Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Six Writer Friends Step In

When writer Elizabeth Aleshire was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack last summer, she fully expected to recover and complete her book, 101 Ways You Can Help: How To Offer Comfort and Support To Those Who Are Grieving. But that was not to be.  A second heart attack dimmed the prospect of recovery, and Ms. Aleshire expired at the age of 59 with a third of her book unwritten. While still in the hospital, Ms. Aleshire received daily visits from six writer-friends, all of whom had met over the years at the International Women's Writing Guild's annual “Remember the Magic” summer conference at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, where Ms. Aleshire had taught in each of the past 25 years. When it became clear that Ms. Aleshire would not recover, the six writer-friends offered to complete her manuscript posthumously. Permission was granted by both the author and her publisher, Sourcebooks, ... Read Full Story >>

You Can...

You Can ======= If you can't feed a billion people, then feed just one. If you can't hire twenty million unemployed, then hire just one. If you can't support an army, then pray for one soldier. If you can't cure disease, then visit one person in the hospital. One smile provides healing. If you can't save the world, then improve your community; and if you can't improve your community, then help your next-door neighbor. We can't save the world, but we can save those within hugging distance. Don't give up. Don't become overwhelmed. We are responsible only for the people in our breathing space. Charity begins with the next person you see. Charity begins with just you and just me. If everyone on earth felt this way, what kind of planet would it be? ~A MountainWings Original   by A Lisa Lindsey, Cincinnati, OH ... Read Full Story >>

Returning Unconditional Love

I was thinking the other day, I had been very short tempered with my lovely partner, who didn't deserve it, just because I was stressed about something at work.  I stomped about the house and eventually flounced out saying I was going to the library, without a backward glance or asking if there was anything I could pick up for my loved one. I suddenly realised that I had spent all day with virtual strangers (I am a Work Based Tutor and visit different companies daily ) to whom I had been polite, courteous, 'smiley' and generally a jovial person. I did not mention my work worries and nobody guessed I was feeling particularly stressed and unhappy  but, I managed to hurt the one person who deserved it least, the person who would have given me a hug and let me have a moan.  On my way back from the library I began to feel guilty ... Read Full Story >>

The Loving Easter Bunnies

Yesterday, my daughter and I had decided to play the role of Easter Bunny! We hopped from door to door in our neighborhood delivering rainbow-colored handmade cards accompanied by miniature baskets of assorted jellybeans. We then thought of bringing Easter blessings to the local Senior Nursing Home community and thumped off there. As we rang the doorbell of the home and came over with our collection of cards and baskets, a few seniors scurried over in the lobby to greet us. They were like little kids. They patiently stood in a line beside us, asking us what were the different jellybean flavors and if they could keep the basket. My daughter and I chuckled together and as we handed our sweet treats to the first petite and smiling grandmother who came up to us and gripped our hands tightly and proceeded to hug us, suddenly a huge line appeared behind her of  grandmas, grandpas, great aunts, and uncles, whose faces lit up with smiles.  In addition to the positive responses we received from ... Read Full Story >>

Real People Who Love, Live and Inspire

I have received so many comments, karma bucks, well-wishes, hugs, gifts from a couple corners of the world, prayers, e-mails, letters, e-cards and notes and I want to say I am truly blessed.

All of you here are so important to me, whether you have been here for quite some time or have recently joined this wonderful group of real people who love, live and inspire!

Right now is a time in my life when I need you more than you may ever know.  I mean it, right now, right this very minute.  I have learned so much from all of you about how life changes from moment to moment and how life is all about attitude and it does and it is. 

Keeping Hope Alive For Our Favorite Professor

A professor I have worked pretty closely with has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. It has been devastating for his family and heartbreaking for his students. What made him extraordinary was not only that he was a phenomenal rising star. He had only recently collected the highest honours for young researchers at the White House. We truly admired him for his inspiring personality - as someone put it, "He always has a smile and a kind word for everyone." It is very hard to find someone who is exceptionally intelligent and also a wonderful , humble human being. My professor's family of four (beautiful, sweet children all under ten) and lovely,generous-spirited wife (who is expecting the fifth), along with their deep spiritual faith has been a continual source of joy for him. All this made us, his students, even more shocked and heartbroken when we found out his cancer was terminal ... Read Full Story >>

A Positively Charged Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, talents, or skill.  It will make or break a company, a church, and a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past . We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life breaks down to the following percentage: 10% is what happens to you and 90% of life is how you react to it. We are in charge of our Attitudes."   -Charles Swindoll                                             May today find each of ... Read Full Story >>

Getting Out What We Put Into The World

Since I have come to any kind of spiritual maturity I have believed we get out of this world what we put into it (... and then some!) Usually, the rewards are indirect and sometimes hard to recognise, but every once in a while what you give comes back to you there and then! A couple of days back my step-son, Josh, was preparing for a big event. Children from his primary school were going for their first trial day at the secondary school, so they would know what to expect when they started after the summer holidays. A big day for an eleven year old lad! I was in the middle of some stuff when I noticed him searching in a clay pot where we keep pens and pencils. In primary school they use pencils, but secondary kids get to write with pens. And Josh was looking for a pen. He came out with ... Read Full Story >>

Saving a Stranger From a Ticket

Today I was on my way to the dry cleaners , I was putting coins in the parking meter when I noticed the car in front of me was out of time.  Knowing the parking police around here I just popped a nickle in there and gave him a couple of minutes.

Sharing Smile Cards With a Faraway Friend

My best friend in Norway told me about the HelpOthers.org website and Smile Cards. After reading some of the stories I promptly ordered some. When I talked to her later on and told her I would be receiving a batch of Smile Cards in the mail soon, she said she'd asked for some, too, but that there was no shipping to her country yet. She obviously had been a little disappointed, so I sent her half of mine when they arrived in the mail. I am sure she will be excited to start using them in Norway, and that there soon will be some stories from there.

Kind Words That Touched a Young Mother

I was on the bus with two of my young children this morning. My daughter was chatting away to me.

When the bus came to its next stop an older lady was getting off. As she passed me, she smiled and said, "You're a good mum."  I thanked her and was a little bit embarassed.

Then, after she got off, tears came into my eyes. It meant so much to me because no one ever really says that -- probably most mum's don't hear that very much!  I'm really grateful to her for taking the time to say it.  Having said all that, I don't know what I was doing that made her want to say it!!

My Daughter's Noble Sacrifice

My wife called,"How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?" I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened.  Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age.She has just turned eight. She particularly detested curd rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of curd rice! I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling,why don't you take a few mouthful of this curd rice?Just for Dad's sake, dear."  Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. ... Read Full Story >>

Free Tax Help and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Someone offered to help us file our taxes. The man who helped us, Wallce, is an accountant and heard that my husband had gotten laid off and offered to help us out for free.  My husband is very organized and had things prepared but it still is a huge job.

Yesterday I woke up early before work and made chocolate chip cookies  for Wallace.  My husband delivered them to him along with a Thank You note and a Smile Card. He said Wallace was happy to receive the homemade treat. 

Ripples of Kindness, you just can't stop them.  And why would we even want to?  Keep them going friends!

What is in Your Attitude ?

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, including your mistakes, your guilt, your pain. In fact, it is more critical  than the education you have obtained, than the money you worked so hard to earn, than the circumstances in which you were born, than the failures you endured, than even the successes which with you have been blessed. It surely is more important than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than your physical appearance or your talents. It will make or break a company, a church , or a home. In fact, it will make or break something even more profound - your character. We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude . I am convinced that  10% of life is what happens to you,  and 90% of it is how you react to it. So, the choice lies with you. It's all in your Attitude."

 -Charles Swindoll

The Tortoise And The Hippopotamus: A True Story

NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said. The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him. 'It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother',' ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP. 'After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately , it landed on the tortoise and established a strong ... Read Full Story >>

Previously Loved Videos Bring Joy Once More

This week we received a query from a generous soul who wanted to know if our Acts of Kindness Network would accept a donation of over 200 VHS previously loved videos to bring hours of entertainment to others and stay out of the landfill.

We promptly sent a message to our  database advising of such and in turn received numerous positive responses to this act of kindness. I have since shared the heartwarming responses with the donor who was very touched indeed.  We now have a host of senior's residences, shelters and group homes who will receive delivery next week of new movies for their library! We also encourage our recipients to extend an act of kindness and Pay It Forward and it will be interesting to learn what they choose to do ...  as kindness comes in many forms!

The Abundance of a Sacred Fund

Last year, I received a satchel of money on the front steps at my home. When that money arrived, I actually was out of town but my family called me and said that there was a lot of money left at the front door with a note.  When, I returned home I was touched most by the note, which read, "Thank you for all you do for the world." As I have shared on helpothers.org, I immediately placed all of this money into my sacred fund which keeps coming back to me again and again. All of the work I do which bring gifts of monetary value immediately goes into a fund in my home. This has enabled me to grow the initial gift from the universe of $1000 and I have attracted and given back at least two to three times this. The abundance just keeps going out to ... Read Full Story >>

The Big Smile at Panera Bread

I was eating lunch with my mom yesterday at one of our favorite places called Panera Bread. Before we left  I found $4.00 in my purse. There was no one wating in line so I went up to the cashier and asked if there was a minimum dollar amount for a gift card. He told me no so I asked him to put the $4.00 on a gift card. I then handed him a smile card and asked that he give the gift card and the smile card to the next customer that comes in. He looked at me and with a BIG smile on his face he said "really?" and I told him yes. 

Although I did not get to see the reaction of the next customer, the smile on the cashier's face alone was worth it! Hopefully it will inspire him to do the same for someone else.

Secret Snow Wiper Will Strike Again!

After 2 false alerts the winter storm advisory today, tonight and tomorrow  is real  -- snow has been falling and accummulating.  And I'm armed!  I made sure to put an extra pairs of  gloves, 2 ice scraper (small and large), and a small hand held brush for sweeping the snow in the front seat of my car. What I'm also going to do is scout our work parking lot for a secret snow wiping and windshield cleaning, after I leave work. I started this tradition a few years ago when my hubby and I discontinued car pooling. (I did not realize that he spoiled me- I'd sit in the nice, warm truck watching/waiting while he did the cleaning then drove us safely home.) Now I do my own (ugh!).  I know how much work it involves, and  how cold you can get.  So I'm excited to be able to surprise someone with a ... Read Full Story >>

Chunky Chocolate and a Bear Hug

I recently attended a lecture entitled "Tickle Your Soul" with popular speaker Anne Bryan Smollin. She is one of my favorite speakers. I try to go to at least one of her lectures each year. Anne's talks are inspirational, full of energy and extremely humorous.  She always gets her audience involved and loves to give out hugs!  If you have the opportunity to see/hear her, do go. She also has some wonderful books that will put a smile on your face. Anne is not a 'small' woman and she doesn't hesistate to always find some humor in being a 'bigger' woman. I know she likes her sweets -- she talks about her icecream parlor adventures and such. I knew she was going to have a full day this particular day of her lecture, and I also knew she would be giving out hugs and autographed books after.  This gave me the perfect ... Read Full Story >>