to a text message that said, “I want you to know that you are a talented, smart and incredible woman whose beauty radiates flawlessly from the inside out.” When I read it I smiled so brightly that I did not need to open the blinds and look out to know it was going to be a beautiful day.    As I chose my work clothes for the day I took extra care. I tried on a few items until I found the ones that made me look as good as I felt.    As I sat in the morning traffic I thought to myself, “Does he know how wonderful he made me feel with his simple and kind words?”   This made me think of the power of words. Can you imagine how something so simple can make such a big impact?   So I challenge you and myself to be kind with our ... Read Full Story >>

Shared Scrubs

I am a nurse who is required to wear a uniform we call "scrubs" at work. 

Back After Fifteen Years, To Help A Friend

I have a friend who is really struggling at the moment. Thankfully, I turned up at the right moment, after we had been apart for fifteen years! 

The Family On The Ferry

I grew up with my mother's husband, unaware that he was not my biological father. When I see a loving family together it touches my heart.

Cooking and Feeding With Love

I love cooking and food, so it's very natural for me to share the foods I make with my friends, family and co-workers.  It's such a profound way to show someone you care about them.  When I cook, I create meals of loving kindness, which I hope will nourish the recipients in body, mind and spirit. 

It is very important to me to use mainly organic and non-GMO ingredients so that when I deliver food to my friends and see them smile and enjoy my cooking, I am reminded that I have shared my love with them. It's nourishing on multiple levels and I am grateful they relish seeing me with my cooking creations.

My Savior Angel

A year ago, I was a mess!    I was going through one of those phases that every teenager goes through in high school. I had made some new friends who were part of the popular gang of our school. Hanging out with them made me overconfident and feel like I could treat other people in whatever way I wanted.   Also, under the influence of these people, I would make up these unbelievably silly lies to cover up for all my mistakes. And, as you probably know, one lie leads to another and then another, and it keeps going on.    Among my new friends there was one girl who was very kind, compassionate and down to earth. She wouldn't judge people on their looks or their crowd. Since we had friends in common and went to the same classes we ended up hanging out a lot.    I remember being extremely surprised at her honesty. And ... Read Full Story >>

My Best Friend Saved My Life

I met my best friend when I was fourteen. We were in ninth grade - goofy, awkward teenage girls.  We stayed close for many years and then back around 2001 we drifted apart. She and I didn’t really talk at all for about six years.    Then, at thirty-three years old, I found out that I had breast cancer. She came back into my life like a force of nature. She cleaned my home, cared for my child, and took care of me. She bathed me, clothed me, gave me my medicine, and found creative ways to make food more edible when my mouth was so devastated by chemo that I could barely swallow. She saved my life and, with no thought of reward or recognition, and she did it all while having a fulltime job as well as two kids and a husband to care for!    To this day she still won’t accept ... Read Full Story >>

A Train Delayed And A Life Saved

I had been spending some time in my home town and was about to return to my workplace. Arriving at the railway station I found my train was two hours late thanks to monsoon weather. I had arrived half an hour early, which meant I now had two and a half hours to wait in the bus station. I was more than a little worried about that! I took my luggage to a bench where only one other lady was sitting.    Even sitting at the opposite end of the bench I couldn't help but notice how sad she looked. Her pretty face seemed very worried. Rather than sit in silence I asked her if she was waiting for the next train. She didn't respond. I asked her again. She replied, "Uhuh. Yes." Then she wiped her eyes.    I moved closer and said, "Hey dear, what is wrong with you? Why are you weeping? ... Read Full Story >>

When Graciousness Meets Gratitude

My friend was in a very long McDonald's drive-thru line and although she had six small children in her car she wasn't in a hurry. So, she let a woman who seemed pressed for time cut in front of her.  

Lost And Found In The Men's Department

I work in a department store and things are busy there right now because of back to school clothes shopping.    The men's clothing racks and displays are constantly being messed up! So, I was busy tidying them up when a young man asked if I'd found a wallet. Unfortunately, I had not. I told him to go to the lost and found desk in case someone had handed it in.     The disappointment in his face made me really wish I had found his wallet.   I started folding and hanging and really digging through the messy clothes. Amazingly, I found his wallet!    I quickly went to lost and found to turn it in, and arrived there the same time he did.   The smile on his face as I held up his wallet made me smile too. I walked with him back to the men's department so he could shop for school clothes. He told me ... Read Full Story >>

A Spirit Guide To Lean On

A few months ago an elderly lady from our meditation group dropped and broke her favorite cane. She was quite upset because it was her favorite cane and she could not afford to buy a new one. Being a wood carver I decided I would make her one.   This lady is from a Native American background and I asked her what her spirit animal was. Some Native Americans believe they are guided on their journey through life by the spirit of an animal. Her spirit animal was a crow.   This week I presented her with the finished cane. The top of the cane has a hand carved, highly detailed, painted and realistic  looking crow head, actual size with glass eyes.  Below that is a black suede braid around the shaft of the cane tied in a fancy knot called a Turk's Head knot, From the knot hung two black feathers with wooden ... Read Full Story >>

Can I Borrow Your Kids?

Years ago, after a rough divorce, we were invited to live with my aunt who lived in a rural area. We packed up our stuff and moved across the country to settle into our new "home".  Once there I was worried about the lack of extended family and thought I would miss the convenience of having relatives nearby. My aunt explained to my children (and myself) that there are many different kinds of family and not all of them have two parents in the home. I didn't think too much of this speech, being rather shell-shocked after the divorce, but her words stuck with me.   It wasn't too long after we settled in that friends and neighbors began to come over to meet us and extend invitations for outings. Many single ladies lived in this particular locale and were very loving and affectionate with my school-aged children.   After they got to know the ... Read Full Story >>

Cat Calls Or Hot Chocolate

I am a sales rep and I travel all over England to visit my customers. I will frequently arrange to meet a client first thing in the morning and I usually have several visits to complete in a day.   One cold February morning I was due to visit a store at 9am. I parked my car, bundled my scarf around me and headed up the street towards his shop front.    The small lane where his store was located was partially blocked by two large, ruddy faced workmen who were tearing up the concrete. I braced myself for the expected cat calls. I was up early, out in the cold, and probably about to be made a spectacle of by two men I didn't even know.   Then I stopped and remembered that my own father. Both he and my grandfather had spent much of their early careers working outside in similar jobs before ... Read Full Story >>

The Gold Wrapped Gift

Some time ago, a man punished his 5 year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.   Money was tight and he became more upset when the child pasted the gold paper so as to decorate a box to put under a Christmas tree.  Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her father next morning and said " This is for you daddy. " The father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction , but his anger flared again when he found the box empty  . He spoke to her in a harsh manner , " Don't you know young lady , when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package ? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said " Oh Daddy , it is not empty . I blew kisses into it until it was full."  The father ... Read Full Story >>