Stories of Kindness from Around the World

My $100 Kindness Mission

I submited a kindness idea to Helpothers.org $100 kindness contest and I won.  Armed with $100 and a mission - WOW! What an amazing week I just had! It started out last weekend - the first goal was to fill 20 “Smile Baggies” to give out. I had so much fun all Saturday picking out the items to buy. I'm a single mom of a teenager, so the opportunity to buy something without worrying about whether it would hurt our monthly budget made me feel like I had won the lottery! I picked out some practical items – a post-it note pad, pen, hand sanitizer wipes, and breath mints. But since it was a “smile baggie”, I also got some fun stuff too – microwave popcorn, hot cocoa, bubble gum, a smile stamp, and a small bottle of bubble bath. I spent Sunday night bagging all the goodies and attached the following letter to each bag: "HI! This ... Read Full Story >>

An Email Sent With Gratitude

At the store today, I asked my mother if we could buy some carrots, and she agreed that we could use something healthy in our diet.  After returning home, I was unloading the items and spotted the carrots.  Feeling a healthy impulse, I took one out, washed it, and took a bite.  I heard the loud crunch and was suddenly drawn into a flashback experience.

When I was about nine years old, a babysitter who watched over me owned horses, but only the "older" kids got to feed them.  I recall that my curiosity and desire to join in this activity prompted me to walk over to the stalls, quickly take a bite off the end of a carrot, and feed it to the horse before she saw.  This flashback motivated me to take the time to email her and tell her what a big impact she had on my life.  About ten minutes later, she called me in tears wondering where the time went and thanked me so much for all the wonderful years I spent with her.  I was really touched by the impact that a thoughtful email could have when it was charged with the intention of gratitude and the desire to connect.

Going Back To Work With A Smile

I woke up this morning wondering what I could do to help someone feel better today.  While I was in the shower it came to me. I should buy Dave lunch!

Dave has had a traumatic time recently with the death of a close friend and also witnessing some traumatic incidents at work. He is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

To help him deal with this, and hopefully help his recovery, he has been moved from his normal place of work. Now he is working with me and another friend.

When Dave arrived at work this morning I asked him if he had any plans for lunch. When he said, "No," I asked him if I could treat him to lunch at the local cafe. Dave looked very surprised but also very pleased and quickly replied, "Yes, that would be great! Thank you."

We had a very pleasant and relaxing lunch which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other better. We talked the whole time and Dave did open up to me about his previous experiences.

We are now both back at the office getting on with our work with smiles on our faces.

Life is good!

A Dollar Can Make a Difference

I was in the lobby of my doctor's office waiting for my appointment. As I was sitting there, an elderly couple came in. The gentleman had trouble breathing and looked as if he was in poor health. As they were checking in at the front desk, I overheard the receptionist say that they were on Medicaid and had an outstanding balance of $1.50. The woman only had 50 cents.

The woman and her husband both looked upset and embarassed. The receptionist said that the balance would need to be paid before they could see the doctor. I was sitting far away from the front desk so I walked up and said that I would pay the remaining  $1.00. They were so thankful and gave me many blesssings.

I always thought $1.00 wasn't enough to help anyone, but I was reminded that day that $1.00 really can make a difference!

Giving Flowers That Give In Return

My husband and I were at a discount grocery store waiting in line.  We were behind a mother and her boy who was probably about seven years old. She had a beautiful purple bouquet in her basket. The flowers brought a smile to my face. I remarked to the lady how lovely her flowers were and she said her son picked them out. He just beamed at the compliment so I asked if he would like to pick some out for me.  He was off like a shot down the aisle to pick out a bouquet for me. When he returned he was so obviously pleased at having done a two-fold good job:  picking out nice flowers and helping an "old lady."  When I thanked him, he said a very loud and clear "You're welcome." So, by then Mama is beaming at her helpful polite son who feels great about doing a good deed. ... Read Full Story >>

A Sparkling Heart From A Simple Gesture

This is just a small story but it really warmed my heart.   I'd gone to collect my daughter from her music lesson when I saw this older woman walking around. She looked completely lost.   I had no idea why she would be in that area. It's in a business park and it was at the weekend when there aren't usually many people around. And why would she be in that parking lot which is totally off the beaten path?I guessed she was probably really lost. It turned out she had missed her turning and needed to find her way to the highway. I tired to explain but she seemed too upset and confused for me to just explain how to get there, so I said, "Don't worry. Follow me and I'll take you there."     She looked at me and you could see the worry leave her face. She said, "Bless you," ... Read Full Story >>

Back to Having A Sense of Purpose

It is a rainy Sunday morning and I was just playing solitaire on my computer when an e-mail popped up from this wonderful site with the weekly newsletter that I subscribe for! 

I had been sitting here feeling very low as I have had four months of health problems and am now facing six months off work on disability. Talk about feeling sorry for myself!

Then I started reading your stories! It has been along time since I was on this site but now I am back and full of a sense of purpose!

A huge thank you to you all for reminding me that life is what we make it, not just for ourselves but for others too!

A Little Gesture Filled With Compassion

One morning, as I left home for church, I had skipped breakfast and was hungry.  After the service ended at 1PM, I became delayed, and by the time I left to return home, it was quite late and I had still not eaten anything. 

I did not have any food with me and remembered that I had a 1000/-sh. note in my pocket that I could use to purchase some food.  As I was making my way home, I saw two kids eating yeast on the street who seemed to long for love. 

My heart cried inside, and I gave them the note that I held for my food.  I realized that they needed it more from living in those circumstances that made it more difficult for them to eat and be comfortable and happy.

 

A Lesson in Compassion From My Brother

It was my birthday so my wife, my brother and my child treated ourselves to dinner in a restaurant that we had never been to before. As we walked back to our car a very thin man approached my brother saying he hadn't eaten in a while and asking for money. Usually my wife and I treat such requests with suspicion but my brother took a different approach and he started talking with the man. The man said he was a singer and had come to Dubai from Pakistan to find work. His visa was expiring in three or four days. He  had no friends here, couldn't land a singing job, and was surviving hand to mouth. He had a return ticket that had to be confirmed. To do this he needed 70 Dirhams. My brother gave him 20 Dirhams for food and asked the man to give him a call from the airline's ticket office the next day. He also ... Read Full Story >>

Using Smile Cards for the First Time

Yesterday I was queuing at a local discount store.

There were two young women in front of me, dressed gypsy style. As I watched, they had to take first one item, then two, off their shopping because they didn't have sufficient money.

I paid for the difference and enjoyed the sense of amazement it generated.

It was my first act of kindness after receiving the Smile Cards.

Long Distance Thanksgiving Kindness

I work with a warm, fun-loving woman named Heather.  This year our boss asked a group of us to join his family on Thanksgiving.  Seated around the table, Heather said something had totally changed her the day before -- like she was walking in a new direction.  I listened and watched as her eyes welled with tears. Heather deals daily with people on the telephone.  She was speaking with a Veteran and asked if he was looking forward to Thanksgiving.  She was surprised when he said no, and asked why. He had been let go from his job more than a month before and was having a tough time making ends meet.  He shared how hard it was to feel powerless to provide a Thanksgiving meal for his wife and children.  She wished him a happy holiday and good luck.  There was nothing to do but say good-bye and hang-up. But I must do ... Read Full Story >>

A Moment of Calm

My husband and I were cleaning windows together yesterday. We  have the double-hung windows that you can pull forward and flip, allowing us to clean the inside and the outside surfaces. My husband was washing one window - and it popped out of its frame!  Well, our house is for sale and the last thing we needed was for something to break. He was so upset and tried with all his might to get it back together, using a few less than pleasant words (I am sorry to say). After twenty minutes he still could not get it fixed. That's when my 23 year old son told his dad to walk away for a minute and he would try to fix it with me. It's amazing how you can see things more clearly and do things more easily when you are calm. He and I fixed the window in three minutes! I called ... Read Full Story >>

Chosing to Spread Smiles

Yesterday some colleagues from work and I volunteered at our local food kitchen. I brought some Smile cards with me and was determined that I would smile and be pleasant and present to everyone I met that day. This time I was serving food so I was not mingling with all of our guests and did not have a chance to give out any of my Smile cards. But I made sure that I laughed and joked with any who wanted to exchange some wise cracks. I smiled and cheerfully greeted them all. It was a lot of fun. Just choosing to be happy and trying to spread good cheer made a difference. Whether it was my fellow volunteers or some of our guests, I tried to make everyone I could smile. We cannot always choose what happens to us. I saw that first hand with some of those eating with us. ... Read Full Story >>

Quietly Making the World Better

My aunt down't use a credit card so she usually carries a lot of cash in her handbag.  One day she ;eft her handbag in a cab that she had taken to go and visit her sister in the hospital.

She thought it was lost for good and was quite upset as her cellphone, money and some important papers were in it.

The next day, while she was visitng her sister again, the cab driver turned up at her apartment to return the bag! The security guard at the door offered to take the bag but the driver refused. He came back again that evening and personally gave the bag to my aunt.

She found everything intact and she offered him some money to thank him. He refused saying it was his duty to return the bag.

It's a lovely reminder of all the honest people out there quietly making the world a better place, not for their own gain but just because they think they should.

My Best Smile Card Response Yet!

This weekend I went grocery shopping. The cashier I chose was talking to the ladies in front of me and then something they were talking about reminded her about sending relief for a co-worker.  She quickly took care of that and called the person to tell them help was on the way. When it was my turn to checkout she chatted with me too. I had prepared a little Smile Card package that I normally use in drive-throughs before coming inside the store just in case I found someone to share it with.  Well I knew she was the one. I could tell she really cared about people. When we were all done with my transaction I said, "This is for you," and handed her the items.  She looked at it and said, "Thank you!  I really needed this today!" Then her eyes filled with tears and she gave me a hug! I told her, "Now, ... Read Full Story >>

Taxi Cab Compassion

After a somewhat late night on the town celebrating with two friends who had just finished grad school I decided it was time to head on home. So I walked towards the bus stop a little worried that I might already have missed the last bus. It was a Sunday and the buses were few and far between. When I arrived there were still a few people waiting, so I thought perhaps there might be one last bus. After waiting a while I called a friend and asked her to look up a schedule online. Sure enough we had all missed the last bus by about ten minutes. One person insisted another bus was to come so we waited. An hour and a half after arriving at the stop I had had enough. Some people were getting distraught  as it seemed the only way home at that point was to call a cab ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Ripples From a $10 Bill

The other day I got wind of a family that was a little tight on money and could use some groceries.  On a total whim, I stopped at a general corner store and picked out some bread, eggs, and milk for them with the single bill I had on me. 

As I paid for the food, a lady joined the line, also holding a carton of eggs.  I told the cashier I wanted to pay for hers also.  The lady smiled: "My daughter came over to visit this morning wanted me to make her some French toast.  I was out of eggs.  Thank you so much!"  T

he cashier said, "This reminds me of that movie PAY IT FORWARD!"

I don't know how many people were fed that day from one ten dollar bill, but I DO know I was filled with happiness being part of it!!  :)

252 Sets Of Smiles Sent Out

I shipped my 252nd set of Smile Cards today. On average there are 10 cards per mailing so that's over 2520 Smile Cards sent.

It makes me smile every time I address an envelope and send out a set of Smile Cards - and smiles. It's heartwarming to read how these cards are intended to be used and gives me many wonderful ideas on doing good with my own cards!

If you've ever considered volunteering to mail out these cards, I'd suggest you give it a try and find out just how much pleasure you will receive in return.

Have a sunshine day! 

A Shoe Seller Walks in the Shoes of Kindness

Today, I felt terrible. My head was full of problems and confusion.  I decided to take a walk even though I didn't know where I would go. The most extraordinary thing happened when I was out on this walk. I saw an old man sitting on a chair. He was a seller of second-hand shoes. I thought he looked at least 70 years old. He seemed so tired and nobody was buying his shoes. I wanted to give him something but I had not brought anything with me. Then, a little girl came toward him. I heard the child say, "Grandfather, may I polish your shoes?" That old man took pity on her, smiled and he gave her a  shoe to polish. The girl said, "I polish the shoe because I need money to buy my brother a new school uniform."  I heard this and tears came to my eyes. The old man answered, "Oh, little girl. Just stop doing this. Come with ... Read Full Story >>

From A Sad Time To A HelpOthers Time

I have just given away my first two 'Smile Cards'. My mum is ill in hospital so i have been sitting at her bedside for the last three days. On the first day when I entered the emergency department I saw a young girl of about twenty-five sitting on her own, looking a bit sad. I looked at her and smiled. She looked at me but her face remained sad, so I reached into my bag and handed her a Smile card. She took it and read the words (You've been tagged.) She looked my way and said, "Thank you." And then came the big bright smile! It gave me goose-bumps! The  next afternoon, when I was leaving the hospital, I spotted another young girl waiting for a bus. She was on her phone and was crying. I walked up to her and, without a word, handed her a Smile card. She looked into my ... Read Full Story >>