Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Delivering Mail; Leaving a Smile

   At work, there are four  large open ended mail box slots situated at each side of the building and on each floor. The slots are alphabetized for letter carrier distribution ease. There must be 50-100 boxes and slots now that the mailroom consolidated them and reduced staff. Gone are the days of hand delivery direct to your desk.     To save time and money by keeping employees to a minimum, the new process requires each person to pick up their mail.     Our manufacturing manager and his administrative assistant have recently moved from downstairs to upstairs, across the aisle from my group. While I was pulling my mail this morning,  I noted the administrative assistant's slot was jammed full.     I carefully pulled all her mail and took it to her desk thinking maybe she had been too busy or forgot with her move. My intent was to just leave the stack of mail on her ... Read Full Story >>

Paid in Full with One Glass Of Milk

One day, a poor boy  who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.  He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However,he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for kindness."  He said, "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in humanity grew stronger as well.  He had been ready to give up ... Read Full Story >>

A Special Family Birthday Wish

My birthday was January 8th.  I usually do not talk about my birthday, but this past one was very special to me, so I wanted to share it here.     My family is from the other side of the world and I wanted them to try random acts of kindness to others.  So, I decided to email my brother, my sister-in-law and nieces.  For my birthday gift this year, I wanted them all to do a random act of kindness - secretly, without them sharing it amongst themselves.    It was amazing to hear about what they came up with.  My brother took some old clothes and shoes, gathered some canned goods and left them at 4AM at the door of one poor neighbor.  The following day, he was so pleased to see the children wearing some of the clothes he had left at their doorstep.    My niece, with the little allowance money that she had, ordered fried chicken ... Read Full Story >>

Auntie’s Surprise Travel Bags

Happy Memories... Ding-Dong.  “YEAH!  Auntie’s here! Auntie’s here!” scream my hubby’s niece & nephew in unison. "Let me get the door!” “No, let me!”  They continue shouting as they charge off together, hurdling themselves at the front door, each one’s goal to get there first and open the door for their Auntie. Me! I can’t get enough of them, of their enthusiasm, their youthful zest for life, their excitement every time I visit!  Their faces aglow, their exuberant welcomes & sincere eagerness (which to be honest is partially due to the Surprise Travel Bag they spy me carrying in).  It’s a tradition I started when they were all young.  I bring a large bag filled with toys, games, coloring books & crayons, paper and magic markers, candy, books and more. The contents vary but the rules don’t. They include: each gets a turn picking what activity we will ALL do, each takes a turn going ... Read Full Story >>

In Giving I Connect with Others

I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs until my 28-year-old daughter Paula fell ill. She was in a coma for a year and I took care of her at home, until she died in my arms in December of 1992. During that year of agony and the following year of my grieving, everything stopped for me. There was nothing to do -- just cry and remember. However, that year also gave an opportunity to reflect upon my journey and the principles that hold me together. I discovered that there is consistency in my beliefs, my writing and the way I lead my life. I have not changed, I am still the same girl I was fifty years ago, and the same young woman I was in the seventies. I still lust for life, I ... Read Full Story >>

Pizza on the Beach

My wife and I sat at an outdoor cafe on the boardwalk in Hollywood Beach, vacationing and enjoying the evening beauty of the ocean's sights and sounds. As we finished our yearly traditional large pizza and pitcher of beer, we noticed the arrival of a group of eight adults with varying disibilities along with their caregivers.  While they sat on the wall that separates the beach from the boardwalk, each was handed a small sandwich, pack of crackers and a bottle of water.  They too were enjoying that beautiful Florida evening. I realized that we had four large pieces of pizza left.  I asked our waiter if he could cut each piece in half.  I then talked to the caregivers and explained my offering.  They told me that money was short, and they only had enough to provide a meager meal that evening.  As I offered a piece of pizza to each of these individuals, I was rewarded with ... Read Full Story >>

Watching Kindness and Feeling the Ripples

Yesterday evening, as usual, the company van left me a distance away from my home so I had to walk. On my way, I saw something really interesting which I wish to share. I saw a boy riding down on his bicycle with a broad smile on his face. He stopped by the house of our neighbour and left a bag with the neighbour's wife and some money. I could not help myself overhearing their conversation and I understood that the lady had requested the boy to go on an errand for her, which he did. He went to buy something for her and in appreciation, the lady was giving him some money, but he refused politely by saying, "No, that's alright." All the time, he had this broad smile on his face.
I was touched and relieved to see thisl. That boy helped the neighbour, but I felt so happy and full of gratitude. Full of gratitude for that woman ( like if I received the help), full of gratitude for this boy who gets the opportunity to get elevated in God's esteem, and full of gratitude that I witnessed it all. It also shows how just a little act of kindness can create a great impression, not only for the receiver, but for the doer and also to other people around.

A Professor's Lesson 30 Years Ago

One winter semester during college in upstate New York., I took an 8 AM history class to fulfill a requirement.  It was hard to get up for that class, but about 15 of us met 3 times a week to brave the cold winds and trudge to that lecture in a nondescript classroom. The professor for the class was an odd fellow.  He had flaming red hair, usually looking slept on, and wore galoshes with one pantleg in and one out.  He would creep shyly into the room wearing his hooded winter coat , once not even removing the hood during the lecture.  He was terribly ill at ease with the class and clutched the lecturn barely looking up at all through his gold rimmed glasses at his students.  I felt that I needed to do something to stem the boredom that woud ensue in his lecture, so I created a little game for myself.  ... Read Full Story >>

Shoveling Snow at the Airport

For some reason I love to shovel snow. I believe it stems from growing up on a farm where we didn't get an opportunity to shovel our driveway in the conventional way - a shovel and sweat. My dad just got out the tractor with the huge plow on it and away he went. I also like shoveling snow because I like being active, especially outdoors. Doing this for others only doubles my pleasure. So yesterday after a good storm that brought 5 to 7 inches of snow, I found myself at the airport unburying my car. I wasn't dressed for the task but the sun was shining, the sky was blue and I became inspired to bring some unexpected sunshine and relief into the life of another fellow traveler. So I proceeded to clean off the car next to me, even lifting the windshielf wipers and getting all the ... Read Full Story >>

An Uneven Exchange Late-night

I worked as a waitress for a few months. I was not a great waitress and I worked in a restaurant that served mostly older people who, bless them, haven't learned that 10% is no longer a tip waitresses can live from--let alone a college student packing on 20 hours!

One night, when I was still working two hours after my shift was supposed to finish, all I wanted was for my last table to clear out so I could clean and go home.  My last customer caught me on her way out and asked if I had change for a twenty.  I dug through my apron and turned out my night's earnings... a measly $14.

She smiled at me and said, "That's enough."

My eyes welled up as I made the uneven exchange. "Thank you," I whispered.

I heard her little boy ask why she did that and she explained that I'd had a hard night and she just wanted to help me out.  Not only did her kindness touch my hurried, hassled life, but she also taught her son an important lesson that night.

I don't know her name, but I will always remember her.

David Copperfield on Kindness

I believe in kindness. But it's hard to be kind. We're not trained for it. Kindness is for sissies; we learn that early. "Nice guys finish last." If they even get invited to the race. Kindness is taken for weakness, rube-ishness, stupidity. No one seems to respect the kind. They respect the killer. We're taught to value competitiveness, strength, cunning, Darwin. I work in the entertainment business, where kindness just never seems to be "in." It's not macho. It doesn't sell tickets. In the movies, the hero never kills the bad guy with kindness. But I believe Economics 101 is right. The value of a thing is determined by its scarcity. Which makes kindness spiritual gold. I am writing these words a few weeks after my father's death. He was a fervent Republican. He preached an eye for an eye. He was a hawk. But he practiced ... Read Full Story >>

Up in the Air at 35,000 Feet

A Midwife, the Sea, and Sharing

I have been trying to think of ways that I can give without having to spend money, as I've been finding it quite hard to do. I was cleaning out my 18-month-old son's bedroom when I found the packaging to his sea-life-themed bedroom set, which cost about $250 and included stacks of things to create a full bedroom theme. I loved it and really enjoyed putting my baby in a room with these surroundings. I justified the price at the time by keeping the packaging and vowing to sell the stuff when I was finished. However, i decided that instead of selling it, I would wrap it up with a gift bag and a card and take it up to the hospital and let the maternity nurse decide who needed it the most and who may not be able to afford something similar. The midwife was really touched by the ... Read Full Story >>

Dad, Can I Do That Again?

Let me tell you another story. It’s not a mythic story; it refers to a real event, which I attach great importance to, which was told to me when I was teaching a class at a business school in Mexico.  I was teaching a class in business ethics, and we were dealing with the question, What is a good human being?   Can you be a successful businessman and also be a morally good man or woman at the same time, or do these two goals work against each other?  Or to what extent do they coincide and to what extent do they oppose each other?  It’s a very interesting question, and a very central question for our society now in all kinds of ways. At a certain point during the discussion, one of the students -- a young man of about thirty -- described an event that took place at Christmas.  ... Read Full Story >>

Noticing An Agitated Duck

Kim Tucker was heading home to West Sacramento last week and saw a sight that can't rightly be ignored. There, by the side of the road, was a remarkably agitated duck, pacing the pavement and flapping in fear. Her ducklings, Tucker learned on subsequent inspection, had fallen through a drainage grate and were desperately treading water in the filthy bog below. She looked for help, eventually enlisting a burly construction worker (to pry off the grate), a slew of onlookers and, she was surprised to note, a teenage boy, who whipped off his shoes and, without hesitation, slipped into the drain and started retrieving the ducklings in distress, one by one. "He was right on it," an impressed Tucker said. "It was (a very) human moment." But not all 13-year-olds are so human, judging by the number of like-aged boys who passed by the scene with little more than a glance. What made this particular kid ... Read Full Story >>

Sponsoring Smiles :)

When I first joined a Smile Group, I immediately purchased some smile cards which I doled out quickly.  So I went back to purchase some more immediately.   The high from practicing RAOK , seeing others smile, etc was so addicting that I wanted to do and share, more and more and more!! Well, guess what? The second smile card purchase also disappeared rapidly -- seems that when I got new cards, they "burn a hole in my pocket " urging me to gift and give away at every opportunity.  Do your cards whisper to you too? Reading the website thoroughly one day, I noticed that I could donate money to sponsor cards for others so right then I wrote a check, sent a hand written note and the money, knowing I was assisting others who would want cards but may not be able to afford them. I have since been printing out smile cards from my computer and I pass ... Read Full Story >>

Poor Lady

When i was in my childhood days, I knew a mentally disabled lady who had a very rich background. She had two sons and a husband who was doctor. But he had an accident. One of the sons exiled her from the home and she became mad because of this incident. Everyone denied to help her or give her anything and basically turned her away. I used to see all this when my father brought me sweets or a new dress and I would say, "Please, keep that for the lady." I gave her many things that I kept for her and she gave me lots of blessings. Its really gave me so much contentment.
After a short period she died. When my mother told me she was run over by a truck, I cried a lot. This imprint is still in my mind.
From then to now, whenever I saw such poor people I have a great inclination toward them. I am ready to give up wat I can give for them. So if you have seen any people who really need you, please help them! it will add to your karmas, and believe me it causes no loss to your bank balance.

Rescued While Running Away From Home

A few years during the worst phase of my life, I ran away from home and did not know where to go. I just landed in a town to meet a friend who happened to be away on a vacation. It was late in the night and I had nowhere to go.  I called the phone number my friend had given me. A polite voice answered the phone and informed me that he was my friend's friend. He came to meet me at the bus station and took me home for the night. I confessed everything to him and he really took care of me like a baby and spent the entire next three days with me, trying to reason things. Once he was confident that I was ok, he booked my ticket to go home without informing me. He took me out  for the day and introduced all his friends and by evening gave me ... Read Full Story >>

How To Make Someone's Day For $20 Or Less (Or Even Nothing)

I struggled through St. Louis’s Lambert International Airport with my toddler and a heap of coats and carry-ons to catch a 6 a.m. flight. After making my way through the security line, I landed by the gate with my laptop still hanging out of my briefcase and my sock-footed son trying to make a run for it.   I stared longingly at Starbucks. It was only 15 yards away, but it might as well have been 15 miles, since a loudspeaker kept warning that leaving your bags unattended was not allowed. Then I noticed a well-heeled woman observing me. As she walked toward me, I was sure she was going to reprimand me for being such a disorganized mess. But instead she leaned over and said, “How do you take it?” “Huh?” I said, confused. “Your coffee, how do you take it?” I stammered out “cream and sugar,” and watched in shock as she waited ... Read Full Story >>

Generosity "Grande" at the Cafe

So, here's a long story made short. I love Starbucks, but I tend to get fattening items when I go, other than my usual soy chai tea latte. So, that's why I immediately gifted a $25 Starbucks gift card to my friend Cathy who, interestingly, had been teasing me about being part of this "goofy smile card experiment." Nevertheless, I gave it to her and said, "Don't pay me back, but pay it forward." Cathy went to a Starbucks in Lake Oswego and as she was paying for her own drink, she gave some money and my smile card to a lady standing behind her. Much to Cathy's surprise, the lady lit up like a Christmas Tree. She was very excited and said she was going to immediately "pay it forward" and surprise the lady behind her. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was feeling rather down this morning but this has completely brightened my day!! Witnessing her joy, Cathy immediately caught the bug and saw how much fun it is to be a part of this experiment. When Cathy told me the story, I wish I had a camera to show you her enthusiasm. It made me feel great and I hope it does you, too.