Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Smile Card Transforms a Rude Clerk

I gave my first Smile Card out the other day.  I was in the drugstore and asked the clerk for the cheapest lighter they had.  She tossed the lighter at me, and rang me up, without saying a word, smiling, or even looking at me. 

My first reaction was to think, "How rude," but then I thought maybe she's just having a bad day.  So as I was leaving the counter, I left a Smile Card there and said, "This is for you; I think you are having a bad day.  All I ask is that you pass it on."  When I was exiting the store, I turned back to look at her, and she was looking at me with astonishment, and tears were rolling down her face.  I left before she could say anything, but this is just a reminder to me, to us all!, that just because a person is acting rude and hateful does not mean she is normally that way – she might be having one of the worst days of her life – we just don't know.

I also want to tell everyone that this group has brought back my faith in humankind, and I am so happy to have found it and all the kind and wonderful people on here!

Buying Ice Cream and Making a Difference

The other day, I decided to come home early because it was such a beautiful day. The kids were outside playing in my apartment complex and the ice cream truck was whistling its tune. As I drove slowly to avoid an accident, I noticed a little boy looking at the ice cream truck. He didn’t get anything and he walked away with a disappointed look on his face. I asked the ice cream guy what happened and he said the little boy had no money. I had no cash on me so I drove to my building and went upstairs to look for some cash. When I found it the ice cream guy was still waiting but the little boy was not.   I went in the direction I thought he might have gone and I saw a woman getting out of her vehicle. I asked her if she had a little boy ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Out at a Red Light

On tuesday, I was driving and came to a red light where a gentleman was selling news papers. It was very hot outside so I rolled down my window and asked him if he wanted some Gatorade since I had plenty in the trunk of my vehicle.

I quickly put my hazard lights on, put the car in park, and ran to the trunk for the Gatorade. The light turned green and by this time the car behind me was honking their horns and being impatient!  Regardless, I took my time, and spoke to the man for a few seconds, gave him the gatorade, and then decided to leave!   

Nourishing Hungry Cats

When I went to the pet store yesterday, there was a woman with cats that needed adopting. I have 3 cats already and was not in a position to bring another one home, so instead, I purchased cat food for all the cats she is housing and thanked her for all her hard work on behalf of the animals.

She started to cry and told me that she needed food for them that day. I was so glad that I acted on my feelings and was able to at least feed some of these animals, even if I can't adopt them.

Letting Go of a Favorite Necklace

 This morning, as I got dressed for work, I chose one of my favorite necklaces. I do not wear it often because I want to hold onto it for a long time.

When I got to work, I was walking though a doorway and a woman stopped me and said, “I love your necklace.” I stopped walking to talk to her for a few minutes as she admired it and told me how great it looked on me. I was feeling a bit under the weather and did not feel as though I looked my best. But what she said to me made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I recalled the many mornings that she has spoken to me with a smile and then remembered something that my mom taught me. “You only give to others things that you would want to have.” As this thought ran through my mind, I unfastened the necklace from around my neck and told her she could have it. She would not take it because I had expressed to her how important it was to me. So I took her by the arm and put the necklace in the palm of her hand.

As I walked off I told her that a blessing given is a blessing received.  

A Long Journey Brings a Blessing

I live in a rented house and the owners are very old,  almost 85 years in age.The owners use gas for cooking and the cylinder needs refilling from time to time. 

When the gas had run out, they asked me to refill it at a place that was at least 15 kilometers away from the house.  They were too old to travel by any means of transport.  In spite of the hot summer weather, I took the initiative to fill the gas and they were so happy that they gave me blessings. 

I am satisfied with the service I provided to them..

A Caring Angel At A Caregivers Retreat

  I went to a day-long family caregiver's retreat this past weekend and encountered a lot of wonderful people doing fabulous work caring for their loved ones.     Because of my recent physical problems I had to go in a wheelchair. It is a companion chair ~ the kind you have to push with your feet because the wheels are tiny. It's meant to be an easier chair to lift out of the trunk ... much less cumbersome and definitely lighter than the big wheel wheelchairs. But it makes for exhausting pushing, especially when your leg muscles are already compromised.  Unfortunatley, I have to push myself backwards because I cannot use the muscles needed to pull myself forward!   After the retreat was over, I was pushing myself backwards across the large campus. It was hot and I was exhausted from the effort. A lady of about 50 years of age came up to ... Read Full Story >>

My First Hug

  I consider myself one of the luckiest people I know.    I lost my biological mother when I was nine years old and when she was alive she was not much of a mother to me.    I met my step-mom for the first time when I moved to America to be reunited with my father. From the beginning she made sure to let me know that I was safe and welcome.    I remember when I first saw her at the airport. It was different but not uncomfortable. Over the past several years there is nothing I needed that she did not provide. I am the young woman I am today because she made sure to raise me properly.    Yesterday I went to see her for Mother’s Day. When I gave her my gifts she held my face in both of her hands and kissed me straight on the mouth - even though I had the ... Read Full Story >>

Unexpected Help at the Grocery Store

  My son is away at college, in his first year.    He called me one night to tell me, "Mom, I met the nicest lady ever!"     He had taken the bus from his dormitory to the grocery store. While he was shopping the light rain outside turned into a major storm; heavy rain, strong winds and very cold! As soon as he stepped outside the wind destroyed his umbrella and he was immediately drenched. Not knowing how he'd get his groceries onto the bus and back to the dormitory in such awful weather he stood in the shelter of the store entrance.    Just then a lady stopped her car, rolled down the window, and asked if he needed a ride. Remembering what I had taught him about taking rides from strangers he said, "No, thanks." But she insisted so he looked her over carefully and decided she looked like a safe "mom-type." He ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness: A Way of Living (Video)

Two volunteer interns at HelpOthers, who are only high-school students, recently directed and starred in their own video about how to make kindness a part of our daily lives.  They undertook "step-it-up" acts of kindness as part of their weekly "homework" throughout the summer internship :) and have produced this video to share their inspiration with others!

Check out their inspiring video and leave a comment here to encourage them, and other young people like them, to create more ripples of kindness in the world! :)

Helping a Little Girl on the Street

Her facial deformities make her look scary. She is around eight or nine years old and she begs for living.   The first time I saw her I got a fright and almost squealed. A few times after than I handed over some coins. Later, I felt annoyed with her and her parents for scaring others to get money. Eventually I thought of giving some more money or talking to her but I was worried she might become a nuisance, so I didn't. I told myself she probably wouldn't understand my language, but that was just an excuse and I felt bad about it.   Today, when I saw her sitting on the footpath counting coins, I thought she would come to my car and beg but she didn’t. I started walking home from my car but then thought maybe I could do some good here if I could overcome my inhibitions, discomfort ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Step With A Big Lesson

The shop was set a little back from it's neighbours. The little old lady who was leaving it leaned on a walking stick and used her other hand to support herself as she shuffled slowly along the plate-glass window and then along the wall of the neighbouring shop. All of this to cross a step most of us would have covered in two strides.   My fifteen year old daughter Amy and I had been swimming in a nearby leisure centre and just happened to be passing. I stepped forward offering a few friendly words and a supporting hand.   She had a motability scooter (a little electric wheelchair) on the pavement - but first she had to get down that step!   I supported her as she came to the edge. She swung one foot forward, then hesitated. She shifted her weight, leaning on my arm and said, "I better put my bad leg down first."   Eventually, ... Read Full Story >>

Showing Compassion by Just Listening

There is this girl in my math class that has a lot of problems in her life. The economy has torn her family apart and her parents are having trouble coming up with money. People at school make fun of her. I decided that it would be the right thing to go up to her and talk to her and make her feel like someone does care. She told me all about her problems and she said she felt much better after telling me. I felt really good that I reassured her that there are still people in this beautiful world that are kind.

Remembering Kindness 41 Years Later

I was twenty-four years old and three months pregnant when my husband died.   I was a widow and an expectant mother in the same day. We had bought a new home and I had filled our two bedroom apartment with nursery items in anticipation of moving in. Now the house would be taken away. I knew I would have to go back to my parents' home, at least until I delivered the baby. And the shock of my husband's sudden death had made losing the baby a very real possibility. I moved back into my old bedroom.  My twin bed, a crib and a dresser was all that could fit in the 8 x 10 foot bedroom. The rest of our furniture had to go into storage. I was able to pay for three months worth of storage and then I would have to sell all the new furniture we had bought for ... Read Full Story >>

"Human Beings Are Not Islands"

In my country we have a form of transportation called “border border” where you ride on the back of a bicycle. It was one of the most common forms of transportation when I was a kid.    One afternoon I was ill and had to leave school early. As I was walking home I saw a man on a bicycle with a baby as the passenger. He had been asked to take her to a specific destination but was having trouble because the baby could not hold on for itself. He was pushing the bike and walking besides it with one hand holding onto the baby.    Then he saw me and asked me where I was going. I told him and it turned out we were going in the same direction. He asked if I would ride on the back of the bike and hold the baby for him. I gladly obliged and ... Read Full Story >>

Paying it forward every week!

My latest week of paying it forward -  Monday I paid for the coffee of the person behind me on my way to work. Tuesday I was driving to work and accidently cut somebody off. When we came to the stop light I rolled down my window and apologized to the driver. Wednesday I was driving out of the parking lot and a young woman, who was obviously not paying attention, backed into my car. It turns out she had no insurance and was really worried about the big ticket and the damages to my car. I assessed the damage to car and decided I could fix it myself without getting the police involved. She was a college student and, since I just graduated from college only four months ago, I do understand that money is very hard to come by. I told her to be more careful next time and left. Thursday I invited my new neighbor ... Read Full Story >>

Everyone's Using Smile Cards

My sister and her family were visiting from Mexico last week.  Naturally, I took the chance to introduce them to as many beautiful things as I could - including Smile Cards!  When we were about to cross the toll both at San Francisco's Bay Bridge I thought it might be the best time to explain the pay-it-forward idea. So I pulled up to the toll booth, paid our $6 fare, and said, "This is another $6 for the car behind us. Can you give 'em this Smile Card to pay forward?"  Anyone who has done this knows that it gives you a joyous high.   All of a sudden the car driver who is visible in your rear view mirror becomes a part of you in some unexplicable way. But today, the experience went even further!  The toll booth attendant said, "You know, everybody seems to using these cards. We get them a lot ... Read Full Story >>

The Gift Of A Friendly Chat

The Power Of A Good Example

This is the story of someone else's good example. A retired gentleman who lives a few doors away from me can occasionally be seen with a bag and a "picker-upper." (You know. One of those long-handled gadgets for picking up litter.)  He goes out by himself and plucks plastic bottles from the long grass, retrieves plastic bags from the bushes and disposes of pieces of wind-borne paper. He does it all cheerfully and never complains. I mentioned the children in the nearby school who are probably responsible for some of that litter and he was nothing but charitable. "There will come a time when they know better," he said. "It's just not yet. So, I'll do it for them." Well ... this morning I was out walking my neighbour's dog when I saw another neighbour, a much younger man, out doing the same thing! He had his two young sons with him and they were ... Read Full Story >>

Paying Forward With a Pocket of Coins

Today, during the busy lunch rush, an elderly gentleman came up to the counter with his items. As I rang them up he pulled out his wallet and I could hear what sounded like a ton of change jingling around. When I told him the total he nodded and started to count out the bills needed. I noticed that his hands shook forcefully when he did this. When I saw him having trouble trying to get his change out I told him not to worry, that I could cover it. Even though he clearly had the change I used my own to spare him the difficulty. He was so moved by this that when I handed him the receipt he had managed to get a handful of coins and asked me to take what I had given him.  When I said that I was just going to give it to the ... Read Full Story >>