Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Secret Snow Scraper Strikes Again

I usually carpool to work with my hubby on the really cold, snowy winter days, as I feel safer with him driving us in his huge truck vs my little car. Well, last winter, guess who was out sick for a few days? and guess who drove to work by herself? And guess how much snow fell?  5-6 inches and it froze so quickly into ice! Yep, you guessed it...."little old me!"  After work one day last winter, I carefully walked to my car, started the engine, turned on the heat and defrost and located my bright red hefty ice scraper and brush to begin the task of removing all the snow and ice from the car. It had been snowing all day so I had a thick layer blanketing the windows, hood, and roof. I worked away, trying not to be grumpy  or cranky about it, but not succeeding.  I  realized how spoiled I was because I usually get to hop into a warming truck ... Read Full Story >>

A Man Named Lawrence

This is a random act of kindness that happened to me on Sunday morning, as five of us got off of the 19 MUNI at Hyde and Fulton Street in San Francisco. It was at two in the morning, and we had just finished clubbing it up at a Persian Club and were trying to find our way back to Berkeley. There must have been this look of fear on our faces and in our voices as we were trying to figure out where the AC Transit stop was.   As we nervously chattered amongst ourselves, a homeless man a little ways away yelled at us, “What you lookin’ for?”   Ignoring him, our voices trying to figure out what to do got a little more frantic. “Excuse me!, what are you looking for? Powell is up one street.” I finally said, after much internal debating, “No, we’re looking for the AC ... Read Full Story >>

Learning the Power of Kindness Through a Quarter

I was at a basement computer in my college dormitory, when this girl comes up to me and says, "Do you have a quarter? I'm one short of putting my laundry in the dryer." I stopped to think about it for a few seconds and took a few moments to consider whether I'd be willing to give a quarter away.  I found myself judging her, thinking about why she didn't bring 4 quarters down from her room with her,as if she'd have planned to be one short so she could ask someone else for it.  Obviously that was not the case, but there I went again, judging the intent of others the way I judge myself when I do wrong things like stealing money, or lying. I responded, "Yeah, I think I have one," though fully aware that I had 3 since I just used two dollars to buy a drink ... Read Full Story >>

Dancing Through the Checkout Line

   I rather enjoy the music in the supermarket and so last week i found myself whistling and humming along quietly as i did my weekly food shopping.    I got to the checkout and noticed that the lady in front of me looked like she had had a bad day and the young kid working the checkout looked like he wanted to be anywhere else.  Still on my own little high from a good day I set about unloading my groceries and humming to myself.     When it was my turn I was snapped back to reality with the checkout kid smiling and dancing around.  When I commented on how nice it was to see him enjoying himself and that I also enjoyed the music he said, "Well I heard this noise and thought it was my mobile phone vibrating at first.  Then I realised that it was you humming and you ... Read Full Story >>

Life Is Baeutiful.

Do you remember the name of your kindergarden teacher? I do, mine. Her name was Mrs White. And I remember thinking she must be some older relation of Walt Disney's Snow White, because she had the same bright blue eyes, short dark hair, red lips and fair skin. I don't remember much about what we learned in her class, but my mother once told me that we used to write a lot. And I would bring back what I wrote and she would look at it and see there were so many mistakes. But no red corrections. And always a star. Sometimes even a Good! scrawled in that would make my heart soar with happiness. But it worried my mother, so one day when she went in to meet Mrs White for one of those Parent-Teacher meetings, she asked her why she never corrected my mistakes. Why she never red-pencilled ... Read Full Story >>

Anonymous Pizza Party

I am a student at Stanford, and last week I got an email from a wonderful student group on campus. The email said that they would be holding a meeting that evening, but unfortunately no food would be served because of the short notice in calling the meeting. Taking this as an opportunity to treat a great group of students, I biked over to a local pizza restaurant and ordered two large pizzas for the group. It was a little difficult explaining to the workers that I wanted this to be an anonymous delivery, but in the end they understood :) Pleased with my gesture, the manager taking my order even gave me a 15% discount, more than what was normal for an order of this size and completely unsolicited! I knew things would work out after that.  :) I asked for the pizzas to be delivered at the beginning of the ... Read Full Story >>

A Three-Year-Old's "Hospitable" Gift

My little boy, Matthew, had recently lost his beloved grandmother.  Matthew was just three years old and since her loss, he would often tug my hand in tears, longing for his grandmother to come back to the world.  At his tender age of three, he had an idea. He asked me if we could do something in honor of grandma so the world could remember her. When I welcomed his lovely suggestion, he said we could create something special for the children at the "hospitable", since grandma had always wanted to volunteer there. Although her heart was so ready to give, her physical capacity was limited and she could not drive or make the trek over to the hospital, and therefore had spent the majority of her days doling out her compassion to her family and friends. So, we decided to fulfill Grandma's last life wish.   Matthew and I teamed up and presented our kindness proposal to his pre-school classmates. We energized them with the prospect of going shopping and purchasing small gifts (chocolates, ... Read Full Story >>

Rainy Day Smiles for a Gardener

It was another week of puddles and downpours.  As I made a brief stop to grab a bagel I thought that a cup of hot coffee might be a nice way to make someone's day. I didn't have to look far to find my "target"--  right in front of my eyes was a raincoat-clad gardener on his knees in the dirt, planting flowers! 

I went up to the gardener and remarked on how beautiful his work was (truly, don't you just feel so thankful for all those landscape gardeners who add beauty to our days?).  I commented on how cold and rainy it was, handed him the hot cup of coffee and was greeted by a BIG smile---he was totally taken off guard and surprised!  Made my day to have found the perfect person to surprise! :-)  

Giving Away Guitar Lessons for Free!

I have dreamed of playing guitar for years and recently decided to try it out!  While I was roaming around the web a few nights ago, looking for some "how to" books and simple songs for beginners to play, I discovered a fabulous website (www.justinguitar.com) developed by a young guitarist in London. Justin's site is truly a dream come true for any beginner eager to learn. There are over 100 five minute long YouTube videos where Justin covers different aspects of learning how to play the guitar. It turns out he is a really great teacher and I'm having the best time "taking his classes." It's kind of amazing to be sitting here in Cape Ann and learning how to play an instrument from someone who is several thousand miles away and whom I have never met! The reason I'm writing ... Read Full Story >>

If Only President Lincoln Had Some Smile Cards...

Before he became president, Abraham Lincoln spent twenty years as an unsuccessful Illinois lawyer -- at least he was unsuccessful in financial terms. But when you measure the good he did, he was very rich indeed. Legends are often untrue, but Lincoln was the real thing. During his years as a lawyer, there were hundreds of documented examples of his kindness, honesty and decency. For example, Lincoln didn't like to charge people much who were as poor as he was. Once a man sent him twenty-five dollars, but Lincoln sent him back ten of it, saying he was being too generous. He was known at times to convince his clients to settle their issue out of court, saving them a lot of money and earning himself nothing. An old woman in dire poverty, the widow of a Revolutionary soldier, was charged $200 for getting her $400 pension. Lincoln sued the pension agent ... Read Full Story >>

Get 'Em Any Way You Can!

As a professor in 2008, I use an Internet Learning Platform for all my classes.  This allows me to post assignments, handouts, etc. for students to download and print before coming to class. 

This platform also has an announcements window that appears each time they log in.  I have place a Quote of the Week there for them.

But here's the catch-- on the first exam, one of the bonus questions was:  What is this week's Quote of the Week?  What does it mean to you?  Only 2 students got the question correct, but I got lots of notes that said that the students weren't paying attention to the quotes, but they will from now on!!

Get them the good stuff-- any way you can!

The Old Lady Who Made My Day

While out shopping recently there was an elderly woman behind me in line. I told the clerk to go ahead and check her out first as I was still organizing my purchases.

After the elderly woman paid for her things, I noticed that she used a cane and had purchased two bags of items. I asked if I could carry the bags out to her car for her. For an instant, she seemed surprised at my offer, but then said with a smile, "That would be really nice ... if you wouldn't mind".  

As we were walking out the door she asked if she could hold on to my arm as we walked through the slick parking lot. I said "sure" and my new friend and I talked as we walked arm in arm to her car.  After putting her purchases in the car for her she asked if she could give me a hug and said how much that act of kindness had meant to her.  I was happy to do it ... she made my day!

Helping A Single Mom

Yesterday I heard about a single mom with two kids that I barely know. She was pleading for help to pay her phone bill so it wouldn’t get disconnected. I have seen her help many others over the past months. She struggles to make ends meet but puts on a smile so her children won’t worry. She has no family near her so if she loses her phone, her children or their school will have no way to get in touch with her. After reading her plea, I thought about it all night and it broke my heart. This morning I contacted her and told her I wanted to help. I called and paid her phone bill so that she would not lose it. She wrote me one of the most sincere letters I have ever received, telling me how thankful she was. She cried and said that I would never ... Read Full Story >>

A Mother and Daughter Exchange

   My daughter, Paula, paid me a visit the other morning.  She was down and we talked, ate, and I gave her money for gas so she could get to work that day. She came over again yesterday and I watched her daughter, Belle, while she went to buy some new work pants. Belle had a cold and preferred to stay with Grandma, eat cereal, and watch ''car-coons.''   Paula came back and handed me the money that she borrowed. I just slid it in my back pocket and realized later on when I took it out of my pocket that she had paid me double!  It was so hard bringing up five children as a single parent, but let me tell you, it sure was worth it! God certainly has blessed me....:}

Unlikely Tip for a Rickshaw Driver

The other day, I was travelling home from work in an autorickshaw (a motorised three wheeler used as private transport in our country). The auto driver was quite friendly. On the way, he asked me if he could stop at a shoe store. He wanted to pick up a pair of shoes for his little daughter who goes to school.  Mission completed and he chatted on regarding how much the pair had cost him, about family, inflation and other stories in general.

When I reached home, I got out of the autorickshaw and decided to surpise him. I paid him not just the auto fare but also the cost of the shoes. I added that it was my gift to his daughter. He was really surpised and went away happy.  So did I! :-)

Expired Meters And A Pockeful Of Change

Just another simple one.  I noticed that I was walking with a slight list the other day due to a large amount of change in my right pocket. Now, I know that I could have shifted my ballast just a bit and evened things out, but there were cars parked there on expired meters :-)  Oh Darn!  It was a weekday too!  So I engaged in a paperwork reduction act of my own.  I figured that the metermaid wouldn't have to write so many tickets if I fed some meters.  Welp, I made a couple of blocks and was walking on a more even trim, and didn't have to shift ballast at all :-)

A Blanket of Sisterhood

I have been doing what I can to look out for someone who lives close inside my heart though the daily lives we experience are quite far apart .  In my home, I wake up to a fresh morning, experiencing the luxury and warmth of the comfort of my own bed laden with a floral quilt that my grandmother once made for me. On the opposite coast of the country, within the confines of the lonely hospital walls, my sister rests often unpeacefully and in pain on a cold and firm plaster white sterilized bed. A cancer inside her is spreading despite a recent mastectomy and three months of intense chemotherapy. Radiation was not a possibility for her and now this condition has seeped into her skull and spine. The comforter which I grip so tightly begins to unravel in my hand and the texture of the fabric begins to soil, as I feel a piece of me lying there with her in the hospital room.  In order to keep myself from crumbling, I began to send blessing blankets, little toy angels, and a book of ... Read Full Story >>

Edy's Key Lime Fruit Bars

I recently saw the movie Stardust.  Claire Daines plays the part of a star that has fallen to earth.   Whenever she is happy, she glows.  I must have been glowing while I shopped at my local grocery store yesterday because I had a most unusual night. I'm fairly outgoing. I believe in the power of random acts of kindness, and I usually strike up conversations easily.  Tonight was different.  Tonight everything felt more "connected".   From the butcher who praised me for being the nicest customer ever ( I was patient as she filled my order).  To the young mother of two toddlers who seemed to thoroughly enjoy conversing with an adult (even if it was just about the the temperature of the freezer).  To the older gentleman who offered to help lift my heavy items into my car.  It was all delightful.  And then came the cherry on ... Read Full Story >>

The True 7 Wonders Of The World

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes: 1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. The Taj Mahal in India 3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona 4. The Panama Canal 5. The Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World ... Read Full Story >>

Offering a Steady Hand

Recently our family went to an all-you- can-eat  buffet. It makes for a carefree dinner. Everyone eats what they like and we all are relaxed and enjoy our food.

As we sat at our table chatting and getting excited over our choices, my husband noticed this man at the chocolate milk dispenser. He was trying very hard to get two glasses filled and his hands were shaking apparently because he was elderly.  My husband said, "Now, how on earth is he going to carry that milk back to his table?" I just looked at my husband and raised my eyebrows with a smile on my face.  He knew what to do. The next thing I knew, he went up to the gentlemen and asked if he could help him and then carried the drinks to his table for him.

Take time to notice and don't be afraid to lend a helping hand or two, like Jim did.