Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Every Little Bit Counts

The other day my son and I went to the grocery store. We watched the people in front of us go through the line and watched as the cashier struggled. Her arm was in a brace and it bothered me that she clearly had to be at work. If not she would have been at home recuperating. The person right in front of me had heavy items; the poor cashier banged her injured arm while trying to ring up his groceries and he didn't even think to help her.

I could see by the time it was our turn the poor woman was just about tocry. She rang up the few items I had. I told her that if you just give me some bags, I will bag my own items. She gave me this most thankful look. I didn't think anything of it. I felt bad and didn't want her to strain herself anymore than she had to. As I walked away she thanked me with the biggest smile. I felt so good as we left because I knew I had made her day with the simplest gesture.

Note to self: every little bit counts.

A Tribute To My Precious Grandma Who Taught Me Kindness

Zippy is the word that was so at the tip of my tongue when trying to sum up my precious Grandma Arneson.  She is the matriach in our family.  I'm paying tribute to her today because she has instilled in me a lot of the core values I have towards kindness. 

Grandma Arneson is the most beautiful grandma imaginable.  She has a dimple, ocean blue eyes, and she paints her town red with lipstick kisses (on her grandchildren) :)  You haven't been to Grandma's house until you get the seal of love which is a bright red lipstick kiss on your cheek.

My Grandma is extrememly energetic, practically bursting with love and joy at the seams -- it is a visible shower of love.  That is the only way I can describe being around her.  The minute you walk in her door, she plants a kiss on you and is antsy to feed you all her goodies she has been stockpiling for your visit.

I'm going to visit her today and I can't wait to get a kiss from the one who taught me, Emmy, be kind. 

I love you Grandma Arneson!!

I hope all of you reflect a little about  your Grandma's after reading this post :)

The Best Gifts Of All

Last weekend I was out walking with my dog. She loves poking around investigating everything and loves seeing other folks we meet. So it becomes more a social walk rather than an exercise. This day we ran into our neighbor who was preparing to sell her home. She was busy getting ready for her 'open house' that afternoon.  After talking a little bit we went our separate ways. I could tell it was a stressful day for her. After I got home I quickly cut some of the fabulous lavender in my garden.  Gosh, it smelled good and the purple flowers were so pretty.  I wrapped some tissue paper around the bunch and brought it to my neighbor for her open house. I loved her expression when she saw me there with the bouquet of lavender! It completely made my day. It  made her stop and take a big deep breath and maybe reduced her stress for a second. The next ... Read Full Story >>

Paying Forward Flowers

I posted a story earlier about a guy who handed out some flowers to us at the bus depot. 

Some days after that, a person at my church left a gift card for a local grocery store for me.  I don't know who left it for me. 

I ended up buying a bunch of flowers with my groceries.  I decided I would give them out.  I had troube getting the guts giving them away at the bus depot.  So, I ended up giving away three or four as I walked home from the bus depot. 

I saw an old lady looking in a window of a local restaurant and asked her if she wanted a flower.  She asked me if I was selling them.  I ask again if she wanted a flower, gave her one and walked away. 

I hope she remembers it a little. 

Finding Unexpected Family

I met a homeless lady about two years ago on the streets. I was on my “journey to the unknown” and had a lot on my mind that day, so I decided to take a long walk to freedom. I met her by the road side, sitting there, an old lady asking for money from those who passed by. I didn’t have anything that day except the Word from God and words of encouragement. I set next to her, and people gazed at me as if I did something extremely wrong or unlawful. At first she enjoyed my company, and whenever I said something, she would nod and wink in agreement. But later on, I felt that I began to irritate her by interrupting her from begging. Her irritation did not offend me because I understood where she was coming from. I left her and she said goodbye with a ... Read Full Story >>

An Inspiring Personal Journey in Helping Others

I stumbled across Helpothers.org when I was in a Computer Science class in my last year at high school (2008) while looking for an inspirational quote. Well I found more than just an inspirational quote but many inspiring people from all around the world too! I had no clue then how I would begin a journey of being inspired every day by all of you. I didn’t know I would meet and become friends with people from the USA, UK, India, Netherlands, Australia etc..But in life the things you love the most are surprises which take you on a whirlwind adventure. After successfully grasping the quote I had been looking for, I noticed a green box on the site saying about “if you had US$100 to helpothers what would you do to help people?”  There was only a few minutes until class finished. So I hurriedly submitted my idea of how I would ... Read Full Story >>

One Smile

By Cindy McKinley One breezy summer morning, Katie was walking through the park with her mother. “Hurry up sweetheart,” her mother urged, “Or we’ll be late for the bus.”  “Oh Mommy.” Said the little girl, “I sure hope our van is fixed for Grandpa’s birthday party.”  Just then they noticed a sad young man sitting alone on a bench. Katie stopped for a moment and smiled brightly at him.  The young man had lost his job and was feeling very discouraged. Dozens of people had walked by that morning, but no one seemed to notice him.  Then this little girl appeared and touched his heart with the sweetest smile he’d ever seen. He suddenly felt inspired to start looking for a new job. As he hurried down the busy street, the man saw a woman struggling to change a tire. “Let me help you with that,” he offered without hesitation.  The ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Into The Flow

Usually when I drive home I take the fastest and shortest way home...don't we all! Usually the drive takes me about 45 minutes driving from work. Well a week or so ago, I started to drive a different way home because I got bored of the usual way home. This new way contained lots of traffic, with cars moving at a snail’s pace. In the distance (about 300 meters away), I noticed a huge line of cars trying ever so hard to drive and get into the traffic flow on the main road (which I was on). I couldn't believe it – it was so easy to do – to stop and let a few cars into the traffic in front...but no one seemed to do that.  Well, that was probably because it was the 5pm rush home from work. When I finally got up to the line of traffic, I stopped ... Read Full Story >>

Finding the Prince Inside a Child

I work with children for some reason, I am often able to calm the most difficult behaviors. Children seem to sense intuitively that I believe in them. This level of understanding comes from a spiritual place and no matter what kind of day I might be having, I always rise to the immediate occasion and work to allow children to maintain their own dignity. One of the children I work with is a young boy  of 11 who  comes from a very tumultuous home. When at home, he is able to go and do as he pleases without asking anyone’s permission. He is on the street, riding his bicycle, meeting up with friends, at all hours. At school he has a difficult time listening to adult instruction and like at home, likes to go wherever he wants, when he wants. The adults become very upset with him and when they express their angst, he ... Read Full Story >>

Laundry Soap Smiles

I live in a university town, and everyone knows how poor students usually are. 

The other day I went to the laundromat to do my laundry, and it occurred to me that instead of having a cup of coffee, I could buy three more tubs of washing powder and share them with those who might need them. 

I bought the tubs, and placed them near the entrance, with a SMILE card on each one of them. I hope this little gesture made some people smile! :)

A 5K Run Becomes An Exercise In Compassion

Sometimes the people who are noticed the least can do the most to lift us up... On Thanksgiving morning I got up early to run in the local 5K run. I figured it might give me the motivation to get back into running.  It was nearly freezing that morning so everyone getting ready to run was hopping around trying to stay warm.   On the side of the road, sitting in the grass, was a man wrapped in a blanket.  It was pretty obvious he was homeless and as usual, most people pretended not to see him.  I went over and talked with him for a few minutes before the race.  In the midst of the idle chit-chat, he told me that he was a veteran and had hoped he might be able to earn a few dollars that morning to be able to go buy a Thanksgiving dinner.  He had a glimmer of ... Read Full Story >>

Secret Santa That Makes A Difference

This year will be our company's 4th anual "Secret Santa with a Difference". Here's how it works - each of us picks out a name from a hat to receive our gift.  The twist is that we have to envision the recipient as a child and buy them a gift accordingly :)/

 The toys we exchange give us all a good laugh and when we are done we collect up all the toys and donate them to a local toy drive. It makes us all feel so good knowing that there will be gifts under the tree for those children in our community less fortunate than ourselves.

A Soldier, His Wife, And Their Service

I had just entered the elevator on the third floor of the medical center after a simple check up.  As I entered I noticed an old gentleman in a wheelchair with a little old lady behind him.  I noticed his baseball cap with WWII on the front.  Most likely, a veteran of World War Two, I assumed.   Just making small talk, I said, "so, you were in the big one."  His answer stunned me.  He said, "Yes, I went overseas a strapping young newlywed and I came back in this thing,"  slapping each side of the wheelchair with his hands.  I stared at him, looked at his wife, and the magnitude of what he said to me hit me like a ton of bricks.  He married this woman, went to serve his country, was wounded and paralyzed and then returned to his wife and she stayed with him for all these years.  Overcome with ... Read Full Story >>

Seeing Real Beauty

Last weekend my family and I were in the store and as I was riding on my scooter an ederly man approached my daughter and with teary eyes said, "she is perfect."  I guess he could sense my daughter's confusion, so he pointed to me and said, "Your mom is perfect just as she is." 

I thanked him with all of my heart and as we parted I could not help but cry a little with joy.  He had made me feel good deep in my spirit.  Living with deformities is not an easy task daily, but on this day he saw me not as a disabled person, but as a child of God living this life the best I can.

I'm still deeply grateful for our encounter :)

A Little Extra Kindness At Thanksgiving

As I was getting ready to do my grocery shopping for Thanksgiving I decided to pick up an extra item or two to donate to a food bank! Our library has big barrels for collecting food--maybe yours does too (or maybe somewhere else in your town you can drop off canned goods?).  I've just filled up some bags with canned/nonperishable food items to drop off at the library and I just thought I would share this idea....it's easy to get caught up in what we "have to do" for ourselves (ie grocery shopping, drop off library books, etc.)....why not use that same time to do something for someone else too! It's a win-win situation :-) 

I also just realized that some gift cards that were given to me can be the perfect "smile card" gift to tag someone with today! Hee hee...can't wait.

Learning From A Friend

The other day I was sitting alone in my science class thinking about all my problems of the day. One of my friends then walked in, and showed me a txt message on their phone. "Plz pray 4 the missionarys that rsk thr lves 4 our Gd evryday.". It was one of those chain messages that go around, and I just said "Yep, sure" thinking that I'd pray when I was in private when I got home. 

Next thing you know, I see his head bowed, eyes closed, and he is sitting there praying for half the lesson. I reckon I have a thing or two to learn from him! He cared about the little txt chain message enough to show me and ask me to pray too. He cared enough about these people over the other side of the world risking their lives to sit praying in front of the whole class!

My First Thanksgiving

At 47 years old who would have thought I would have been wearing a "Baby's First Thanksgiving" bib? Although I didn't actually wear a bib, last year was my first "real" Thanksgiving. I came from a broken home and when I married 25 years ago, I sought to make my family everything I didn't have growing up. I'm afraid I had that "white picket fence" mentality. Every holiday needed to be picture perfect. The food, the dishes, the house decorations, even down to the cozy sweater I had purchased especially for the occasion. I was so wrapped up in how things were suppose to be, losing sight of what meant most. So many of my years wasted on being decieved. That was then this is now. Being alone now, separated from my husband, and our son serving in the military, I was blessed to have the opportunity to truly serve. A small group of friends and ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Help in the Rain

This weekend a couple of my friends and I took part in a walk supporting a diabetes charity.  It was quite cold and raining the entire time. As the walk got underway I noticed an elderly woman walking with a sweater over her head trying to find cover from the rain.  She also had with her 2 little children, her grandbabies I'm sure.  It was all she had.  I on the other hand was well prepared.  I had a rainproof coat from my husband and a poncho my friend had given me as well as an umbrella.  My heart moved me to give my umbrella to this Grandmother.  I told my friend what I planned to do and quickly made my way through the crowd to where she was.  I gently patted her on the back.  She turned around unsure of what I wanted.  I offered her my umbrella with a smile.  "Here!" ... Read Full Story >>

Gratitude for the Gift of Yoga

Recently, a yoga teacher offered a full day of free yoga classes (four classes in all).  I had the pleasure of attending one of the classes, which was wonderful.

The class was free, and yet, I felt a strong urge to say thank you.  So I sent a thank you card with twenty $1 bills and and a smile card.  It was sent anonymously with no return address and no signature in the card.  Though I'll never know for sure if it was received, I can say that it felt wonderful to do, and I have a warm feeling inside knowing that the circle of giving and gratitude lives on.

Supporting A Daughter's Kindness Mission

I wanted to share my daughter's kindness idea which came to her through her school's reading program. We had ordered some books through the school reading program and in the pack she received, there were a couple that didn't interest her.  She asked if we could send them to kids in Africa that didn't have books?  This question sparked a conversation about how we might do that and the momentum took hold.  She is going to talk to the teacher in charge of the student council to see what she can come up with.  She is excited by the idea of collecting books and sending them to developing countries for the purposes of setting up libaries in the villages or schools there so that they might benefit from the joy of reading as my daughter does.  She has been talking for a while about starting her own charity...and books happen to be a ... Read Full Story >>