Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Small Act of Kindness Makes a Wonderful Impact

I wanted to share something that put a smile on my face this morning. My work place is very diverse, as matter of fact, my company ranks in the top 10 among the most diverse companies in America. With this being the case, a lot of times we run into situations where there is a language barrier.   Last week while I was at work, one of my coworkers twisted her wrist while lifting something that might have been too heavy for her.This particular coworker of mine speaks little English and my Spanish needs “mucho” work. But we have never had a problem communicating.   When I ran into her shortly after her injury, I took a look and I knew that a simple first aid routine was in order. With me being an athlete, I knew that a simple procedure called 'RICE' (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), was what she needed until she ... Read Full Story >>

A Surprise 50th Birthday Gesture

I went in early to the school where I work and I decorated the caretaker's little office with balloons, banners and streamers, with a choc orange, for his 50th birthday.

He gets to school early each morning, so hope this will make him smile when he arrives this morning.

A Little Encouragement And A Lot Of Smiles

I was visiting a resort, and when we walked into the restaurant. I noticed a violin player on the side.  He had been playing very well for about an hour - with no applause. As he was about to finish, I started humming along, smiling, and encouraging my cousins to do the same. As he ended, he smiled and I got my entire family to clap, which set off a chain across the restaurant.

He smiled, and we told him how well he had been doing... which made him smile even more. He said that I'd made his day - which made mine :) Hooray for encouragement!

With this, whenever I see somebody performing at a restaurant, I smile and encourage them, just the way I would like to be. Kindness is just one of those things that fills you up on pure joy!

The Ripple Effect From One Little Trip To The Store

I wrote a story yesterday about, my 11-year-old daughter, her friend, and I stopping to help a man yesterday.  Well, after stopping and talking with him for a minute, the girls were buzzing with ideas of how to help this man, and possibly other needy people as well.  We came home and they shared their ideas with my 6-year-old son.   The three of them started getting out craft supplies and making things to raise money to help this man and his family.  Well, I talked with a friend and she shared a wonderful idea with the kids.  She told us about an angel we can make and  sell for $1.00 to  our family, friends, and church family.  The kids were so excited that they couldn't wait.  In the meantime they made some clothespin butterflies. Today, they came into the adult's Sunday school and told them their idea.  They were very pleased ... Read Full Story >>

Two Brothers Do The Same Act Of Kindness

My brother and I were shopping at a department store one day.  My mother had taken him home separately and had returned to get me.  As we were walking towards the car, I saw a homeless man sitting outside  the department store we were shopping at.

I told my mom to hold on a minute. I walked towards the man, and handed him a twenty dollar bill. I usually wouldn't do this, but I knew that I had to this time. When I handed it to him, a tear ran down his eyes, as he said "God bless you".

When I returned to the car my mom told me she was so proud. I asked her why and said that I felt that when people need help, and we have the urge to help, we need to just help them. She then told me that my brother, who she had taken home earlier, did the exact same thing.

The Slow-Down Culture

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule. Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results. Said in another words: 1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil. 2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants. 3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people. 4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA. The first time I was ... Read Full Story >>

Bringing Spring Early

I had a lovely surprise yesterday. It was snowing like crazy outside when my doorbell rang. There standing in my doorway was a delivery man with a beautiful bouquet of lilies for me.

And this is why I received them...

I was telling a close friend of mine how much I was wishing for Spring and how I loved spring flowers. It happens to be my mom's birthday on the first day of spring.. she passed away in 2007, but I always got her daffodils or some type of pretty spring flowers for her birthday.

My friend knew I needed some cheer and I am delighted. They are so pretty and smell wonderful. Flowers - what a perfect way to make someone Smile! :)

Thank You my Friend :0) I'm Smiling each day looking at them.

Jamie's Story

For years I was a reporter, with five of those years covering an affluent community.  Month after month of little girl beauty contests, conservative politics and people calling for the extermination of prairie dogs wore on my soul. Then I wrote "Becoming Jamie" the story of a seven year old girl, born a boy, but aware of her own transgender status. I veiled the family, for their safety.  The photographer created an image that illustrated the girl's journey thus far to herself. We ran the story. I went back to the grind of the daily story, the details of government and sustainable business, and the thousand other stories swirling through a community. Then I got an email that I had won a prize with the press association. I had enetered only one story. I knew it was "Becoming Jamie." I called the family, to tell them the story was up for an ... Read Full Story >>

Pay-It-Forward Global Heart Cart

Today I was working the Latte Cart at my church.

One of my friends came up to us and handed us $5.00 saying that last week someone annonymous had payed for her coffee and that she would like to pay it foreward to other people this week. She payed for two people's drinks. One of those people did the same thing. How cool :)

Later a woman came up asking if we took credit cards, which we did not. The barista at the cash register had payed it foreward to her. I then told him that the next customer is on me. It was a revolving circle of kindness and love.

I guess that's why we call it the Global Heart Cart. 

Smile Cards At The Vending Machine

One day I had got a power bar from the vending machines at school before I realised that I couldn't eat it due to food allergies. So I attached a Smile Card and stuck it back in the machine :).

Another day someone's dollar got stuck in the machine, so I gave them a dollar and a Smile Card, which brought them to tears.

A diferent day, when I had made my selection I recieved an extra bag of chips. It was the coolest thing and a true example showing that what you put out into the world comes back to you.

A Kindness Lesson For The Girls On The Way To The Store

There is a man who always stands out on different corners of our city, holding a sign that reads "Will work for food for my family."  Normally I don't have much extra to help him too much.  Many times my mom is with me and she makes me pull over and she will hand him some money.   Tonight, I was on my way to the store to get milk when I saw the man.  My daughter and her friend in the car.  We all felt so awful that this man was standing out in the cold, wet weather.  Many people make comments that he should be able to work.  I often wondered why he would stand out there rather than be in the warmth of a building to work.   Well, he may not have an address, and you need an address in order to apply for a job.  Either way, I don't ... Read Full Story >>

Helping With Cupcakes

A man that I work with has cancer and has gone through so many tests. Unfortunately, he had to pay quite a bit of money that wasn't covered by his insurance.

Some of us decided to make cupcakes and bring them in to our 'breakroom' last Saturday. We thought 50 cents a cupcake would be a nice way to get a collection for our friend who has the bills piling up. Sure enough we collected of $800 for him. He was thrilled and so grateful for our support and kindness.

If you know of someone in need, whether it be to pay for gasoline, groceries, heat or medical bills, maybe you can arrange a cupcake sale in your lunchroom or breakroom.

~Smiles are Contagious...let's start an epidemic :)

A Little Bit of Gardening Goes A Long Way

During the holidays I went to stay with one of my sister's friends and I had so much energy that I didn't know what to do with it. Being a student flat I noticed that her backyard had grown high with weeds. So while they both were watching a movie I decided to get hard onto work. I pulled weed after weed out. It was actually a lot of fun.  When they called me in for dinner I didn't want to go because I was having too much fun. It's a cool feeling seeing a backyard so full of weeds everywhere disappear one by one.  I then raked the backyard and wow a couple of hours later the yard looked completely changed. At that stage I didn't know this, but the next day the other two flatmates saw all that I had done and apparently I motivated/inspired them to get out in there back yard ... Read Full Story >>

Teaching My Daughter To Give And Receive With Grace

In the UK in recent  years there is a fashion of giving children party bags at birthday parties to thank them for coming. I always found it a waste of money for those who have to buy them and a nightmare for those who receive them because it usually is just a small bag filled with sweets and tiny toys that end up in the vacum cleaner. 

Four years ago I decided to use the money that would have been spent on party bags on something more useful. I donated teddy bears to children in need.  And this year, I donated money to a charity that provides clean water for people in Malawi.

It makes me smile to think that 15 people are going to have clean water for 1 year, that wouldn't otherwise have had access.  I also sent a package with clothes to a child I support in Mozambique so my daughter can also learn that we should receive with grace and give with grace at the same time.

Helping A Friend Dance With The Stars

I wrote an earlier story about  a friend who was put on hospice care. I would visit her on Tuesday nights and we would talk and have some "girl time". I would do her hair on those visits. I couldn't heal her but for a night she felt beautiful! We would talk and laugh.  And after her hair was done on one of my last visits I put lipstick on her lips and some color on her cheeks. When I held up the mirror for her  to see how she looked she smiled at me and told me she was going to go dancing. I told her to be home before her family got up in the morning! How nice to be at the end of your life and have a sweet dream of getting out of your wheel chair to dance!   When I went for my visit this week the ... Read Full Story >>

Trying To Help A Stranger Make A Wish Come True

Ive found another site to help also... and found a couple that wants to get married before their child goes in for surgery and well really need help with a few things such as the cash for the Justice of the Peace and a wedding dress!

I decided to take a look on ebay and found a dress that is not quite wedding but looked real nice and emailed her the link! I told her to send me her address and if I am able to win the dress (since it is an auction) I would send it to her! She couldnt believe it and thanked me over and over!

Here's hoping I win the dress for her and that she finds another Angel to help with the JP as it is $75.00 for that! At least it will be a start to her wish coming true!

Smile Cards And Music On The High Street

It has been raining a lot in my little town, and that can make you feel as if you are carrying a cloud on your head. Today I went to town to get a few bits and pieces and I was surprised by a trio of man playing beautifully trumpets. I have heard all sorst of instruments being played in the high street  but never these ones, and the music was happy and contrasting with the rain. As I walked by, I noticed that they didn't have much money in their box. Something inside of me wanted to give them something more than my change. So I decided to go to the card shop. I bought a thank you card and wrote a few lines saying "thank you for being a ray of sunshine in such a grey morning", in the envelope I also included some change and of course some Smiel ... Read Full Story >>

The Excitement of 'Pay It Forward'

I have been sending out smile cards with little gifts around my work place for about six months. Since I place the gifts in our interoffice mailbox, I never know who gets them or see their reactions. As I place gifts in the mail box I imagine people's reactions and it makes me happy to know that maybe I am making someone's day a little brighter.

Today I got to witness the reaction. Apparently, one of the little gifts I left in the mailbox this morning made it's way to a co-worker of mine. Today's gifts was a little cloth kleenex holder than you can leave in your purse and a yarn flower bag tag, so my co-worker, a guy, passed it along to another female co-worker. I heard them talking as they figured out what it was and why they had received it , and the whole concept of "paying forward." I later heard her talking and brainstorming on what she would like to do. It was exciting to hear others get excited about the "pay it forward" concept and hear their ideas.

A Small Gesture Causes A Big Smile For A Waitress

Last night my husband and I stopped by a restaurant for dinner after paying our respects to a dear friend at a nearby funeral home.  My husband went into the restroom to wash his hands and I waited at the table to place our order. 

When the waitress came to take the order, I thought I saw something drop to the floor as she pulled out her writing tablet.  She immediately asked for our order, but I waited, first saying, "I think you may have dropped something."  She and I both looked down under the table to find that she had dropped $20 from her apron pocket.  She was so grateful for me letting her know, saying that she would have had to pay the money back, at her own expense, if she came up short at the end of the evening.

She was so relieved and had such a sweet smile.  I was glad that it was at our table that it happened so she could be saved the expense.

A Warm Drink For A Homeless Man

There is an older, homeless man that stops into the local coffee shop with his cart that his pushes around, to rest for a little bit. I have seen him pull out a bag of change sometimes and have barely enough to cover a small cup of coffee. This morning the homeless man came into the coffee shop. When it was my turn in line I told the casher to put the man’s small coffee on my tab.