Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Some members of our community have gotten together and when new people move into our area we each pitch in some money and make a basket to welcome them. I think this is important for many reasons, but the most important one is just so the newcomers will know some of their neighbors. Too many people these days move into communities and never really connect with any of their neighbors. Have you introduced yourself to your neighbor yet?

Community Kindness Blossoms for a Gardener

Last year, a gardener at school lost his family home in a fire. He is a faithful worker to the school and has been serving it for as long as I can remember.  Because the school compound contains a primary and secondary school, he often works long hours and is always the last one to leave the school. When I first entered class 1, I remember always seeing him doing carpentry, mowing the lawns and fixing many broken things and he is still doing so now. The gardener was at school working when he heard that his humble small home had caught fire. He raced back, however, by the time he reached back, the house had already burnt to the ground.  His wife and sons were all standing outside with the little they could save from the fire.  It was his worst nightmare. Most people thought that he would stay with his family and find measures ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Without Strings

Good morning, or afternoon. I would love to share some of the great things that are happening to me. This might seem a little self-centered but it is reallly about how people have helped me.

I was worried about how I could fix a Thanksgiving dinner for my family (last year), because I was out of work and finances were very tight. All the money I had was already been earmarked for rent and other necessities. The shelter where I volunteer gave me a turkey because they had so many given to them by generous people. They gave me all the stuff I needed to make a dinner for my family. I feel truly blessed to have such nice people in my life, being true friends when I had no one in my life except my immediate family. I am living in a new community and these people have really openned their hearts and have taken me in.

So everyone, wherever you may be, know that there are so many blessings out there. Be a blessing to others and show you care. It doesn't have to be money or anything like that. Just be there as a friend to someone who needs someone with no strings.

Garden Of Blessings

There’s a park that runs through the centre of Edinburgh. Sitting beneath Edinburgh Castle, the Princes Street Gardens are full of families, sunbathers and, of course, ice cream stands on sunny days.  The weekend my wife and I spent in Edinburgh was scorching. We had an amazing time, seeing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and being entertained by street performers along the Royal Mile, all rehearsing their acts for the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts. Well, all good things must come to an end. So, we packed our bags and left the hotel. The gardens were empty at this time of day so we decided to walk through them on the way to the station.  That’s when I saw the old fellow. Picture a “salty old sea-dog” with deeply lined face and bushy white beard. He was wearing the tattered remains of several coats, which seemed to be lined with black, plastic bin ... Read Full Story >>

Healing a Heart with Kindness

I suffer from atrial fibrillation of the heart, and recently had to go through a 5-hour heart stress test to check my arteries and blood flow. I had been very stressed out and fearful of what they might find, and also was uneasy about the upcoming tests.

During one portion of the test, an angel in a nurse's uniform named Julie spent the 30 minutes or so that it took to complete the test answering my many questions, advising me on my choices, and reassuring me that all would be fine and I'd probably live to be 90. 

When I desperately needed someone to share my fears with, just someone to hear me, there she was. And get this: as I prepared to leave, she gave me a big bear hug and told me how blessed SHE was to have met ME!

Her kindness was so sweet and wonderful that when I left there I felt like a million bucks!  On the way home I stopped and bought a cute thank you card and popped it in the mail to her.   All the thank you cards in the world could not express my gratitude to her for being such a light in the darkness when I needed it the most! God bless her always!

Thinking Outside the Bun to Share Smiles

Last Friday, I went to Taco Bell late at night to get food. I looked down at my car door and remembered I had the Smile cards.  I smiled, drove up to the window to pay for my food and asked the cashier if I could pay for the food ordered by the person behind me.  The cashier looked puzzled, but agreed to my request. 

After I paid for my order, I gave the cashier a smile card.  The cashier read it, smiled and wished me good night. As I thought about how surprised the person in the car behind me would be, I smiled big and thanked God for my blessings.  My heart felt light, especially after having an emotional day.

Just ask! You might be surprised

A work group from the company where I work toured a United Way agency named Hope House that provides day care for kids diagnosed HIV-positive or who have parents who are HIV-positive. It was a place so full of love. One little boy greeted us with hugs and then told us that his Daddy was in heaven. As you can imagine, we were very touched.

The agency provides a place for the kids to learn, grow, feel safe and deal with the challenges of their lives. I asked the director what material goods the agency needed and she indicated paper towels and diapers.

As a result, we put out the word at our work place and the response was tremendous. We put a big box in the lobby and put up notices and figured we'd give it a week. Well, after one week the box was overflowing and there was enough on the ground to nearly fill another two. Some people gave 12-packs of paper towels and large pkgs of high quality diapers.

I am proud of the giving and the generous spirit of my fellow workers. Sometimes, you just have to ask. The response was more than we ever expected. Now I'm looking forward to Hope House receiving our gifts.

Yes, there are people who love their job!

My ipod is in very sad shape right now so I called the Apple Support line and surprisingly, the lady I spoke with was wonderful. She was nice and informative.

Wow!

I had to stay on the phone for an hour and a half, but while things were downloading etc. we chatted, and she was so pleasant. It just really makes me glad that there are people out there who love their job!

A Tattoo Named Lost

Got on the plane in Minneapolis for the two hour and nine minute flight to NY. Spent the first nine minutes of it talking to the young curly-brown-haired passenger with long sideburns. In the first three minutes of talking to him I noticed on the back of his hand a ball-point-pen tattoo. One word. "Lost". And for some reason that touched me. In the same inexplicable way that "Help Wanted" signs in store windows do sometimes. That people would be so honest, so open about their vulnerability. I wonder what he is going through. This fellow passenger with his friendly manner who freelances for the magazine "Popular Photography" and moved back to his hometown in Lawrence, Kansas from NY- because even though there's a lot you can do in NY there's a lot that you can't do there when you're broke. And now he's learning how to do video editing and trying to ... Read Full Story >>

Pay-It-Forward Massage Therapist

Since I joined this website last week, I was mulling about how to incorporate acts of kindness into my life as a regular practice. I was truly inspired! I am a massage therapist and have my own practice. What I decided to do is to no longer keep my tips; instead, I would use that money towards giving someone a free massage. For instance, I charge $75/hour. When there is $75 worth of tips given, I will offer someone in need -- who cannot afford the massage otherwise -- a free one. Well, no sooner had I hatched this plan that a client called me and said she had to cancel based on financial difficulties. Guess who got the freebee?!? The beautiful thing is that this woman just lost her father and is in a ... Read Full Story >>

Turning Frowns Upside Down

I am a full time college student at Wilmington University in Delaware and as part of my work-study program, I tutor special education students at a nearby school.

Unfortunately, I hear stories every day of the often poor ways others treat these wonderful children. The gift I like most to bring to this work is an ability to make people laugh.

I feel good when I am able to answer a question about the study of English or science, but I feel best when I see genuine smiles on previously frustrated faces. I try to be kind to everyone and everything. Some day's it is an effort since I am only human.

One of the greatest things I have learned over the past few years has been how to embrace differences. Sharing smile cards with my students and their instructors really has been fun! Hugs for you all.

The Best Hug I've Ever Had

When I was 9, my sister, two other friends and I used to go to local nursing homes to sing for the elderly on Sunday afternoons. 

One Sunday we went to see the elderly and a little lady was having her 102nd birthday party. 

The staff told us we had to leave because of the party.  The lady immediately said, "Oh no.  They are here to entertain my guests."  I'll never forget how important I felt that day -- entertaining her and her guests on her special day. 

A few months later she passed away.  Bless her heart for including us in such a glorious time.

When we had finished singing that day, she insisted we have a big piece of cake and punch. Then she gathered us each in her arms and hugged us.  I think that might have been the best hug I've ever had.  We were there to make her feel good but she made me feel good too.  I'll never forget that bright sparkle in her eyes when she called us her singing angels.

The Magic Wallet

While I was waiting to board a domestic flight at the airport, I began observing one gentleman of medium height and of medium build who carried himself with dignity.  He was walking with his wife and his two children,a boy and a girl.  They appeared to be a happy family.   I could see the love of the father for his wife and children whom he adored.  When the time finally came for the man to go to the security check line, he picked up his daughter and planted kisses and whispered some thing into her ears.  He then bent and caressed his son and patted him on the back and waved to the wife.  I could see that his eyes were turning misty and the same emotions could be seen with his wife and children.  He gave a last look and started his walk briskly and never looked back.  ... Read Full Story >>

Be The Dew

Someone was retelling a memory of her childhood on an Iowa Farm. She had fond memories of the dew of summer mornings. The coolness of the new dawn and the grass would be deliciously wet on her small bare feet. Her father once told her how his corn crop could be saved in a dry season if there was enough heavy dew each day. That moisture on the leaves could be absorbed by the plant and would help it to survive.

Isn't that like our own lives? Sometimes we are in a tough spot and all we have is a little DEW. Yet this bit of spiritual moisture or help from God is enough to see us through until times get better. Our simple kind act towards friends and strangers is that same dew for others. It's not the amount of money or how much time spent on others, they don't need a great rainfall...its the fact that we spent time, and shared ourselves with them....it's our dew to them.

It Doesn't Take Much

I recently  heard of family down on their luck.  There were mouths to feed and clothe, BUT no money to get it done. 
I made a few calls and mentioned it at work and sure enough I had a bag of clothing for the children. Yesterday I received some more from a lady at work. Her daughter had passed away at age 8 and she said she had trouble parting with her daughter's clothing but she knew these clothes would go to good use.

It doesn't take much to help out...just a voice! 

$20 Bill

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.  In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up.  He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.  He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.  He then asked, "Who still wants it?"  Still the hands were up in the air.  Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.  He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.  "Now, who still wants it?"  Still the hands went into the air.    My friends, “We have all learned a very valuable lesson”. “No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.  It was still worth ... Read Full Story >>

It Doesn't Stop With Umbrellas

I have a good friend, Tom, who keeps extra umbrellas in his car.  On rainy days he drives by bus stops and hands free umbrellas to anyone who needs one.  Yesterday, a young man knocked on my door.  He was canvasing the neighborhood setting up appointments for free window replacement estimates.  He stood far from my door and spoke carefully.  I knew why.  Despite much progress, stereotypes are still very real.  I knew this young African-American man was not getting a whole lot of doors opened in my neighborhood.   I opened my door wide and we chatted for a few minutes.  He visibly relaxed.  Before he turned around to leave, I noticed it was about to rain.  I asked him if he would be okay in the rain. He told me that he needed to finish out the block before he could return to his car which was parked several blocks ... Read Full Story >>

Daily Homework

I am a recovering alcoholic.  Years ago I went into a hospital because of depression.  My life was a mess, my husband wanted a divorce. My daughter was doing drugs.  Everything in my life was coming apart including me. My girlfriend's father came to see me.  He was a big, barrel chested Irishman, who loved wearing Nike sweatshirts that said "JUST DO IT".  Upon my release from the hospital, he began to take me to AA meetings, and we would meet for coffee, or go to his house where he and his Alcoholics Anonymous member wife slowly helped me back to life. They gave me a homework assignment.  I was to stand in front of my mirror and look into my eyes and say, "you are a beautiful person, you deserve a good life, I care about you, I love you".  He said, "JUST DO IT". Every night he would call at ... Read Full Story >>

Just With A Hug

There is a young girl that works in my office who has had a lot of tragedy in her life lately.  While I have a hard time relating to her life style, it hasn't been hard for me to detect her sadness lately.  Today, I offered her a hug and she accepted with open arms...I think I needed it to, because we stood there and embraced for a while.  She cried and I listened...it's amazing how much tears can release from ones body and how much another can learn from those tears.  She thanked me and walked away.  About an 1/2 hour later, she stood up from her desk and looked at me and asked for another hug, and I most definitely was happy to provide it.    Don't ever underestimate the effects that a hug or smile can have on another person. I will hold her deep in thoughts tonight, ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Out A Mother In Need

Today while I was at work, a friend of mine came in my office, closed the door and starting weeping uncontrollably. It seems her ex-husband had hurt her daughter. The daughter mentioned it to a teacher and it got reported to child services! My friend is down on her luck, and lives pay check to pay check and no credit cards. We have had  a tough winter and heating bills are piling up and the cupboards are almost bare! It seems the child protective services will be making visits to both houses/ hers and ex-husbands. She was crying because there was leak in her  ceiling and not much food in the house....and she was afraid they would think she was unfit.  I tried to talk to her and calm her down and tell her that her house is clean and neat, she didn't hurt her daughter, so please don't worry.   ... Read Full Story >>