Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Overwhelmed By My First Random Act Of Kindness

I just received my first random act of kindness and it has left me feeling really overwhelmed. Just last night my husband and I sat down to discuss our finances. Since his divorce 5 years ago and my job loss 18 months ago things have been going steadily down hill. We are living on overdraft, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul and we came to the sad conclusion that we will have to sell his prized 52 Chev pick-up truck which has been in the family for 55 years! He restored it from scratch 10 years ago. Feeling depressed today, I decided to go to the local mall for a coffee, as I was leaving I noticed what looked like a $20 bill folded up beside the pay phone. Wrapped up inside was a smile card! I could not believe this was happening to me at this point in time and simply had to come home and ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness All Year Around

Sweeping Up Some Kindness

I drove to a supermarket that is about 10 miles from my home. I was nervous about going too far from my house after the blizzard we had had because I hadn't cleaned the snow off the top of my car. The law is you MUST clean the snow or else you'll get a ticket for endangering other drivers with the falling snow and/or ice from you vehicle. When I pulled into the parking lot, low and behold a broom was laying on top of 3 ft of snow! Wowww, I thought.There's that Karma !! I went in the store and hobbled to the isle I was looking for as fast as I could so not to miss the opportunity to clean my van. As I was cleaning my van, a guy was gathering up shopping carts to put back in the front of the store. He was watching me the entire time. Not ... Read Full Story >>

Human Spirit Rises To Meet Japan's Tsunami

[Amidst the tragedy of the quake, tsunami and the subsequent nuclear plant explosions, the narrative of hope can often get lost. Below is an excerpt  of some truly heart warming moments of oneness that unfolded in the aftermath of the tragic Tsunami.] You can see my full note here.   Below are the some of the heart warming anecdotes that I have witnessed and heard from others ... Someone overseas called me on my cell. She said she wanted to connect to anyone who is in Japan, and so she called the country code and their own mobile number, which happened to be the same as mine. I didn't fully understand everything she said, because it was English, but I knew enough to know that she really wanted to support the Japanese people.  It really gave me so much hope.  Last night when I was walking home (since all traffic had stopped), I saw an old lady ... Read Full Story >>

Teaching My Nephew About Smile Cards

I took my nephew Braden out tobogganing and afterwards he asked me to help him shovel the walk, so I agreed and followed him out. I had showed the kids my "Smile Cards" and explained that the idea was to do an anonymous good deed and then leave behind a "Smile Card.” So when Braden and I reached the end of his house I suggested we keep going so he agreed and I explained it to him like this: "Imagine if someone had a bad day at work and there coming home feeling upset, but then they pull into the freshly shovelled drive and walk way. How do you think that would make them feel? And not only that, you get to get some good exercise as an immediate reward." We shovelled for the two driveways north of his house and then left Smile Cards behind and headed back to his house. He said, "Uncle B that was ... Read Full Story >>

Christmas Gratitude Cards

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a simple thing I have been doing over this Christmas period. We have a great drug store (chemist) called Boots here in the UK and I found some great small Christmas cards on a deal...  each card worked out at something like 9p a card! I found some Christmassy (red, gold and green) glitter pens and wrote variations of the following: Hello there! This card is for you to thank you for all the work you do throughout the year. People nowadays live their lives at a crazy pace, and that sometimes means that your work gets taken for granted. So on behalf of everyone whose lives you touch every day: THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS. So far I think I have handed out about 35 cards to Nurses, Street sweepers, train guards, train drivers, bus drivers and anyone who seems like a good target.  I hope when they open them they give them a ... Read Full Story >>

Chosing To Be Helpful

I work at a reception desk, and I find myself reciting directions to people all day without really giving it much thought.  There is an elevator near my desk and I have been known to be annoyed when people stare blankly at me, waiting for my help instead of reading the instructions for its use. 

Today, instead of being annoyed, I purposely put a smile on my face and walked to the elevator each time someone seemed confused.  By the third time I did it, I found that I was enjoying myself, like I did when I first started at my job.

Instead of being caught up in how many times I have had to do a particular task, I am looking for opportunities to make someone's day a little brighter.  It feels good to be nice to people, especially when you hear someone call you "that nice girl in the lobby".

A Spontaneous Christmas Gift - From Everyone

It was our turn to host the Christmas family dinner. It had been a few years since it had taken place at our house. Three deaths had occurred in the intervening years, family elders. And there was the considerable loss that went with that. One of them, the mother of my son-in-law, had died almost exactly a year earlier. She and her husband had hosted many family gatherings at their large home. The gatherings there would never be the same again without her. And so my wife and I both felt both the need and the strong wish to provide a warm setting for a healing gathering. Some years earlier a secret Santa strategy had been settled upon to help reduce the financial burden of gift exchange. The names of all would be written on separate slips and then drawn by family members. You would give a gift to the person ... Read Full Story >>

Reuniting a Dog with his Owner

  I was walking in the park with my two dogs when I saw a notice on a tree saying someone had lost their dog. There was an adorable photo of the pooch as well. I thought what a shame it was and then I walked on.   My dogs and I finished our walk and left the park. Stopping at a red traffic light I glanced over at a nearby lamp post. The was another sign there, this one announcing that a dog had been found!    There was no photo but there was a phone number. 'It couldn't be the same dog," I thought to myself. "Could it?'   I grabbed my cell phone, dialled the number and left a message. Then I turned and walked back over to the "Dog Lost" sign. I have to admit I was getting pretty excited at the possiblity of helping someone.   When I got back to the first sign ... Read Full Story >>

A Moment That Changed My Life

My wife and I were on our weekly Wal-Mart trip when I noticed a young man standing at the traffic light holding a handwritten cardboard sign that read, "Hungry, Please Help." My heart started to hurt -- I have seen people in need before holding hand-made signs all over town asking for a job, food, money, etc. I guess I just never paid any attention before, shame on me. We got through the checkout lane, and I walked over to the McDonalds's inside the store. My wife said to me, "You want McDonald's, I thought we were going to eat at Wendy's?" since we usually stop at Wendy's or Arby's for a quick bite to eat during our weekly trips. I replied, "It's not for me." I bought some food, and a bottle of cold water (it was really hot and humid out), and I noticed that this young man looked very ... Read Full Story >>

Community Compassion

Last Sunday, I walked into the house in the afternoon to find my brother scurrying around in a hurry.  As soon I had taken my coat off, he placed a bunch of papers in my hands and asked if I could start folding them up (so they could fit into an envelope) as quickly as possible.  He said it needed to get done quickly before it turned dark.  I assumed it was probably something for his business and just got right to it, although I was a little surprised that something could be so urgent on a Sunday.  It wasn’t until I was halfway through that I actually looked at what I was folding – and when I did – it put the biggest smile on my face!  It was a lovely letter to all the residents of my street and the nearby streets in my neighbourhood. My brother was asking everyone to ... Read Full Story >>

From A Father's Kind Heart

During my childhood my parents owned a clothing shop in a rural Pensylvania town.

I often helped out in the store and one day I was touched by the generosity and simple kindness of my father. He was always cheerful and funny, someone every one loved. This day I got an insight into just why he was so loved.

During a busy festive season a certain woman came every week to pay a little towards her Christmas dress which was on layaway in the shop. On the last week before Christmas she came in to ask if he could put it up for sale. Her circumstances had changed and she couldn't afford the beautiful dress any more.

My dad quietly went upstairs, brought the dress down, gave it to the surprised woman, and wished her a Merry Christmas.

I remember crying just watching her face light up and my dad just waved it off like it was all in a day's work!

He did this more than I will ever know, I am sure. He has always been my inspiration - and still is.

Kindness and Love Starts at Home

The greatest gift I can recall ever giving my children is the lesson of selfless love.  This is when the only reward from giving to others is that the love for them in your heart grows deeper and stronger. During the holidays we bake and bake and bake.  We then box up that love and secretly place it on the doorsteps of those we know and those we do not. We attach a card that simply states, "I thought of you today, and it made me smile."

The sheer joy the children received from giving this "secret" gift of selfless love lingers with them to this day.  My oldest is 24 and remembers those days. She recently returned from serving in Iraq and has decided to start her own Random Act of Kindness this year in Minnesota.  My second, a young man of 19, wants to know when I plan on doing it this year so he can make the two-hour car ride to join us.  The two children left at home are 18 and 3 and can't wait till we get baking.

In my experience, love does not have a price tag, and charity and love for one another start at home.

A Little Bit of Extra Warmth On A Rainy Night

One very cold and rainy night my husband and I were in fast food restaurant. Just as we were about to begin our meal, a man walked in. He was completely soaked from the rain and went straight into the men's room.  I watched him go by, then I said to my husband, "That man has had nothing to eat in a long time."   When the guy came out of the men's room he just found a seat, not going anywhere near the food counter. I guessed he didn't have any money for food and simply wanted to dry off for a while.   I just couldn't eat my food knowing that someone else was sitting hungry only a few tables away. So, I handed a $20.00 bill fom my food shopping money to my husband. "Please get him dinner," I said. "We can do with less this week."   My husband approached the man and ... Read Full Story >>

A Few Little Gifts Add Up To A Lot Of Love

I want to tell you about a true story that happened this week on Veteran's Day. I wrote earlier about how our school had a "family day of service," in which about 100 middle school students volunteered all around our community.  One of the sites was a veteran's hospital. Due to swine flu outbreaks, the Veteran's Association said that kids under 16 would not be allowed to visit, so a few adults in the group met with veterans individually to ask them what gift they would like to receive for Veteran's Day. One veteran said he'd like a disposable camera -- his daughter was traveling that evening from far away to visit him, bringing his 1-year-old granddaughter whom he had never met. He said he never imagined he would get to meet her since he had gone through so many surgeries.  The volunteers decided that this gift couldn't wait until Veteran's Day, ... Read Full Story >>

Inspired By A Christmas Kindness Idea

I read the email with the idea of the week where the woman wanted her kids to get involved with knowing what it is like to help others.

My 13 year old and I volunteer, and I have been a secret santa, but I LOVE the idea of buying some things and finding a homeless person and giving them to them..especially at this time of year!

Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring me to do more!

True Compassion in the Midst of Fear

Instead of being a day I would like to forget as soon as possible, somehow, today became a day where I experienced the most incredible gesture of compassion that I’m pretty sure I’m going to want to remember for a long time... I live in London and I was on my way to visit my cousins in Wales. I was driving on the motorway at around 70 mph when somehow (probably black ice on the road), I lost control of my car. I was involved in a scary collision with a delivery lorry and then a smaller car. The smaller car had a family in it with three young children.   Through some incredible good luck no one was hurt but the experience was very frightening. There was so much smoke that my first thought was to just get out of my car as fast as I could. I could hear the children from the car behind me screaming and ... Read Full Story >>

Spreading Smiles One Day at a Time

I have decided to test myself every day in a different way. Today's test: practice the art of listening. It is something so simple, yet so important to those that need a kind heart and a good listener. Sometimes, we all need someone to listen with no opinions or recriminations. We all just want to be heard. So I really made sure to LISTEN to the people that spoke to me throughout the  day, no matter how hectic things were. As I was sitting in the break room today, I started a conversation with a co-worker I don't speak to very much. She is such a happy, positve, and energetic lady. She seemed very troubled, so I sat down with my lunch and just listened. She told me of a husband that struggles with pain every day, of a daughter that's been faced with more trials and physical pain than any child ... Read Full Story >>

A Bus Stop Lesson in Appreciation

Two weeks ago, while waiting at the bus station, an older man with long dreadlocks (who seemed like he might be homeless) approached me. "Are you a student?" he asked. I was caught a little off guard. I hesitantly answered his questions, all the while waiting for him to ask me for money. But it never happened! The man was very intelligent and up-to-date on current affairs. In fact it was quite a pleasure talking to him once I got over my initial reservations.  As we talked I found out he went to the library every day and used the internet to read up on the news and current happenings. He said one of his biggest regrets was not being able to afford an education.   My bus arrived. I said goodbye and wished him good luck. Then a thought struck me. I turned around and said, "Google Open Source Learning. Many universites are offering ... Read Full Story >>

A Pay-it-Forward Gesture Makes My Year

I need my car for work, so when my engine "blew up" recently it was a real disaster for me. My insurance would not cover the repair. It looked like not only would I not have a car, but I might lose my job as well!