Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Two Quick Judo-Joy-Chops

I was on my way to the post office. I hadn’t found a parking place on my first pass up the street and was now making a left turn into a small parking lot in order to loop back towards the post office, in effect accomplishing a U-turn legally. It’s a tight space and there’s a mail box set up right inside the lot so people can pull in, roll down their window and reach out to stick a letter into the box without getting out of their cars. As I completed my turn into the lot, I saw a four-door Buick pulled up alongside the mailbox in front of me. I would be delayed while the driver ahead reached out to put mail into the mail slot. I happened to be in a high-energy mode and at first was impatient as I watched the hand tentatively trying to get a small ... Read Full Story >>

Morning Kindness Delivery Route

At a recent breakfast to say good-bye to a couple moving from their retirement community in Stone Mountain, GA, my Mom was surprised at the number of people in attendance. What was more surprising was the revelation that Patricia's kindness had endeared herself to so many of the people on her block. My mother and I would often speak of Pat with great admiration for her steadfast service.  For example, she would move my 89-year-old mother's newspaper from the end of the driveway to right outside her door. While my mother is quite able, this little kindness was deeply appreciated, especially when the weather was dicey. What she didn't know until this breakfast gathering was Pat did this same little deed for everyone on the block who had newspapers sitting in their driveway. She was an early riser and she'd time her morning walk to follow the newspaper delivery person and make her rounds, which include a trek down and up ... Read Full Story >>

I Bow to the Paint on my Walls

Wow! I got seriously tagged with an act of anonymous kindness last week. Actually, its more like seriously pummeled with kindness. I spent 26 days at a meditation retreat, mainly to begin the process of self purification through self discovery...I guess you could call it a renovation of the interior walls of my mind. As I walked back into my studio home on Sunday, WOW, a few folks had decided that they would self-purify my home and renovate its interior walls as well. The place has been tiled, every corner has been painted, fridge has been stocked, light switches have been replaced, new furniture has been added, and an infinite amount of love has been poured into every inch of that space. On the table in the middle of my room was a flower pot with one smile card attached to the stem. The coolest thing I found was one ... Read Full Story >>

Smile Cards, Choccies and Exams

At our school, we have exams at the moment, and we only have to come to class for the exams.  The other day after our morning exams, a friend and I walked down to the shops. After we had lunch, I suggested to my friend that we buy something little to give to random people with my smile cards.  She was a bit nervous, but agreed to it anyway.

We went to the supermarket and brought some little chocolates.  So,  armed with our "smile cards" and "choccies," we went and handed them out  to random people.  We even  put some on people's car windscreens.   It was awesome to see the smiling faces of those who recieved them! 

Many  adults assume that all teenagers are annoying and up to no good, but I would like to change their minds. 

Have an awesome day and make someone else's day awesome!

Smile! Love J4J

An Extra Bit of Kindness in the Post

"A parcel arrived for you today," my father told me, as we were driving home from work.  "It's quite big."  "Oh really?"  I wondered out loud.  "A big parcel?  I don't know what it could be."  "Have you ordered anything?  Maybe from Amazon or eBay or something...?" my father continued.  "Nope, I haven't ordered anything, Dad.  I'm only expecting one thing, but that should arrive in an envelope." On Sunday, I will participate in a kindness activity with some friends, and I had asked Bluebell if she could send me some of her homemade smile cards to give out on the day.  Since smile cards would have fit into an envelope, I couldn't imagine what else could be in the package.  I became increasingly curious as we continued to drive home.  As soon as we arrived, I rushed to open the package.  It had a neat, hand-written label on it and ... Read Full Story >>

Staying in College, Learning From Kindness

I was at risk of flunking out of the state college. I had to pass this one course or else I would be kicked out. This was the time I realized that all my bumming around was taking a toll on my studies. I realized at this time, albeit a bit late, that studies must come first. My grade for this particular course was a "conditional failure" meaning I had to take an exam which would determine if I passed or failed. The course was being taught by a kind, elderly professor. I gathered my courage and went to his house to ask him if I can take the exam the next week. I told him that I had learned my lesson and would take my studies seriously from then on. What he did surprised me. He took out an exam and asked me to take it right there and then. ... Read Full Story >>

Pay-it-Forward Coffee Karma

Every day I go into the same coffee shop on the way to work. It's part of a large chain here in the UK. I am new to the anonymous act of kindness concept.  I came across it recently, and a few weeks ago I worked up the courage to ask the Barista if I could pay for a coffee for someone later that day. He looked at me kind of strangely and said "okay" and then put the  money in the till. I walked out feeling doubtful that this would ever happen (and privately thinking he might just add the money to his tips).  This chain stamps a card every time you buy a coffee and when you get 9 stamps, the 10th coffee is free.  I had just completed my card today and was due a free coffee next time, so I cheered up as I headed out of the ... Read Full Story >>

My Mother: My Kindness Champion

Mothers are definitely the kindest people and my mother is definitely my Kindness Champion.  On any given day, one or more of the following might easily happen to me: ·     As I scramble around in my handbag in the morning, looking for my train ticket, I might find a small bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice (packed up very neatly to prevent leakages) in my handbag.  Or I may find some healthy snacks like dried fruit and nuts.  Or sometimes, I’ll find a sweet note. ·     If I’m running late and haven’t had time to grab breakfast, a cup of hot chocolate might magically appear by the front door for me to drink on the way to the train station. ·     Sometimes, I’ll curl up in bed at the end of the day only to find that my pillow is lumpy – my mum will have hidden a small present under my pillow.  A pair ... Read Full Story >>

A Lunchtime Opportunity To Feed Me Plus Two

It has struck me, lately, how heightened awareness of the things going on around us can present many new helping opportunities!  Last week, I was driving through a local sandwich chain at lunchtime, when I saw two men sitting on the grass a few yards away conversing with each another. They very thin and seemed a little dirty and unkempt, and very thin. It seemed to me that they were homeless... but they were not standing around, with signs or asking for anything.    I immediately felt like I could not just buy myself a sandwich without helping them eat, too. I asked the person at the window if I could purchase two $5 gift cards. I then drove up to the two men and presented the gift cards to them. They were totally shocked! One man said "is this for FOOD?!" He immediately began thanking me, over and over again.    Both these men were tremendously grateful and verbalized ... Read Full Story >>

A Chance Encounter Leads To Long Distance Kindness

I used to work as a casual waitress in a beautiful little restaurant. All I wanted was to put a smile on everyone’s face and I usually did this quite easily.  I believe that it doesn't matter what job you have as long as it gives you what you need and as long as you can give to others.   I had been going through a bad period and hadn’t told anybody except my employer what was happening.  Somehow a customer had over heard my saying that I had to go to Sydney. I was scared as I had never been there before and didn't know anyone there.  As I passed her table she handed me a card with her phone number on it.  She explained that she lived and Sydney and said that I should call if I needed some help.   Some weeks later, it was time for my appointment in Sydney.  I flew there and once I arrived a felt overwhelmed and ... Read Full Story >>

Learning How To Really Smile

Have you ever considered what it would be like to not be able to smile? I hadn't, up until a few months ago, when I found that I actually couldn't. Well, that is exaggerating it a little bit... Technically I could smile, but only with one side of my face! I went to the doctor, and was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy-A relatively unknown condition that paralyses one half of the face. As you could imagine, this was quite a shock to me, and made me very upset. Although this was a major bomb that was dropped on my life, this story is not about how hard life is, but how awesome it is when God challenges you in different ways. Anyway, so smiling is a part of everyday life for me. It is my way of greeting people, of laughing, silent communication (hehe) and consolidation. "Losing" half my face (temporarily) caused me ... Read Full Story >>

Building A Cultural Bridge

When my son was young, we earned a very low income and were living in one of the housing projects in Queens, NY. Having Spanish was his first language, but through attending nursery school, my son was already bilingual.

We were at a health clinic waiting our turn one day, when one of the nurses asked out loud "is there anyone here who could translate from Spanish?" Immediately my son called out raising his hand "I can". I took him into the doctor's office and both he and I helped a Spanish speaking woman to communicate with her physician.

This small act from him many years ago, has been a mirror for me to try to become a bridge between cultures. I now live in an area of Ecuador where there are many English speakers living among the Ecuadorians who speak only Spanish. I have been translating public meetings, without charge, so that bridges may be built among all of us by getting to know one another as individual persons, and so that  a community spirit may grow.

A Silent Connection in a Beautiful Moment

My attention was divided between the book in my lap and the people passing by when  I saw her walking slowly towards my parked car.  She had a bright blue saree, a large nose pin, orange marigolds in snow-white hair, a large shoulder bag and a face that showed every wrinkle of her 70 or so years of age.  She stopped and put a hand out to rest against the car’s hood, gently closed her eyes, took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off her forehead. The sweltring day was taking its toll on her slight frame, and the large bag seemed to affect not just her gait, but also her breathing.  She reminded me of a delicate bird, struggling because of the weight someone had added to its wings.  Was there a way I could do something, anything, to stretch those wrinkles around her mouth to a smile?  But then, I wondered, ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Bit of Chocolate, A Whole Lot of Happiness

Yesterday my sister and I were giving out chocolates with smile cards to people who seemed sad or looked like they weren’t having such a happy day. We saw one elderly man standing by himself looking a bit lonely so we went over to him, gave him a smile card and some chocolates then told him we hope he has a lovely afternoon. He suddenly seemed so happy, seeing his face light up and a smile appear on his tired face really made my day! We had a short chat with him, said our goodbyes and carried on tagging people...  Now the story doesn’t stop there… As we were coming out of a shop nearby some time later we saw the same man with his wife by his side talking to the shop owner. They didn't see us, but as we walked past them we heard the woman saying to the shopowner: ... Read Full Story >>

Capturing Smiles and Printing Them

I went to the photo store and printed up some photos from a recent retreat I  had been on. Some of them really turned out beautiful. I couldn't just keep them to myself. I made doubles of some to share.

I got a pack of blank note cards and sent the people in the photos a nice card with the photos enclosed, and of course along with a Smile Card.

So many people have photos on their own cameras and never print them....and I think it is nicer to have the actual picture to look at and hold.

Pay-it-Forward Coffee Shop Chain in Birmingham

Birmingham area coffee shop customers perform random acts of kindness, pick up others' tabs Posted by Rahkia Nance--Birmingham News April 13, 2009 6:15 AM Random acts of kindness are popping up at Birmingham area coffee shops, as customers are anonymously picking up others' tabs. Sharon Dierking was at a Starbucks on U.S. 280, placing an order for a mocha frappucino. When she pulled up to the window, the barista told her the driver in the car ahead of her had paid for her order.   "I was completely dumbfounded," Dierking said, "but I was thrilled." Dierking wanted to return the kindness to another, but her car was last in line. A few days later, she was able to pay it forward at a Starbucks in Inverness. "It makes you feel good and it brightens your day," she said. Random acts of kindness are popping up at Birmingham area coffee shops, as customers are anonymously picking up ... Read Full Story >>

Helping With My Heart

I was walking down a busy shopping intersection when a large family stopped me, asking if I knew how to speak Hindi (an Indian language). Most people in my city don't know how to speak Hindi and I cant speak it very well. However, I can understand it and spoke whatever broken Hindi I could with them.

The family consisted of a lady and her husband, their two children and two elder parents. The lady said that their luggage was stolen while they were on the train from their village to the city. She said it contained most of their money and they were all very hungry she asked me if I could spare some money.

In my city we need to be careful of impersonators asking for money but something in my heart told me this was genuine, especially since it was an entire family.  I was moved by seeing the sweet, expectant faces of her children.

I gave her everything in my wallet except for the money I needed to get back home, giving her information about the railway police and places to eat.

The family walked away, and I went on my way feeling glad that I listened to my heart.

Strawberry Smiles

My husband and I were driving back home when we saw an elderly lady selling strawberries on the street corner. (It's not too common to see people selling fruits on the street here - as I don't think they are allowed to.) I thought of how hard it must be to make a living like that, and even though I didn't really need strawberries (I had some already at home), I bought a huge "flat" of strawberries from her which had 6 containers of the juicy strawberries!

Now, it's just my husband, my son and me at home and we were never going to be able to eat them.  So I knew just what to do. When we got home, I took little baskets of strawberries around to our neighbors, especially to the elderly living alone and the kids with single moms. The berries were juicy and sweet.  They loved it!  We enjoyed them too, and had eaten them all within a day or two.

I kept hoping I'd see the lady selling them again, and lo and behold....there she was the following week. So, I did it again and gave them away to different neighbors this time! It was such a great feeling :-)

A Kindness Idea to Remind People That They Matter

I received the most exciting message today!  My kindness idea was selected!

I am going to make up some baskets complete with "You Matter" and Smile Cards and take them to local retirement homes.  I will ask a staff member to give the resident most in need of this gift while explaining to them the idea of paying forward the kind act for someone else.

I hope this will start a kindness "epidemic" in the retirement homes that I take the baskets to.  This is just my way of telling them that they are not forgotten and they matter!

Thank you HELPOTHERS!!

A 15 Year Blessing From A Homeless Person

This is a story that happened 15 years ago but it has always stayed with me since then.   On the way back from work every evening, more often than not there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway.  He looked to be in his late 40's but was probably a lot younger. He had shoulder length straight black hair a short beard, and he was of average stature.   His eyes were what struck me the most about him, they were brown and they had a sparkle. Like an inside light that was beaming out of his eyes.  His eyes, I thought, represented the man in general. People say they can tell a lot from a person’s eyes. It was certainly true in his case.  He always waved at every car, he was always happy and smiling and sometimes almost dancing.     Every day after work I would remember ... Read Full Story >>