Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Learning to Notice People In Need

I live in suburbia and have 13 and 15 year old children.  Every now and then, a homeless person will stand near the entrance to one of the many trendy shopping centers and hold up a "Will Work for Food" sign, or something similar.

Every time we see one, I always turn into the nearest drive-through restaurant and buy a meal with a large cup of coffee.  I then go back to where the person is standing and drop off the food with a small amount of cash.  The response is always gracious and thankful.  I never say anything to my children while doing this, as I don't want them to turn off due to any perceived 'preaching' (believe me, they hear it from me enough!).

We are always hurrying somewhere, but it takes only 5 minutes and the impact it has on my teens is well worth taking the time.  They have learned first not to ignore these people in need and second, that even a small act can make a difference.

My One Wish For a Genie

I had a dream. A genie appeared and offered me one wish. I begged: “I want happiness.” The genie answered: "Happiness? You can't give someone happiness. What is happiness for one person is different for someone else. It is relative. I cannot give you happiness, but I can give you what will make you happy. What will make you happy?” the genie asks. I examined my life and found that the most ecstatic moments of joy, bliss and happiness were when I was helping people. My happiness came from serving others. So, I said, “Genie, let my life be one of serving people." And so it has come to pass. I became a physician to provide medical care to indigenous peoples worldwide in war and in peace. I held the hands of hopeless people in warring Rwanda, dared to care for the desperate in Angola and the traumatized in the trenches of ... Read Full Story >>

To Africa, "With Love"

I'm in Africa right now on a peace-keeping mission with the Army. This is my 5th deployment and I volunteered for every one of them (sort of). Anyway, this story is not about me or the army or even Africa for that matter. It's about the way people can become karma aides even when they are in need of it themselves.   I subscribed to this online program for soldiers, where we put our addresses on the website and random people write to us and send care packages and thank you letters. I got one the other day that was a letter from a lady living in Pennsylvania.  She was thanking us for all we do and telling us how much she prays for the troops. This lady is originally from Russia, married an American soldier and moved to Pennsylvania. She explained all of this in her letter. I was moved by ... Read Full Story >>

The Woman Whose Life I Wanted To Transform

I'm an American who has lived in France for nearly 20 years.   I've whined and complained with other Americans about how the French are unfriendly, cold, reserved, unavailable for friendship.  I've had a hard time making a living here as a psychotherapist and healer and periodically blamed this also on the French. I live in Versailles and for the past 4 years the city has sponsored events for International Women's Day.  Three years ago, I moved to a new neighborhood and felt an intense need to meet people so I went to the cinema night for women's day featuring the film with Charlize Theron called "North Country," a film about the first class action suite against sexual harrasement.   I was excited about the possibility of finding a way to connect to French women through the discussion we would have after the film, perhaps to make friends, perhaps to get more work.  Outside ... Read Full Story >>

Your Mind Is Like A Garden

Your mind is like a garden,
Whatever you plant will grow,

Your thoughts are seeds you're planting,
They each need water and light to show 

So don't plant seeds of lack or fear,
Disease, discord, or doubt
Plant, instead, the seeds you want
Then things you want will sprout

This gift of choice is given to all,
And not to just a few
The harvest, friend, is in your hands
The crop depends on you

So take this power which you've been given,
And use it every day,
To gain from life the good you want,
For you have found the way.

A Sprinkle of Love, by Mail

I have come up with an idea that i thought i would share. I am going to start to sending letters, post cards and small things through the mail to my grandmother. One each day. She has not been feeling well lately and I thought this would cheer her up a bit. I am thinking of doing it with other people as well so each week I will pick a new person to shower with encouraging word, thoughts, and love!

Just wanted to share it! You are all an inspiration to me thanks!!

A Brother's Faith Remembered

My brother committed suicide four years ago and his birthday is May 14 so he is very much in my thoughts right now.  He was my big brother and always looked after me.  I am thankful today for all of the special times we had as running partners, and times spent driving to different races, where we had so many conversations about life in general.  I miss these talks terribly at this time of the year. However, I am so happy he shared with me the story of his faith.  He was always so helpful to people, and I had been with him many times when we pulled over to help someone in need, sharing a smile and helping them get back on the road so I was not surprised when he told me of the time that he was still in college, and it was the end of the month.  To top it ... Read Full Story >>

Two Sides of Wisdom

I was 16 years old, getting out of the train station with my father, and a woman came to him and said that her money had been stolen.  She asked if he could  lend her some money to go back home. My father gave her what she asked and told her not to worry about sending it back. I was shocked. How could my own father be so gullible? It was obvious to me that she was lying, staying in the station all day long to get the next patsy.  "She was lying!" I exclaimed. "Why did you give her anything at all?" My father looked at me and I could see he was a bit angry. "And what would you like me to do," he said, "Should I tell her that I am a college professor and I can see through her scam?" I did not understand him at all, so he told ... Read Full Story >>

Change Your Thought, Change Your Life

In our normal life, everyone will think the same thoughts as we thought yesterday, day before and it goes on.  We normally have good habits and bad at the same rate. Bad thoughts or intentions lay down in the active part of our brain and always provoke us to do the short-cut things, instead of following the respective rules or regulations and it exceeds the limits sometimes and make us worry or be afraid of unwanted things.

To avoid or to control this, one must live in this moment, and think what we are and where we are and if a bad thought arises, we must try to replace it with some good one. It is hard, but it is easy whenever a bad thought enters your mind, do not allow them and try to think or speak about the opposite thing. It will not come for some time. Doing the same thing all the time, the bad thoughts will automatically escape from us and our mind will be ready and relaxed to accept new good things. After some days or weeks or months, you feel stronger than ever. You will automatically love the way you live. It will surely teach you the ultimate purpose of your life.

The Floor of Dreams

The story I read illustrates the point that dreams are to be lived and not to die. There were once 2 brothers who lived on the 80th level. On coming home one day, they realized to their dismay that the lifts were not working and that they have to climb the stairs to get home. After struggling to the 20th level, panting and tired, they decided to abandon their bags and come back for them the next day. They left their bags then and climbed on. When they had struggled to the 40th level, the younger brother started to grumble and both of them began to quarrel. They continued to climb the flights of steps, quarreling all the way to the 60th floor. They then realized that they had only 20 levels more to climb and decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace. They silently climbed on and reached their home at ... Read Full Story >>

Healing the Hurt in Others

Five-and-a-half years ago my father was suddenly rushed to the hospital for open heart surgery.  At the time, we had no idea that he was gravely ill. The surgery did not go well and he remained unconscious. Due to the laws of our state, we were forced to keep him on a ventilator for 72 hours against his living will wishes. At the end of day two, I was sitting in the waiting room and was watching others walk their fathers around who had had similiar surgeries. Typically, I am very happy for others that are recovering, but this evening, I guess I was a little angry because I finally realized I would never be able to hold my father's hand and walk down the hall again. I had to jump up and run down the hall to get away from everyone. This is not in my nature but I just had to be ... Read Full Story >>

Like Father, Like Son

I was brought up in a Christian family and my parents were kind enough to show their love to every one. My mom and pop used to help elderly people and physically-challenged people.   

This inspired me and I have kept them as my role model in showing kindness. I give money when I see the beggars who are old and physically challenged.

To this day, I  have a habit of collecting coins with lower denominations and giving them to the poor people on festival days. On each day when I come home I put the coins accumulated in my pocket in jar at home. This practice I have followed from my father.

Try this idea and be kind to the poor.  

An Unlikely Question on a Pop Quiz

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: 'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.  Absolutely, said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello". I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Children Watch and Learn From Us

Teenagers! What can I say? My daughter is 12. Sometimes she is a crazy bundle of fun and sometimes she seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulders. This was one of her down days. She was bored and sad (and making a meal out of it!).  Every time she complained about being bored I would suggest something she could do, but there were always bucketloads of reasons why she couldn't do any of them. The suggestion that she might enjoy tidying her bedroom just provoked a look that reminded me of thunderclouds -- she's been good at that look since she was two! I was getting a little fed up with all this negativity, but I kept my patience.  I gently suggested that possibly the very best way in the world to have a good day was to try and make it a better day for someone else.  Then I suggested ... Read Full Story >>

Thanks to All of You (Yes, You)

Things have been very tough for quite a while now. You know how sometimes you think it can't get worse but it does? Oh yes does it ever!!  Everyday seems to be either an up-hill struggle or has a "hanging on by your eyelashes" kind  of a feel to it.

Well, today was a great day!.My husband has been out of work but today he got offered not one but two jobs. He got a tax rebate, and I sold seven items of my personal jewelery and clothing before I even heard this from him.

I want to thank each and every one of you. Your support and love has given me the strength to lift my head up and face this world. You have given me my inner spark back. I was down but not beaten, yet today I feel the sun on my face, the clouds are moving on :-)

Do you realise how important and special you all are?  Just by being out there and joining this site you all make a difference.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my friends, thank you.

Finding the Time to be Kind

It's the end of school, and, oh my, what a hectic time as I have many big responsibilites in our small school.  This week, though, I tried to find time to do something kind.  I sent flowers to two of my fellow teachers as a way of saying "thank you" for their help with several activities.  I also purchased a meat and cheese tray for our lunch group to honor a short-term substitue who was coming back just to have lunch with us.

We're Hand Jiving Fools - Pass It On!

My daughter and I have this little bonding activity we do when we are driving together. It may seem corny, but it makes us laugh and it doesn't just stop with us. Many others drivers surrounding us end up joining in the fun and start smiling away! When we get to traffic lights that turn red, instead of feeling irritated that we actually have to wait, we use the moment to start hand jiving. We engage in the full-blown activity, by waving our arms to the music, head bobbing, and sending out big smiles into the universe. Even my 3 year-old granddaughter joins in now and starts giggling and shaking around in her car seat! The reactions we get from surrounding motorists and pedestrians are varied.  Some look surprised. Some pretend not to notice and some give us a smile. Then there are the ones we love the most. Those are the ones who catch on and start creating their own dance moves in the car ... Read Full Story >>

Sharing a Mother's Pain

When I was a young girl, my mother and father divorced which devastated our finances.  My mother accepted food from an uncle that worked at a seafood packing plant that offered torn and shredded food for free as they could not sell it.  We ate a LOT of seafood.  I remember times when my mother would be in such despair trying to spread what little cash she had over the need for groceries to feed us and to this day it pains me to see others in that condition. One day this winter, I dropped into a store to buy a last minute item.  It was not my regular store, but it was the one I chose.  I think it was chosen for me.  Times this winter were very hard on us with the construction industry being so slow, but I felt compelled to do something about the woman and her ... Read Full Story >>

Always Start With Gratitude

We all say "have a smile on your face."  You know what I recommend to everyone to have a more positive life? To start the day with gratitude: gratitude for being alive, for all well being and welfare that you experience. Not only will your face start to smile, but also your heart and mind. And who's familiar with the Universal Law of Attraction knows this: that positive thoughts become positive things.

The Domino Effect of Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.  It was  going to be a long flight.. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap too,' I thought.    Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and  Filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided  to start a  conversation.  'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.  'Petawawa.  We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.'    After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars.  It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..    As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  'No, that ... Read Full Story >>