Stories of Kindness from Around the World

If You Had One Day

IF YOU HAD ONE DAY If you had one day to do anything you wanted, what would that be? Sing! Even if people have told you, 'never sing,' you'll want to sing. Jump! Feel your strength surge from the tops of your legs to the tips of your toes. Love! Tell everybody you love that you love them. Live! Life is for living, not waiting. Dance! Feel the music and let the beat pulse through your blood like fire. Reach! Try to touch the stars. Spin! Let your arms fly around you in circles like the horses on a carousel. Swim! Jump into the water like you jump into life. Head first with no regrets or worries. Laugh! Laugh loudly, and feel it from your stomach all the way up to your brain. Meet! Meet people you wouldn't meet before. Cry! Let your feelings be known. Hug! A hug is forever. But, most ... Read Full Story >>

A Simple Act That Lifted a Mother's Spirits

My daughter has always been one to help out anyone, but she loves to tell this story about what really made her make being kind to everyone a priority in her life.   She was going through a rough time. Her relationship had broken down and she was now a single mom with two young daughters.  She had just been laid off from her second job within the space of a year.  And she was struggling to make ends meet.   She always tried to stay positive even under the immense stress she encountered daily but she was having a particularly rough day this one day.  She had gone to the mall with her daughters to buy them some clothes and afterwards they went for a meal in the food court. The clothes had been quite expensive and she decided to skip lunch to make sure her daughters had enough to eat. She was feeling quite ... Read Full Story >>

An Unexpected Blessing From Beautiful Blue Eyes

I saw him sitting on the grass at my local strip mall.  His hair was matted, his clothes were dirty, and he was talking but I don’t know who to because there was no one near him. People passed by but they didn't seem to see him and they didn't seem to care.  The day was sunny and warm, perhaps they were all busy taking in the beauty in that the day had to give. But I saw him.  His name was David.  As I watched him, he moved my heart a little. I felt a little of his loneliness and isolation. I wanted to reach out to him, to make it a little better. I went into the nearby grocery store and bought him a cold drink and a sandwich and got some extra cash from the ATM.  I then drove back to where this lonely soul was resting, on the grass, ... Read Full Story >>

"Our Greatest Wealth"

We are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look behind, but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born to have two ears. There is one on the left and one on the right so we can hear both sides, collect both the compliments and criticisms, and listen to what is right and let go of what is not. We are born with a brain encased in a skull. Then no matter how poor we are on the outside, we are still rich inside, for as much as someone takes from us, they can never steal our minds. For the jewels and rings inside are pricelessly and eternally our own. We are born with two eyes, two ears, but one mouth for the mouth can be a sharp weapon of hurt or an arrow to shoot the love from our hearts. While it can be used to ... Read Full Story >>

A Good Samaritan Goes The Extra Mile

For Brian Tapp, not even having a horror day could overcome his bowerbird instincts. Driving along Alison Road in Randwick last month, the 59-year-old florist was contemplating failure: evicted from his Clovelly shopfront that morning, he was transferring some effects to his base in Kingsford. As he passed the entrance to Randwick Racecourse, Mr Tapp noticed something on the road. He pulled over. It was 10.15am. His day was about to change. Adam Morison's day was about to change too, but he didn't know it yet. If anyone in eastern Sydney was feeling worse than Mr Tapp it was Mr Morison, who had arrived at Sydney Airport at 10am for a noon flight to Bali. As he got out of his car, he went into a panic: he did not have his wallet, his passport, his money or his itinerary. "I was gutted," he said. "The surfing holiday was over ... Read Full Story >>

The Hidden Gems My Grandmother Gifted Me

I was having trouble with a bully at school once when I was younger. One day I eventually confided in my grandmother. I told her that I was being bullied at school.    She surprised me a little bit when she asked me what it was about? I said that I really didn't know.  She said she knew what it was about. She said it was because I hadn't done anything wrong and was simply being me. I really didn’t understand her? Why would I be bullied for not doing anything wrong?   She said that the other person was jealous of me because of something they lacked.  I was sure that couldn’t be right.   We weren’t very well off so I had second hand clothes, simple shoes, etc. whilst the other person was always in the latest fashion and had new things.    Then my grandmother explained that the jealously was not ... Read Full Story >>

The Power of Words

I feel blessed to have found my "calling" in life, which is teaching and sharing my passion for science. I have profound gratitude towards all of my students for everything they have taught me. I feel honored and privileged to be a part of their lives, even if for a very short time.

I sometimes receive thoughtful cards, notes and gifts from former students, but this latest card made me smile for a very long time....

I just wanted to share the part that really touched me:

"Thank you for sharing your knowledge, passion, work ethic and especially life lessons. Your words were not lost on me!"

That just really really moved me.

Thank you to all of you who write little notes to your teachers - it means more than you know.

Sometimes We All Need A Little Support

I will never forget a special trip to the grocery store a couple of years ago. My father had just recently passed away.  I was missing him terribly and rarely getting through a day without crying. I needed to pull myself together to get some groceries for my husband and young children. As I entered the store, I immediately had to control my emotions as the sweet aroma of my Daddy's favorite cinnamon buns made there at our local grocery store drifted throughout the store. I made my way up and down the busy aisles and filled my cart as I read my list, which I had prepared that morning. I was approaching the in-store bakery when I just couldn't control myself any longer. I held the cart and quietly cried as I looked at the plump, gooey cinnamon buns in the case. An older gentleman came to my side and simply ... Read Full Story >>

A Chance to do a Good Deed

I got the chance to do a real simple, old fashioned good deed at the weekend. I was walking on Berwick main street (which sits on a bit of a hill) when I heard a crash. I didn't know what it was so I walked on, looking at the shops. A few minutes later I walked around a delivery lorry and found the cause of the noise. The driver had loaded his tail-gate with storage boxes before lowering it to the road so they could be delivered to the nearby shop. Because of the hill, or maybe careless stacking, they had toppled over. The pavement (sidewalk) was covered by these boxes and their spilled contents. Books and chocolate bars from some of the burst boxes were spread all over the place. The young delivery man (a Polish guy) was standing there in shock while passers by found their way through the mess. "Would you like a hand?" I ... Read Full Story >>

Surprises During School Tests Don’t Usually Make You Smile

Most kids in high school dread test days.

A Lone Visitor for an Old Lady's 92nd Birthday

I once helped an old lady home with her shopping. We talked a little and I learned that she had spent her life working for the Salvation Army. Well, it was her 92nd birthday (this time last year) and I decided to take her some flowers. I barely knew her but I thought it would be a nice gesture.   I told my brother-in-law what I was going to do and he found it very funny. He said I was “sooo gullible”.    Well, I did it anyway. I went over to Mrs Thompson’s with some flowers.    Mrs Thompson is a widow. She lives in a bungalow, it’s nice, although it looks like it hasn't been decorated since the 1960s. She's a wee woman. She was wearing at least two cardigans and her spindly legs disappeared into fur lined boots. She was trying to keep warm and save on the heating.   On her mantelpiece she had arranged three birthday cards that she had ... Read Full Story >>

A Message That Arrived 4 Years Later, Right On Time

My teenage daughter has always taken special delight in receiving anything in the mail. She squeals with glee and rips open every envelope and package the moment she takes it in her hands. A few nights ago, when we were sorting through a basket of cards and stationery, she discovered an unopened, brightly colored envelope addressed to her, bearing a postage date of over four years ago. "What is this?" she asked, incredulous. "How did I miss this? How did it get here?" I had idea and was just as curious to see what it could have been. She opened it up and inside was a beautiful greeting card and hand-written note from a school administrator at her former middle school. The woman had written a note to my daughter in praise of how much progress she had shown with her struggle in math class, and it noted how proud she was and how much my daughter should take pride in what she ... Read Full Story >>

Three Smiley Faces

I came in from my morning walk and found the maintenance man going out the door after changing our furnance filter. ''Hey !'' he exclaimed when he saw me.  ''There's the Cookie Lady !'' I gave him cookies several times when he was here repairing something in the past.

''Well, here, don't forget your cookies before you go!'' I said and grabbed the last two Smiley Face cookies I had baked a couple of days ago. I'm glad there were some left!  He left with a thank you and a big smile of his own :)

Small Change Makes A Big Difference

I had asked my 22 year old son to bring home some milk from the grocery store where he works as a supervisor.

Candy Boxes and Smile Cards

Yesterday I decided to give out candy with smile cards. 

I went out and bought some little boxes of candy.  Then I wrapped them up and taped smile cards on top.  I was not sure when or how to distribute them but I knew that the opportunity would present itself. 

I went about my dad as usual.  I had lunch with my mom and afterwards she asked me if i could mail some things for I said sure and I went to the post during my afternoon break at work to buy some stamps and mail my mum's things.  There came my first opportunity.  Before I left the post office, I gave the postal worker a box of candy and I aslo gave one to the guy who held the door for me. 

Later that day, I went to the grocery store to stock up on some groceries and I gave candy boxes to the checker and bagger at the grocery store. 

In the evening my cousin dropped by for a visit and I gave one to her and her daughter as well. 

Just before I went to bed, my dad asked me if there was any chance I had an extra stamp.  I did.  He got the last stamp and the last candy box ;-)

Sacred Space

When walking down the path of life,

Remember what I say,

That every man must feel the thorns,

That grow along the way,

And every soul will stumble,

For every man is weak,

And the road of life uncertain,                                                                     

It's prospects often bleak.

But always give a helping hand ,

A word of love, a smile, a hug,

To help the soul beside you walk

Across each weary mile.

 -Kate Furman

My New Kindness Friend at School

Being the disorganized high schooler I am, once again I forgot to take my Smile Cards to school with me today, but that didn't stop me on my mission.  On the way to school this morning I picked up a large bag of funsized choclates (60cents Australian each) to distribute at school.  During the day, whenever I found myself unnoticed in a corridor, I'd slip a chocolate into a locker anonymously. After school finished, I hung around an extra two hours until 5pm, so that I could get a clear go at one of the more open corridors in the school without getting 'caught'. This corridor had lockers of the yr 12s (highest school year, as well as very stressful) and I was making my way down with my chocolates when someone yelling behind me made me jump. "Oi!" someone shouted.  A girl I didn't know, coming from sports training, was running up to me. Her face was red and she looked angry.  ... Read Full Story >>

Tune Into Your Heart

Tune Into Your Heart

It is not so much what you say as the manner in which you say it;
It is not so much the language you use as the tone in which you convey it.

"Come here." I sharply said, and the child cowered and wept.
"Come here." I said--He looked and smiled and straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair but the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air but the tone may break my heart;

For works come from the mind, grow by study and art--
But tone leaps from the inner self, revealing the state of the heart.

Whether you know it or not, whether you mean it or care,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate, envy, anger, are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid and peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your works--keep it out of your voice.

--- Author Unknown

Turning $100 Into An Unforgettable Day

When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, who lived in a community especially for the elderly and near to an old people's home. I remember when my sister and I played our instruments for them, which was something my grandparents had encouraged. They used to tell me that if someone elderly engages you in conversation, to make time for them, as you might be the only person they got to talk to that day. I've never forgotten this and still spare time to chat with an elderly person if they do engage me in conversation. So, when I saw the "make a suggestion for how your community would benefit from a $100" idea on this website, I immediately thought of the elderly! As one of the lucky people to win the $100 dollar kindness contest for my community (it converted to £56 in the UK), I then contacted my local community centre, and ... Read Full Story >>

You've Got Mail: Connecting With Grandparents

I kept wondering about ways to be kind. I hardly leave my room or the university and I hardly meet people. Then I remembered that my grandfather had bought a new computer and had learnt to use the web recently. My grandparents formed some of my first crystalline childhood memories. They would insist on taking me to the beach every day. I can still recall my grandfather holding my hand and taking me to a park with a duck-pond near my house. My grandmother would feed my cousins and me balls of rice, placing them on each outstretched hand, as we looked at the stars and the moon on hot summer nights. My grandfather would always buy orange juice when he knew I was going to make my twice weekly visit. They would drive over to our home with home made comfort food when I fell sick. These are just a few stories I can remember ... Read Full Story >>