Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Goodness That Put My Mind At Ease

I was on my way home today when I ran into a horrible traffic mess that was going to delay me terribly in getting my son from school. He had his trombone today for music class, and so could not bike as he usually does, and I told him I would pick him up. It took forever even to pull off the road and get someplace where I could try to make a call. I do not have a cell phone, and was counting on being able to use a pay phone from a gas station. Well, there was no pay phone there and one guy who I thought I could ask to borrow his phone kept on getting calls.  I went across to a public transport station and found a guy waiting for the bus.  I told him my situation and he very kindly offered his phone.  I called the school, made ... Read Full Story >>

Freeing a Trolley for an Elderly Woman

       Walking through town yesterday I spotted an elderly woman having a spot of bother. She was trying to release a supermarket trolley from the trolley park and not managing.  You need to slip a pound coin into the release slot and this disengages a little length of chain enabling you to use the trolley. But, try as she might, this lady couldn't loosen that chain.     "You all right?" I asked. "Yes, thanks," she smiled back. But I didn't take the hint. I stood a few seconds longer and still that chain wouldn't loosen. "Let me," I said, reaching over. And I pushed her coin just a little further into the mechanism. The chain released and that was that.      "Oh, thank you," she said. "I'm not as strong as I used to be."      And THAT is really what this is about!  I hadn't even noticed the strength it ... Read Full Story >>

Leaving the Door of Compassion Open

Two days ago I was woken up at 1 AM. My roomie stood at the door (she was returning from a club) along with a huge middle aged man with long hair.  "Please let him in", she told me, "He has been locked out of his apartment". She had seen him , cold and shivering (it had snowed the previous night) and immediately asked him to sleep at our place. He was a law student in his fifties who had been doing his homework at the laundromat when he found he had left his keys in his house. I'll be honest, I'm pretty square. I have never had a strange man sleep in my house before. My roommate and I are both less than 5 ft 3 and we have been asked to 'not speak to strangers' since we were kids.Not to mention we're in a new city that we have lived in ... Read Full Story >>

We All Need Someone Who Understands

 A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about Nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he Felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the Eyes of a little boy.  Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."  "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."  The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure," said the farmer.  And with that he let out a whistle,"Here,Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ... Read Full Story >>

How Far One Small Act of Kindness Can Go

When I first heard about Smile Cards through my pseudo room-mate, I thought it was a brilliantly novel idea - making someone smile and then asking them to do the same for one more person. I tried tagging some people with the cards and only then realised that it is tougher for us by nature to really do something nice. But then once you start, our own expectation rises and what we would have considered nice early on would then become a norm, and thus challenging oneself to go beyond that. I then got the opportunity to ship these Smile Cards to other people like me who wanted to share the smiles. I thought this would be great to do because not only was I 'volunteering' my time, I was also helping make a difference without leaving the confines of my four walls, and so I jumped on the idea. ... Read Full Story >>

What's Making You Smile Today?

I heard this question several months ago and decided to make it my own. The question is,

An Everyday Hero Who Taught Me An Important Lesson

Few days ago, I went to school with tons of books, hoping to get a locker. All of a sudden, it started raining heavily. I hurried to pay for my locker, but I was disappointed when they informed me that they only accepted cash. I was $7.00 short, which meant I had to carry the books back home. It would be an exhausting two-hour journey back home with all those books. There was an elderly gentleman nearby. Noticing my predicament, he asked me how much cash I needed. When I told him I was $7 short, he quickly took out the money from his wallet. “You don’t have to pay me back,” he said. I was speechless; I didn’t know whether to take the money or come back with the books the next day. A young student who was working ... Read Full Story >>

Sharing A Little Love With Someone Who Needs It

I wrote my first Christmas card on Sunday 28th September!

Believe me, it's not like me. I usually put these things off to the last minute. But, after church on Sunday, one of the ladies from the Mothers' Union handed around some cards that they were planning to send to inmates of the nearest prison.

She asked that we each put a personal message inside - but what do you write to someone when the only thing you know about them is that they have committed a crime?

Oh, it was hard! I tapped the pen on the table for a long time searching for inspiration. In the end I had to look past the prison walls and the crime to the heart of the man.

I wrote, "Each day brings the promise of a new life. Have a Merry Christmas and a better New Year. Love. David."

It wasn't exactly inspired, but new life is what Christmas is all about and each day we have a fresh chance to make a new beginning.

I can't take credit for the idea, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we each reached out this year and shared a little love with someone who needs it?

The Most Heartfelt Hug

Something so cool happened to my hubby and I on Friday!
We were leaving the post office and I handed this random guy a card we had made which says: "This Card Is To Certify That I Am Loved By The Members Of A FiveOh4 Uplifting!"

The guy says thank you with a huge smile and walks away.  As we approach our car the guy walks up to me and says, "I have to do this!" and gives me one of the most heartfelt hugs I've had in a very long time!

That hug was SO worth it!

Stopping Traffic with the Help of a Smile

My house is located on a very busy road.  There are frequently huge trailers whizzing by at high speeds, and it is virtually impossible to get across the street to the nearby hospital.

One evening, when I was coming out of the house with my 6 year old cousin, I saw a drunkard by the house, talking to himself.  I smiled at him and then proceeded to stand by the curb, waiting for an opportunity to cross the street.  This man then came over to us and started showering us with blessings for a long life and good fortune, all simply because I gave him a smile.

After wishing such kindness on us, he actually stopped the traffic on the road and helped us to get across the road without any difficulty.  As we parted, he simply smiled and waved at us as he plodded away.

Moral of the Story:  Never underestimate the power of a smile.
 

An 8-Year-Old Experiments With Smiles

My 8-year-old daughter  is experimenting with kindness and smiles.  She has been making her own colourful smile cards in all the colours of the rainbow and often takes them to school or stuffs her pockets with them when we go out to run errands.  She makes them very carefully and takes great pride in her work :) Last Sunday, I took the kids grocery shopping with me.  My daughter packed her pockets with about 20 of her homemade smile cards.  She was hoping to see John, who is an elderly man who gives out samples.  We see him from time to time and he is so happy and friendly, that we can't help feeling good talking to him.  John wasn't at the store on Sunday, so my daughter decided that it would be a good idea to distribute her smile cards to all the store's other employees.  As much as I have ... Read Full Story >>

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

This story started many years ago, when I was in the 5th standard at primary school. I was at a girls' school and our teacher made all the girls in the class sit next to someone different everyday. It was great when you got to sit next to one of your dear friends, but very boring when you had to sit next to someone you didn’t like. I hated sitting next to Madhuri. I didn’t like her because she always fought with me.   On one of the days that my teacher had paired Madhuri and me to sit next to each other for the day, I noticed that she seemed very anxious. I asked her what was wrong. She wasn’t very forth coming to start with, but eventually, after for a long time she told me that she had two sisters and one younger brother in her family and that her father ... Read Full Story >>

Polite Behaviour Causes Restaurant Happiness

I wanted to share a story that I heard from my friend today that put a big smile on my face.

The Business of Respect and Kindness

So I am on the way to an appointment, and while I am not late yet, I don't have much time to spare. I drive up Henley Road (always careful to observe the speed limit, of course), and I approach that nasty, blind S-curve just south of U.S. 40. Ahead looms a garbage truck. Uh-oh. By their nature, garbage trucks progress slowly -- house by house by house. Passing a truck on that nasty, blind S-curve is foolish. I prepare for an impatient crawl through the curve and up to the stoplight. I see a hand hanging out the side of the truck. The hand is motioning. The hand is waving. The hand is motioning and waving for me to keep moving and go around the truck. I have the reflexes of Uwe Blab, but I finally pull out and around, pass the truck, reach U.S. 40, make it to my ... Read Full Story >>

A Neighborhood Party with a Special Surprise

We had a great neighbourhood party this weekend. We all gathered on someone’s driveway and everyone brought one dish. It was an international food theme so we had lots of interesting treats. Our neighbour Margaret is 97 years old and it was her birthday soon. I thought it would be fun to celebrate her birthday at the same time so I baked a big cake and lots of brownies. I took it over to the party driveway along with some construction paper and colored markers. I had bought it for the kids, so that they could make her birthday cards. When Margaret came over in her motorised scooter we yelled “SURPRISE!” and sang her “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. We all gave her big hugs and the kids surrounded her and proudly gave her the cards that they had been making. It was so awesome. Margaret’s son and daughter-in-law were there too and I could tell ... Read Full Story >>

A Season to Renew

As the new season of autumn approaches, let us consider not only the outward changes of renewal in nature as we see the color of leaves change, but also look to the renewals in our relationships and honoring the needed changes that need to take place within them.  Listen now, to the words of a revered sage, as he imparts wisdom on refreshing our relationships. Our thoughts,words, and actions often cause harm to others and to us.  Renewing our relationships on a regular basis is an important practice. Without reconciliation,  we cannot deepen our understanding and we only cause  more suffering . Every week we have the time to go to the cinema, to go shop, but we rarely find the time to renew the relationships with the people who are close to us.  " Begining Anew " is a practice of reconciliation. It involves three steps - sharing, appreciation, expressing regret ... Read Full Story >>

Wacky Smile Dolls (with Photos!)

I decided that I wanted something fun to leave with my smile cards...so I made these crazy looking dolls... designed with no other purpose in mind but to make the finder SMILE!  Each one is different and rather wacky in his/her own right!  Have a look at the photos below - what do you think?  If you stumbled upon one of these ladies sitting quietly, minding her own business, just waiting for the bus with a smile card attached... would you smile? Or say you might open your desk drawer to find her there rumaging through your belongings...wouldn't you just have to smile? The possibilities are endless! You just never know where one of these little Wacky Ladies might show up next!  But if you see one during your travels...I hope you'll share a smile with her! Silly, silly girls! Today I hid one in between some rocks at a garden at a historic site.  I ... Read Full Story >>

A Ferry, a Sunset and a Smiling Little Girl

My family and I were recently at a large sailing event in The Netherlands. These events can be so beautiful so I always have my camera around.  During the event, I was taking a trip on a ferry. It was in the late afternoon and the sun was setting in the background. It was beautiful.  I was looking around and I saw next to me a lovely little girl sitting on the shoulders of her father.  It was a perfect moment, the girl was smiling and the sun was setting. Without thinking, I took a picture of the little girl in that moment then and there. Her mother was slightly surprised that a stranger was photographing her daughter.  I explained that it was such a beautiful moment and showed them the photo on my digital camera.  They loved the photo. I said I could email it to them when I ... Read Full Story >>

A Perfect Stranger Restored My Faith

Anymore, it seems like all we ever hear about are the horrible things people do to others. I can't even turn on the news at night (we get Kansas City, Mo. news) without hearing of at least 3 people who were shot and killed plus numerous other acts of violence. Also, with families everywhere pinching pennies everywhere they can, not everyone is feeling as generous as they normally would be. But I found out that even in tough times, people can do simple things that might greatly improve a stranger's day. Not long ago, I was having one of those end of the week, everything fall apart, rotten days. I had a hard day at work, my week didn't go well and problems just kept popping up everywhere. Things broke or quit, unexpected bills came in and I was struggling to keep from loosing my cool from all the stress. Then ... Read Full Story >>

"Life is Perfect Enough"

I was on vacation recently in Palm Desert, California, visiting an outdoor craft fair on a Saturday morning. Although it was early, the desert heat had set in, and the day was untypically humid. Moisture-bearing clouds had been pushed over the desert by a hurricane approaching the southern coast of Texas. While the others shopped, I grabbed an icy drink and took my refuge at a picnic table under a tent where a middle-aged Carribean man was playing guitar. As his song ended, he acknowledged me, at that point his only audience member. "How 'bout da weather?" he nodded. "It's beautiful," I responded, quick to add, "I love the heat, but I came all this way across the country to get away from the humidity, and now the desert has this! What's this all about?" He shook his head. "Everybody wanting perfect'," he said, and with a wave of his hand he brushed my unworthy comment out of the ... Read Full Story >>