Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Who is the Giver?

In some parts of India , beggars go from door to door, at night , to collect left-over food. One such beggar appeared at the door of a family which was busy . The lady tells the beggar, "My husband has to rush to board the last bus to his village - as someone is seriously ill there. I have already cooked food for him as well." The thoughtful beggar offers to return later.

After collecting food from the other houses, the beggar returns much later.  Seeing the disturbed expression on the lady's face he enquires, "Is something wrong?"  The lady replies, "My husband has come back as he missed the last bus."  The lady's dilemma  is clear to the beggar. He says, "I can manage with less food one night, but your husband may not . Please keep this food for him!"

HE WAS THE GIVER!

I recall this story , in my own words, from years ago in the newspaper.  I remember how it shook me totally when I read it and I can say that it has been the turning point in my life - towards deeper ecological, LIFE and spiritual issues.

30 Days of Inspiration for My Aunt's Birthday

I have this amazing aunt Tina who really transformed my life.  She is so kind and caring, and always loves unconditionally.  She always listens and gives great advice.  She is a real inspriration to me.  She makes me want to be a better person, and trust me she has done just that.  She always helps others, always thinks of others first, she helps strangers, family, and friends.  She raises money for charities, and is very charitable with her money.  They have been very fortunate. So her birthday comes around, and I say to myself what do I get her?  She has everything she needs.  I have to do something special.  So I handmade these little envelopes with decorative paper, 30 of them,  and bought some stock paper which I  cut into little cards.  On each little card I put an inspirational quote and wrote things from the heart  -- how she had ... Read Full Story >>

Carrying Love Half Way Around The World

The postie has just delivered a letter. It's from a friend in a far away land. Inside is a note, a list of "I Believes" and a beautiful bookmark.

I've been sitting here for the past five minutes at a loss for words. Not because of the gift, although it is sweet, not because of the thought, although that is also appreciated, but because my friend took that thought and that gift and put them into action, in a way that carried love half way around the world.

That's an awesome thing, and, well, it's a lot to take in.

So, I'll digress a little and mention one of the "I Believes." My friend says, "I Believe ... that your life can be changed by people who don't even know you." In a very real way, that's what you all out there in HelpOthersland are doing. You change the lives of the people you help, but you also change the lives of the people you share with on this site. We're becoming a family, for the best of all possible reasons. Thank you all for that.

And to my friend, I Believe ... you have changed my life!

A Smile That's Still In My Mind

I just started using smile cards. One day I was out for my daily walk when I saw this lady sitting by the corner store.  She was a homeless lady, who had all her stuff with her.

The next day she was in the same spot, so I stopped to talk to her about her life story.  A few days later I had my smile card with me and some money, so I went to Denny's to get a gift card.  I gave it to the lady by the store and when I gave the gift card to her with a smile card she gave me a smile that is still in my mind.  She said that she has not eaten in days and from that day on I get a smile from her whenever I see her.

A 10-Year Old Teacher Tips Us in Life

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.  "Miss, how much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.  "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.  The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.  "Okay then, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.  By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.  "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.  The little boy again counted his coins.  "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and left. When the waitress came back to that table, she began to ... Read Full Story >>

The Difference a "Thank You" Makes

I have been amazed at the power of these two little words... It costs nothing to say "Thank You!", but what a tremendous difference it can make to someone. Recently when visiting my local DMV office to take my driver's license test, I noticed how rude some people were to the officers tending to them. When it was my turn I expressed to the officer taking down my information how impressed I was with their patience and I thanked him for his excellent service. His face lit up and he said that they don't get that very often, if ever... I assured him they deserved to be thanked and that the lady that had helped me earlier had also been very kind and polite. She was in earshot at the adjoining desk attending to another applicant, but the comment did not go unnoticed judging by the smile that brightened her face. Yesterday, ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Boy's Box of Savings

After the tsunami hit India, many people who lived near the coastal areas were severely affected, lost homes, lost many lives.

College girls were asked to collect money from their nighbourhood. So we formed a group and engaged ourselves in collecting money for the tsunami relief fund. In our area, we showed a sign board, which read, "Please help tsunami victims," to the people in neighbourhood and asked for their help. They donated money or dresses or rice or  medicine or anything which has a longer expiry date.

A small boy who was on the way to his school came running to us and asked us to wait there for some time. After 5 minutes he came running to us and handed his small savings box.

It was a plastic box in which there were many coins inside. He said he got that little box from his granny as a birthday gift for saving coins. And he wanted it to be donated for the fund.

Vow! What a big heart!

It was the real greatest offering collected by us.

Thank you sweet heart!

They'll Smile At Me... They'll Smile Not :)

The first week into our recent visit to US while standing in a long check-out line, my daughter, Meera observed, “Mom, most people here seem to be so friendly.   They smile even at strangers.   Nobody does that in India”.   She was right.   Subconsciously I had noticed that as well, though had never vocalized it out loud.   I asked Meera if she had noticed any similarities amongst people who smiled at her.   She thought about it; I thought about it; and we recalled that most often it was the older generation that was more generous with smiles.   Also that African-American store employees not just smiled at us, but also added, “How y’all doing today?” or “You have a good day now”.   Taking an early morning walk in a park with my sister, I noticed that almost everyone muttered, “Good morning”, or acknowledged us ... Read Full Story >>

Helping the Unreached During Floods

Two years back, due to heavy rains in our city there were floods everywhere.The city was covered with water everywhere. Roads were blocked. Highways were also blocked. People travelling were stuck due to floods. They had no food, no water and no safe shelter. The condition was simply terrible. The people living close to the highways helped each and every passenger suffering due to these floods. As per their budget they manged to provide them food. Some of them lent their homes for these passnegers. Each resident tried their best to help their fellow mankind. Near the highway there was a small dhaba/resutaurant.  The owner prepared rotis and sabji (tortillas and vegetables) and packed it and distributed it to the passengers suffering from the floods. The passengers were so thankful of the help received from the citizens. In our city, an organization collected grains, vegeatbles, old clothes and all the necessary basic needs from the public and distributed them to those suffering. My family also ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Of Strangers at Airports

I am still praying for the recovery of a young man who was struck down by a heart attack--he is still in intensive care and is doing a little better---thank you all for your prayers too. 

Anyway, his mother was finally able to get here after a long international journey (she had never traveled so far, and now here she is at her son's bedside--not knowing what lies ahead).  When I spoke to her, asking about her journey, she replied, "People helped me every step of the way -- I did not have any problems.  I didn't have any dollars for the luggage cart so one of my copassengers insisted on getting one for me."

For someone traveling so far to reach the bedside of a critically ill son, I am sure that all of those gestures meant a whole lot to her.  During this season of travel and happy reunions/vacations, please look out for your fellow passengers!  Airports are a great place for RAOKs.

$100 Hero Changes a Family's Life Forever

I read an article in my local paper a while ago, and it really stuck with me.   There was a couple in my neighbourhood whose house had been badly damaged in a hail storm we had earlier in the year. I remember it well and so did my car, hailstones almost the size of baseballs. Anyway I read this article a few months after the storm that this couple didn't have insurance and they had just bought their first home, they had been saving for five years to get their home. They were a fairly young couple and unfortunately their home was badly damaged in the hail. They had most of their house damaged, not only by the hail but a tree outside their house had fallen and destroyed a a section of the house. They didn't have money to repair because all their money was going into just buying the place, and ... Read Full Story >>

A Smile Card Story Hits the Airwaves

This is way cool.  I stepped into my car this morning and heard the following on the radio: "Random Acts of Kindness sure do create a ripple effect and spread smiles and love farther than we can imagine."

There was more:"We just got a call from our friend Deb in Nazareth, who told us about a grumpy crossing guard.  One day Deb decided to stop into Dunkin Donuts and get hot chocolates for each of the four crossing guards.  When she gave it to the grumpy one, she told him she really appreciates what he does for all the children out here in the cold, wet weather, day in and day out.  She then handed him a Smile Card, and he produced a smile which she would never forget.  From then on, they always said good day to one another."

Deb had gotten the Smile Cards from me and loved the stories I had told her about here on HelpOthers.  She does not have a computer, but has a receptive heart and due to the kindness of all of you and the originator(s) of this site, was able to bring the ripple of kindness and smiles full circle!

Tons of love to all of you today!

Forgiveness in the Midst Of Despair

Today I showed kindness. It may seem like a simple thing, but I showed it to someone who hurt me beyond belief.  This year has been the worst of my life: I lost my mom, my job, my fiancee and soon my home. I thought this year would change my life for the better, but I was wrong. I fell in love and he asked me to marry him. We decided we would make a change and move to Baltimore to be closer to our friends. I left Philadelphia, found a home, and although I had lost my job, I took my unemployment to find a new home for us to get together and for him to move and join me at the end of June. We were to be married in September. One month before he was to move, he just cut off contact with me. For almost 7 weeks, he hasn't ... Read Full Story >>

Two Metro Passes and Giggles of Glee

We were in Boston for the long holiday weekend and since we knew we would be using public transportation instead of driving, we bought a couple of seven-day metro cards thinking we would save a little bit of money instead of buying one-day passes each day. 

On our last day in town, we stepped up to a couple of young men that were just in the process of buying their own cards.  My husband handed them both of our cards and the boys just giggled.  They could not believe their good fortune as they looked at the cards and realized they had 5 more days to use the cards!  My husband thought they might have been German tourists, based on their accent when they said thank you. 

In any case, those giggles of glee were all the thanks we needed -- how wonderful to be able to share with strangers. 

Love's Gentle Presence

   Some time ago a girl fell in love with me. She was, and still is, beautiful. She would look at me with such tender eyes. She would try and sit next to me and I thought that was so kind of her to do that. But I failed her. However her love affected me more than she knows. Because of her I got courage to find myself and become a better person. Because of her I felt loved and cared for in this world. And I wish to repay her one day.

Broken Laundry Cart and a Ride Home

I was on my merry way when I saw this old lady trying to go back home after going to the laundromat.  She was pushing her little cart with 2 wheels on the front but it didn't budge because of a steep bump.   She pushed so hard one of the wheels came off. I stopped and got the wheel and put it back on the lady's laundry cart. I asked her that if she would like me to take her home after I finished my shopping and she replied "yes."  She was so happy. I didn't know how far she was going and my son and his girl friend were waiting for me in the car. I rushed to get my things and when I was at the register I let her know that it would not take much longer and she waited patiently for me.  When I finished  I told her I was ready ... Read Full Story >>

Intentions Spoke Volumes in This Cafe

   Which road is paved with good intentions? Oh, yeah. You know the one!    Well, anyway, I was in a Glasgow cafe at the weekend. Actually, I had been browsing in the shop while Julie got a table in the cafe that occupies the rear of the shop. As I walked to the table, I saw an elderly lady trying to make her way to a vacant seat. The place was busy and there wasn't a lot of space. She walked slowly and determinedly, leaning heavily on two sticks, wobbling slightly between steps.    Sometimes you can just tell, and I was sure she would much rather get there under her own steam than be helped.    So, I stood and watched. And while I watched I saw a couple, sitting nearby, halt their coffee cups inches from their lips. Without looking down, the man shoved the bag at his feet further under the ... Read Full Story >>

Sharing Smiles and Cinnamons More Than Words

My husband, Jim, works in a warehouse. He works with many who can barely speak english and he doesn't speak Spanish. They share smiles more than words.

Last night Jim ate a quick sandwich in his car and as he was walking back into  the warehouse from his break, he walked past a picnic table of guys sitting and chatting in Spanish. Louis was the only man he knew at the table. Jim had a small bag of cinnamon candies in his pocket that he pulled out and offered one to Louis and then he motioned to the others to help themselves too.  They were all smiles and acting like Jim offered them gold.

Jim said the best part about sharing was that later during the night a guy Jim had never seen before approached him at his machine and smiled and said "Cinnamons????"  Jim smiled and pulled the bag from his pocket.

Jim was surprised that a simple act of sharing cinnamon candies had spread through the warehouse to someone he had never even seen before.  I guess friends are easier to make than Jim thought!

When Tables Turn Randomly...

A week ago I received my "smile cards" in the mail.  I was so excited to give out my first card!  I had to go to the grocery store, so I decided to give out a card there.  The plan was to let the person in line behind me at the checkout counter go in front of me - no matter how many groceries were in their cart!  I got in line and anxiously waited for someone to come up behind me.  Unfortunately, the clerk closed the line behind me so there wasn't anyone there to give it to!  I pushed my cart to the parking lot where my car was parked.  I spied a young pregnant woman unloading her groceries.   My plan then changed - after I put my bags in the car, I would offer to return her cart for her so she wouldn't have to walk far in the ... Read Full Story >>

Paying it Behind At a Coffee Shop

A couple of times a month I play a game in the Starbucks drive-through lane. When I get to the cashier I pay for my coffee and the coffee of the person in the car behind me. The configuration of the drive-through makes it easy to hear the car behind me call their order into the speaker phone so I don't risk paying for a dozen caramel macchiatos and a pound of Sumatra. You may be saying that it's not technically a "game"; it's more like a "stunt". Well the game part of it comes as I try to get away from the store and into traffic before the person with the free coffee can catch up to me and get a look at me. I want to stay anonymous and leave them guessing; I think it gives them a longer lasting impression. One time it was friend of mine but ... Read Full Story >>