Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Cookies and Smiles at the Office

Wednesday was my day of scheduled kindness this week and I decided to do something at my work.

We are going through a lot of change in the office. Many people are nervous and anxious over all of the changes. I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring a little kindness where it could spread some smiles to some people who need that.

A Lesson in Gratefulness From A Child on the Street

A story from a little while ago... On the way to dinner last week, we spotted a kid on the sidewalk doing his homework by the dim light of the street lamp across the road. He probably had no electricity at home, and this was the only way he could study after dark. Moreover, he was rather emaciated -- he probably eats less in a day than I eat in a meal. It was so touching to see his dedication that I felt a knot in my throat. I immediately thought of the Aurolab engineer who was the first person in his village to attend college -- who studied every night until midnight on the road under the one streetlight and only point of electricity in his village -- whose family took on high-interest loans to fund his education -- and whose monthly salary was less than his loan payments. When we rounded ... Read Full Story >>

Valentine's Day Kindess Inspiration

When I was purchasing Valentine's Day gifts earlier this year, I got to thinking about how I can make the most of the holiday opportunity.  I came up with an idea to gift my department co-workers as well as a few strangers.

My department is pretty small: there's only 4 people including me and with the monotonous daily tasks we do all day everyday we could all use a little pick-me-up in there. So, I decided to get each of my co-workers a little box of Guylain Chocolates (yummy Belgian chocolate) and an old-fashioned Valentine Card (you know, the kind you gave out in elementary school).

With the left over Valentine Cards I'm picked some random women out of the phone book and mailed them the cards along with Smile Cards (got the idea from the Phonebook Tagging article here on HelpOthers). 

What woman doesn't want an extra Valentine on Valentine's day?

A Lost Wallet Returned, Across 3 Continents

It was May in Bangkok, and even though I had arrived from India after 6 months of volunteer work, the heat and humidity was exhausting.  After a long day of temple visiting, I fell asleep on the sky train for about 5 minutes, only to wake up seconds before the door was about to slam shut at my stop.  As I rush out onto the platform, I realize that my wallet is gone! First thought: I'd been pickpocketed while I slept on the train. Second thought: Bravo to the pickpocket! My wallet had been in my front pocket and I was sitting down with my backpack on my lap.  Given the heat and stickiness, even I had trouble getting my wallet out of my pocket, but the alleged thief managed to do so despite the awkwardness and obstacles, without waking me up.  She certainly deserved something for that, and I had no ill ... Read Full Story >>

Three Feet of Snow and a Very Kind Neighbor

It's no secret that we've had some pretty crazy weather in the Maryland area this past winter. We had 15 inches of snow during one month followed by 28 more inches. Whenever it snowed like that, I packed my things up and stayed at my mom's house, both to help her with shoveling and for the ease of getting my car out of the driveway to get to work rather than attempting it from my mountain side driveway. I did about 4 hours of shovelling one day and only managed to dig us out of the house and a small walking path to and around 3 sides of my car.  To make better headway the next day, I set the alarm and got out there preparing to do the necessary 3 or 4 shovelling rounds before being able to relax and watch the Super Bowl. My whole body was in pain from the ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Others Heals Ourselves

College was the best of times and the worst of times for me. I met the best friends of my life, had unimaginable experiences, and traveled to new places, but I also folded under more stress than I ever had to deal with before. As a result of bad grades, bad study skills, and pure burnout, I ended up being asked to take a semester off at the end of the first semester of my senior year. All the friends I had made were going to graduate and all I knew was that I wouldn't be graduating with them. So I ended up going back home to live with my father and stepmother. To their credit, they were very cool about me coming back. I felt their support from the moment I walked in the door and they refused to let me feel like a failure. No matter how much they ... Read Full Story >>

Helping An Old Man To Find Joy Again

This year had been very difficult financially for my family due to budget cuts, layoffs, and unforeseen circumstances and with the holiday season around the corner, I didn’t know how I was going to buy Christmas presents for my children until my very own Santa showed up. One day while window shopping with my 4 month old son, a stranger walked up to me and began a conversation asking the usual baby questions like how old is he, will Santa be coming to see him, was he my only child, etc. After a few minutes of talking, he introduced himself as Ralph, and asked for help with shopping for for his grandkids since he didn't know what to buy. I agreed since I was only window shopping and didn’t have anywhere to be at the time, and because I had children close to the same age that he was looking for, I  figured I’d ... Read Full Story >>

A Moment to Interact En Route to the Ocean

It's a small berautiful moment., but worth the share...

I was walking down to the ocean, taking in the moments, when I noticed an obviously physically challenged man who began to walk down the stairs behind me.  I noticed him and thought how often society marginilses folks like him.

Immediatley the thought inspired a South African greeting "howzit" I said, with a smile.  He seemed not to notice.  I walked with him down the stairs and asked him, "Have you had a swim yet this season?"

"No," he responded, surprising me slightly with his vocal challenge, "I'm still recovering from a car accident."  Turns out the poor man had been hit by a car just less than two months ago and he was a walking miracle, shocking not just me with his recovery, but many doctors too!

How often we miss out on the moments to interact with those that seem different.  His strength to walk those stairs and step by step keep up his recovery will be an ongoing inspiration... AWESOME!!!

Paying It Forward On The Ski Slopes

My husband and I were excited to take a day off from work to ski Winter Park and then continue on to Grand Lake to snowshoe for the rest of our anniversary weekend this past winter.  We arrived at Winter Park with discount coupon in hand, but to my surprise, the clerk pushed it back my way stating that it was not valid on this particular day.  The discount was to buy two tickets for $50 each.  Being very disappointed I asked how much a regular ticket would cost, and she said $94!  Needless to say, I was very unhappy. As I waited for my husband to return, the universe was lining me up for some wonderful kindness.  A mother and her daughter approached me asking if we needed tickets.  They were on a band trip and found out that the daughter could not ski due to an injury.  As a ... Read Full Story >>

How I Like To Use My Smile Cards...

Thank you so much!! I had sent a request for 30 smile cards for all my Christmas acts.  In the request I said that if it's not possible for them to send me these cards I totally understand because after all I do live a long way down in New Zealand.  I didn't hear anything more and just happily accepted that I won't be receiving any smile cards. Last night I arrived home to find a package with about 278 smile cards inside!! This arrived a few weeks after I placed the request...I couldn't believe it!! That was something I sooo wasn't expecting! I was so overwhelmed, thinking is this a mistake? Here is what I use my smile cards for.... - Whenever I send out cards or presents in New Zealand or around the world I always include a smile card inside. I have sent out quite a few cards out to quite a number ... Read Full Story >>

Dreaming of Plastic-Free Days in the Ocean

Here is a little something that I like to do, and I thought I'd share it as my act of today...

I love swimming in the ocean, and when I do, if I see plastic in the water, I remove it.  Then, when I'm done swimming, I pick up as many plastic bottles that I can carry and dump them in the bin.

While this is not random to human beings, it is kind to the precious ocean that I love so much.  I look forward to plastic-free days somewhere in the future...

May this inspire you to be kind to our beloved oceans and to Mother Nature so those plastic-free days that I dream about will become a reality!

Everything Matters

I have just finished reading the book "The shack" by William Paul Young.  It's a lovely book to read at Christmas time.  There is a beautiful paragraph in the book that stuck with me and I would like to share it with you.

"Mack, if anything matters, everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will ever be the same again." (p. 235)

A Circle of Kindness Started by a 10 Year Old Girl

I was shopping at my local supermarket., as I normaly have for years.  One particular day, I had done about 2 weeks worth of shopping and was headed toward the register to pay for my groceries.  After the cashier had scanned my items and I had bagged them up, she stated that the total was $150.   I reached into my back right pocket to grab the money to pay and noticed that there was no money in there.  I started to get nervous.  I knew my pocket book was in the car and I was sure I had put the money in my back right pocket. I look at cashier with wet eyes and a confused look not knowing what to do.  There were people behind me on the line. She told me to speak with the courtesy counter.  I laughed and said, "Really? It's cash, no one would hand that in!"   I said I would be right back and ran ... Read Full Story >>

Dancing, Waving and Blowing a Kiss

Across the street from my office is a small café. It’s far from fancy but it has been used to film many music videos over the years – when they’re looking for a nostalgic “diner” feel; that’s the place they go!  While the food is good…my favorite treat is a waitress named, Tina.  She’s something else! Remember the TV show, “Mel’s Diner”…well she’s Vera, Flo and Alice all wrapped into one!  She’s sassy, silly and doesn't hold back!  You can’t help but like her!   She’s completely color blind when it comes to people. She either loves you or can’t stand you…but mostly…she loves! During her smoke breaks I see her out dancing on the front porch, waving and speaking to those who drive by.  She makes everyone feel special. She and I wave to one another from my second story office window.  Sometimes she dances for me to make me laugh!  I dance back…if you can call what I ... Read Full Story >>

Four Rupees and a Million Thanks

We were in Kerala for a week and the kids were enjoying their holidays. During the trip, we needed to buy some Ayurvedic medicines.  We  went to a nearby Ayurvedic shop and there wasn't much rush there.  We gave our prescription to the pharmacist. At the same time I noticed an elderly woman, maybe around seventy years old, and she was there to buy some medicine too.The pharmacist gave her the medicine she had requested and asked for twenty rupees payment. I watched the wrinkled, shivering and pale hands of that old woman as she slowly opened her hands and counted the money she had kept safely. In a low voice, she murmured, "I have only sixteen rupees with me. Can I give you the balance tomorrow?" The pharmacist told her to take permission from the Manager.  From her appearance I could make out she badly needed that medicine. A few people, including ... Read Full Story >>

Turning Concern into Kindness

I was at my local grocery store, and I had just put my items on the conveyor belt to be scanned, I decided to start up a conversation with the cashier. 

Most of the time, I won't initate a conversation because I don't want the person to be distracted and overcharge me.  Well, I let that fear go and decided I would show interest. 

The cashier was a woman and being a woman myself it was easy to find something to talk about.  She was wearing the most beautiful ring.  I commented on it,  and she told me all about it, who gave it to her.  I found out she was from Nevada.  She had a lot to say about Las Vegas.  I told her, I don't know if I would want to live in a place called Sin City.  

So far,  I haven't checked the reciept yet, because the point was to set my concerns aside for once and give a dollop of kindness to somebody. :)

The Journey of a Spanish Smile Card

At 2:00am this past Friday morning, I received a text message from a friend, asking if I had any Smile Cards in Spanish. I immediately replied back saying I didn’t have any smile cards in Spanish. However, I also asked her why she wanted them specifically in Spanish and if smile cards in English would be acceptable. To my surprise, she said she had been one of the few selected by her high-school to go on a service trip to Nicaragua. She was going to spend four weeks in the villages teaching English to children & teens between the ages of five and eighteen. She wanted to share the concept of Smile Cards and kindness. By now, I was totally rocked and excited with hearing the news! :) So I decided to stop texting and call her to get more information about her service trip and ask when she was leaving for ... Read Full Story >>

The World is Full of Good People

A while back I was on a visit to Indore, a busy commercial city in  India. One eevning, while taking a walk, I noticed a young boy of maybe 13/14 yrs old.  He could barely walk on account of his bowed-type legs, he certainly wasn't able to walk quickly. I could see that he was desperately waiting to cross the road.  This particular road was a highway and it was very busy.   I approached him on my way and asked him whether he needed any help. He was grateful and asked me if I could help him cross the road.  It was not a regular crossing point and didn't have a pedestrian signal.  I myself hadn't intended to cross the road but I wanted to help the boy.  I held his and and took him across, signalling at the traffic to help us cross the road.  It was 9 pm and it was dark and dangerous to cross even for the able ... Read Full Story >>

Open Hearts On A Crammed Bus

Riding the bus in India can be a disconcerting experience. First, getting on the bus is itself an imposing proposition. Usually, the bus slows to a coast at your stop and you literally have to jump on, all the while jostling for a grip amongst a crowd of others also trying to board. Once you get on, it doesn't get any easier. Indian buses are crowded, dusty, stuffy, uncomfortable. You seldom find a place to sit; most of the time you are crammed into the aisles, clinging for a grip someplace. Today I was on an especially busy bus. I was standing in the aisle when the seat right next to me opened up. Typically when this happens there is a mad scramble to fill the seat, like when the music suddenly stops in a game of musical chairs. But when one opens up in front of me I like to first ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Others Is The Best Medicine

Yes, helping others is wonderful. Feeling so good helping out. You know what I mean..It brightens your day, lifts your heart and that wonderful from the heart smile! Fabulous! And then some. In March we had to take Dad's license away. Our proud, independent Dad was going to have to ask for help and to depend on others!  Yikes! How does one do that? He had to ask/accept and we did too. Big changes. Now I celebrate the start each day with 'breakfast with Dad".  We share special time. We help lift each other. I leave with a tired body but a fabulous smile. I have to admit there have been days when I had to push myself but was always happy I did.  Now for the unexpected WOW! I've been coping with chronic but stable health issues for 10+ yrs. ..being told to pace myself, don't get stressed, take naps, blah ,blah.  Well, guess what?  My blood work is now the best in 2 yrs! Wow! All I could ... Read Full Story >>