Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Top 10 Kindness Stories of 2011

For the first time last year, we featured a top ten list of stories published by our members in 2010 and it was very well received, so we decided to do it again and compile this year's top ten kindness stories of 2011 to share the inspiration!  1. Today You, Tomorrow Me During this past year I’ve had three instances of car trouble: a blowout on a freeway, a bunch of blown fuses and an out-of-gas situation. [...] Each time, when these things happened, I was disgusted with the way people didn’t bother to help. I was stuck on the side of the freeway hoping my friend’s roadside service would show, just watching tow trucks cruise past me. The people at the gas stations where I asked for a gas can told me that they couldn’t lend them out "for safety reasons," but that I could buy a really crappy one-gallon can, ... Read Full Story >>

An Unforgettable Morning at the Airport

It was an unusual time with so much happening in my life.  I was on my way to visit my sick mom, who passed away shortly after my visit.  So much was going on and I arrived earlier than usual at the airport.   When I arrived at the airport, I went to get some breakfast.  After getting breakfast, I slipped on some water on the floor and the food spilled all over.  I was embarrassed, but also feeling down because of the situation with my mom.  I felt all eyes in my direction.  I just wanted to disappear. I then went to sit in a different part of the airport.  Sitting there, I began to cry silently.   Shortly after,  a man came toward me and said that he wanted to buy me breakfast.  I said it was not necessary, but he insisted. He came back with a tray of warm food and ... Read Full Story >>

A Festive Welcome for a Grieving Friend

Reena, one of my colleagues, was very sad. She was worrying about her personal problems.  Her husband had recently passed away. She was suffering both emotionally and financially. She looked as if she has forgotten how to smile. She could not focus on her work. She did not even come for the tea break. As she had not eaten properly for several days, she fell unconscious in office. She was admitted in the hospital. After a few days, she recovered and returned to the office. Another colleague, Charmi, had an idea of welcoming Reena back to cheer her up. So we prepared a handmade welcome card. Everybody wrote some beautiful positive quotation and signed it. Somebody drew nice cartoons on it. Someone watercolored it and pasted some glittering particles on it. Someone else made 2 paper butterflies and pasted them on the card. It was cool. When Reena entered into her cabin, ... Read Full Story >>

Being the Oldest and the Youngest

A few years ago, I wanted to do something special for my birthday.   I remembered how my parents gave me a very special treat when I was a child. I never enjoyed big parties so they decided to celebrate by organizing a party for the local orphans. And that was the most beautiful gift I ever had! With those memories in mind, ten days before my birthday I placed an order for a huge ribbon cake with lovely decorations. I also applied for a day’s leave from the office where I worked.   On the morning of my birthday I dashed to the cake shop. There it was! A grand, huge, ribbon cake with loads of beautiful decorations! I felt a kid myself!     I bought some other food stuff to go with the special cake then, smiling broadly, I drove to an orphanage.    There were now two differant buildings in the same compound. An ... Read Full Story >>

... But, Officer!

It was like something out of a movie!

Tea To Warm The Heart

Giving Away a Special Gift

One of my friends always serves the community.  He frequently goes to villages and teaches children.  I wanted to do something nice for my friend and the perfect opportunity came after I donated blood.  After donating, I recieved a small cup as a gift.  I just took that cup and dropped some smile cards in it and went to my friend's room and said "I have a gift for you". He was confused and then I gave the cup and said "One year ago, I remember you told children to come to your room if they needed help with their studies. I really liked that you did that and wanted to show you my appreciation by giving you this cup." He smiled a lot and said "thank you man and he hugged me". I felt so happy and showed him the smile card that said "thank a person helping the society" and said "thank you".  Then, then ... Read Full Story >>

A Christmas Ripple Effect

When I first got married, I told my wife that every year at Christmas, I love to give a gift to someone anonymously.  I feel that's the true meaning of Christmas - it is about giving and not receiving. 

My wife had a friend that she had grown close to over time.  Well just before Christmas one year, she lost her job, She had very little by way of savings and no where to turn for help, and she has two young children.  So I told my wife we need to help but we should do it anonymously. 

We purchased a money order from a store and mailed it to her with no return address. We had a friend address so she wouldn't know the handwritting and it was mailed from a city outside of our area so the postmark was unknown. 

Well 4 years later, also at Christmas time, my wife decided to tell her who the money was from when she did her friend just smiled and said from that Christmas on she has been helping others who are in need every Christmas. 

 It just goes to show you a little help can have a lot of ripples.

My Tazmanian Jar

Last year, we were invited by a friend who's very active in reaching out to people in need. She organized what she called a 'minilympics' for special children of Holy Trinity (school for special children) and she asked all her friends and friends of friends to donate anything like cash, clothes or in kind. Holy Trinity school is being headed by some Catholic nuns who have been very faithful, compassionate and loving to the special children enrolled to the school. It has been my habit to always put my change coins in my tazmanian jar which I keep for two years now. My purpose is to save a little of my money and then donate them when the jar is full. I initially planned of giving the money to Bahay Pag-ibig (home for the aged) last Christmans, but since I don't know how to get there alone, I decided to just ... Read Full Story >>

'Sweet' Appreciation

Last week we had a number of on-site meetings over the course of three-and-a-half days. This created a bit of pressure on the lady who provides the tea and coffee etc., as she got a month's work in a week!

She was incredibly obliging, even coming in early some days to get the conference rooms ready, and really helped out with her grace and kindness, especially as we were under pressure.

To say thanks to her for doing such a good job with a smile every day, I bought her a box of chocolates as a small token of appreciation. She was delighted to receive the chocolates and gave me a big hug!

Needless to say, it made my day to see her so happy over a box of chocolates

Petting Pets For Therapy

Loving Mel Through Her Loss

I volunteer for a Gastroschisis Birth Defect Support Group and I was assigned this wonderful women, Mel. 

Marvin's Prayer Book

A while back I started a prayer book for a very sick friend called Marvin. This morning I was collecting prayers and a man wrote something in Marvin's prayer book. Then he told me his story.    Like Marvin he too has cancer. He has been through chemotherapy three times. His cancer has returned after every chemo period and even a few surgeries. He is now stage 4 and terminal.   The reason I am sharing this is because he said all of this to me with a voice that was so hopeful. He seemed not concerned about his situation at all. Instead, he asked many questions about Marvin and even put his phone number in the prayer book for Marvin to call.   He said, "Tell Marvin, no matter what time of the day or night it is, he can call me. Tell him I want to hear from him in his darkest hour. You ... Read Full Story >>

Saga of a Blue Scarf

Last December, following the Friday night performance of our Winter Solstice Celebration, my wife Chez had gone to the Cathedral parking lot to get some gear before taking a taxi to our hotel. When I finally got to the hotel a couple of hours later, Chez realized she was missing a small bag and was sure she’d left it on the ground outside the car. So I said I’d go back and look for it.   It was quite a dark and wintry night, and when I arrived back at the Cathedral around 1:30am, the whole area was deserted. I found the all-night security guard and asked him to unlock the gate to the parking lot for me. We walked back to Amsterdam Ave. and up past the front of the Cathedral to the north lot entrance. We were about 50 yards into the lot when we heard a woman’s voice calling ... Read Full Story >>

Five Little Squirrels

Ever since I was a kid I've always been involved in animal rescue.  In a neighborhood I lived in several years ago I was known as the Animal Lady. One evening three little neighbor girls ran up to my door, exclaiming over a baby squirrel that was running around on the sidewalk. I quickly followed the kids and they led me to a tiny squirrel, frantically trying to run up to the various nervous neighbors who were screeching and dodging the baby squirrel. I accessed the youngster to be young enough to still have milk teeth and I realized that even if it bit me, it could do no damage. I scooped the little creature up and checked it for injuries. It seemed fine. Now, a baby squirrel has to be pretty desperate for milk to leave its nest and search the neighborhood for help. I figured the mother must have ... Read Full Story >>

Taking A Chance

A client came in this morning while I was working on my homework at a local coffee shop.  Since there were no more open tables, the client asked if they could join me until they finished.

I know most workers may become uncomfortable with these situations, however like a few of my fellow open minded employees, I said yes. As we sat we spoke of their day and plans for the weak, with me keeping the conversation in a direction that was general and would keep their privacy intact.

These moments of taking the time to go above and beyond to connect with clients, I believe helps with creating the sense of trust and connection needed to be truly helpful in their recovery. I was not going to loose the opportunity to strengthen the trust by saying no.

Sometimes being kind, means taking chances in order to best be helpful.

When My Daughter Was Born

Exactly 10 years ago I gave birth to a little girl, now turning a big girl.

The day my daughter was born I was blessed with the company of my husband and 3 friends who kept me company from 16.30 in to 23.00 at night.  Due to the shortage of personel, I had to stay with my baby daughter in the corridor of the hospital just outside the bunch of the rooms where women give birth.

I can't forget the endless patience and efforts of my friends and family to keep me in good spirits for all those hours. To me,  this day is a celebration of my daughter's birthday and a celebration of the most beautiful friendship in times of need. They must have done a fantastic job because I don't remember being bored or annoyed while we waited all those hours!

This year I am going to write a thank you letter to each of them for being there for me.

Giving Every Single Day

Last year, Christmas 2010 came and went like every other year. The malls opened their doors wide; the churches rang with praises, the decorations went up; the kids opened presents; good times were shared round a big dinner. And then it was over. Just like every other Christmas. Why is it always like that? A feel good month, a few days of rest, then its forgotten. Why can’t we keep that giving spirit everyday? Could I? Maybe I could keep that spirit of giving alive by doing one thoughtful, giving thing everyday. So I threw up a Facebook post as a challenge to myself to see if I could. The original Facebook post: Post-Christmas Resolution: Every day until next Christmas, I’m going to try to do something helpful for someone or our community; something which might be a little uncomfortable; something which connects me to someone; something which requires me to listen to people I disagree with; or something which ... Read Full Story >>

Angeldog

My wife and I were out on the perimeter road that runs around where we live. Two dog walkers passed by and we heard one of them say, "Never seen that dog around here before." We looked down the hill and saw an old black labrador stumbling painfully up the hill. It reached us, and its legs kinda fell out from under it.   We bent down, talked gently to the mutt and patted it. I checked and there was a collar. There was a phone number on the collar, but no one answered.   The dog was so painfully thin that there seemed nothing between its ribs and its pelvis but spine. It didn't have many teeth left and, well, it just seemed done.   My wife ran home to get some of our dog's food and mush it up in some milk while I tried to entice the dog to come along with me.   By the ... Read Full Story >>

On my walk to work

The other morning, I  stopped to chat with a lovely lady who was sitting by herself on a cold and grey morning on the London Bridge. She is there most of the time.  Sometimes life is just very unfair.

Today, I offered her a little of my time and a coffee on my trip to my warm office. I am not sure if I had any impact on her day, however, I hope I provided her with a little warm human kindness on a cold wet grey London morning.

Enjoy your day one and all and stay strong!