Stories of Kindness from Around the World

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 >>

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.