Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Learning to Tame Demons

I just got back from a solo trip. Took this trip just to prove to myself I could do it.  Picked up a little weekly free paper called "The Pulse." Read an article on "taming demons."

It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to need, but not know what you need. It's okay to take a break, turn outward, and maybe help a friend with their demons for a while. It's okay to feel hurt, or scared, or depressed, or angry. It's okay to shut down until you're ready to plug in again. It's okay to shout. It's okay to cry. It's okay to hide.

Give yourself permission. And if it goes against your grain to do so, try again. Look around you to those who seem able to do it more easily. You're not being selfish by taking care of yourself, you're being wise.

You don't have to carry your baggage around forever. You don't have to feed your demons. You can desire peace. You can deserve happiness. You can receive love.

I picked this paper up at Mocha Joe's, in Tenn.  On the top of his lunch board was written. "Be nice to a stranger today."

Handmade Hugs

I work in a casino and deal with customers everyday. Unfortunately the majority of the time that means dealing with negativity as people are losing money and not generally happy.

Well last night I was working the grave shift and stopped to give change to a customer. He said I looked like I needed a hug. I just smiled.  He opened up his jacket and pulled out a ziplock bag. Inside were a bunch of "hugs."

They were the word "hug" carved out of wood and attached to a pin. He had obviously made them himself. He handed me one as well as a card that goes with it (talking about the benefit of hugs and the low, low cost).

He made my day and I attached the hug to my ID badge so I could be reminded of how good a hug feels, especially when you least expect it.

A Gift, 15 Years Later

Twenty years ago my eldest daughter celebrated her thirteenth birthday. I worked hard at the deli the week before and got a paycheck of about $125.  I went to the bank to cash my check and asked for one hundred one dollar bills, nice and clean and crispy if possible, please. I went home and grabbed a nice branch from a tree in my backyard and proceeded to use (almost) all of my paycheck to make my daughter a beautiful money tree with one hundred ones placed as carefully as I would have placed ornaments on the Christmas tree.  It was a joy to behold! My daughter was thrilled.  I wanted to take a picture of it, but all my money was gone and could not even afford a roll of film or a disposable camera.  I asked the birthday girl, Jess, if she would buy some film so we could get a picture.  ... Read Full Story >>

The Shop That Stayed Open on Christmas

Shopkeeper Tom Algie faced a dilemma over Christmas  --  how to give himself and his three staff time off but without letting down his customers. So he came up with a solution to suit everyone: leaving the hardware store open with an honesty box. He left a note telling shoppers who came in on Boxing Day to serve themselves and then leave their payment in the box he had rigged up. Perhaps astonishingly, his plan worked. Trusting shopkeeper Tom Algie wanted a day off and left his DIY store open with a note and honesty box - and returned to find £187 inside When Mr Algie, 47, returned at 4.15pm to close up, he was delighted to find the shop in Settle, North Yorkshire, had taken £187.66  -  and two euros. The father of two said: 'I didn't think twice about leaving the shop open. Settle is a lovely quiet ... Read Full Story >>

A Shoulder to Cry On

Today I went along to see my 8 year-old daughter's class assembly. She was pretty nervous about saying her lines, particularly as she was going to be in front of the whole school and many parents, at least 400 people in total.

She stood up and straight away fluffed her lines. She started crying and turned away from the audience, but her teacher prompted her and she finished off what she was saying, albeit a little muffled.  She went and sat down next to two other girls and the girl nearest to her was obviously really concerned for my daughter. I could see so much compassion in her face as she reached out and held my daughter's hand really tightly while she cried.

It was such a beautiful moment.

Three Things After New Year's Resolution

My resolution for the year is both quitting smoking and performing as many random acts of kindness as do present themselves naturally. It seems that age, society, economics or something has changed me for the worse. I once gave humbly to others, help change a tire, help a little old lady across the street (actual event). But it seems we are too afraid to help anymore for some reason. Have you ever felt that there has got to be more that I could give to the world that doesn't necessarily have to have money connected to it. Ever wanted to change another persons life. Well you just might if you change their perspective or their outlook on society through random acts of kindness. Remember the time someone at the toll plaza paid for the car behind them or you were short on change at the checkout and the person behind ... Read Full Story >>

Emergency Rescue by a Father and His Sons

A couple of days ago, we were in Edmonton helping one son move there to live with his brother.  As we were leaving from their apartment complex, we noticed a man driving by very slowly.  We commented how weird it seemed and as we looked back in the mirror we saw he had run off the road into a tree. We quickly whipped a u-turn and jumped out of our vehicle.  Our younger son reached in and turned off the man's vehicle and my husband and older son tried talking to the older gentleman but got no response.  Fearing he might have choked, they struggled to get him out of the vehicle.  I quickly threw a blanket from our car onto the wet ground.  As soon as they got him out, they laid him on his side where he started choking and spitting up.  My younger son was on the phone to 911 ... Read Full Story >>

Sweet Surprise For A Toll Taker

Yesterday evening was a whirlwind of activity - work, Little League game, cooking dinner, prepping for the next day's classes, and finishing some last minute shopping.  Happy that my family was well-fed and on their way to bed in the evening, I hit the road around 8:30pm.   I was on my way to meet up with "my band" and looked forward to practicing with them.  We are playing at a conference in two weeks time and are trying to pick up a couple of new tunes.  

I was on my way back home around 11pm and while approaching the toll plaza, I suddenly had a "flash" of inspiration.  I knew I didn't have enough cash to pay-it-forward for the next car, but I thought why not make the toll taker smile?  I reached over to the bag of candy I had bought with my groceries, pulled out a fistful of scrumptious peanut butter cups and along with the cash, handed it over to the toll taker.  The look of sheer surprise and happiness on his face was awesome!  His smile stretched from ear to ear as I pulled away.  I'm smiling just thinking of it! :-)

Spaghetti and Smiles for Kids with Cancer

I want to get a few projects going that the teens I know can do to feel good about themselves and help others at the same time.

I have never volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House before, but I've heard wonderful stories from others who have volunteered by making dessert, cooking a meal, cleaning up the gardens, organizing a craft or movie night.  The Ronald McDonald House is a place where families can stay to be close to their child who is undergoing treatment for cancer. They can talk to other families who are going through the same experience.

I have picked a night to go and cook a spaghetti dinner for those families who are staying there. Now all I need are the Teens to volunteer to join me. I know they will, they always do. I look forward to putting some smiles on the faces of those going through such troubling times.

I know you will be the brightest smile they've seen in years. You've had lots of practice in passing your smiles along on this site already. Be special for someone who needs your smile.

How Do Those Who Have the Least Give the Most?

I work in a company in India which has branches in Germany and the UK, so I frequently take business trips to these places.  We have a tradition at the office whereby anybody coming back to India from a foreign country gets chocolates for all the employees. Naturally the chocolates are finished in no time because everyone loves them and tries to grab as many as possible. I had noticed that the housekeeping staff members working in our company (nearly 12, including the security and office boys) never get to taste even a single chocolate. Recently, I came back to India after a month-long trip from Munich and I'd bought a lot of chocolates for the office staff. I called over one of the housekeeping staff members called Babu.  I gave him a packet of chocolates and told him to distribute it equally amongst the housekeeping staff.  His face instantly broke into a wide ... Read Full Story >>

Hugs are Arms with Love

A hug is two arms
Wrapped around you tight,
A hug is a squeeze
in the middle of the night.

A hug is a sign
Of affection and love,
A hug is a sign
From the heavens above.

A hug is a thing
That everyone needs,
When you give a hug
You plant a seed.

The seeds of hope
And love and joy,
Belong to every man,
Woman, girl and boy.

Here is a Great Big Panda Bear Hug from me to you! 

Uncovering the Naked Beauty of My Soul

There is a story that I want to share with you. It may not change your life, nor may it move you to tears. But there is a chance that it may touch that space in you from where the fountain of life springs from, in all of us. The place from where it all began. Where the entire history of mankind, of the universe, we can all feel inside of us - in the content of our souls. This was a few years back when I had left for the United States from India to study at a prominent college and then pursue a career. At a professional level one could say that I was well accomplished as a young woman in a foreign country.  There were many physical comforts and privileges that money could buy. But somewhere, there was a strange kind of emptiness engulfing me all the time.  There ... Read Full Story >>

I Love You Before Tomorrow

Here is a dedication to my dearest friends:

Tomorrow May Become Never

Say your I love you’s today
Tomorrow it might be too late
Here and now is forever
Regrets my friend, are too hard to shake

Tomorrow may become never
Who knows when they could be gone
I’ve done this one time too many
Although I knew it was wrong

So I love you mother and father
I love you my brother alike
I love you my husband and daughter
And all who have influenced my life

I will always speak from the heart
I will speak every word as our last
I shall have no further regrets
When someone I love has passed

A Touching Gift From My Nurse

I was in hospital for 5 weeks and was diagnosed with Intracrainial Hypertension. I had to have surgery to have a shunt put in to drain excess fluid from my brain. Following the operations I had a problem with balance and walking was a huge problem. I had to have nurses help me with everything. It was a real difficult and emotional time because it was close to Christmas and I really missed my 3 children.  While I was in the hospital, there was one nurse in particular who looked after me, who had a huge impact on my recovery. One day she came with a gift she had bought for me. I was deeply touched. It was a poster with a picture of an empty beach and a verse printed on it. On the back she wrote me a lovely note and signed it.  Now I'm not very religious and I'd not seen this before but I was overcome with emotion when I read it. I ... Read Full Story >>

Just Another Rainy Day?

It rained today. Depressing? No!  It was wonderful, refreshing and left that gorgeous fresh smell in the air. It washed all the dust off the trees and plants, it somehow renewed everything, gave it a crystal clarity, and the really great part of today... I received many kind words from my new friends on this site. 

Because of you, I talked to a woman at work who is very shy and we laughed together.  I talked with a woman who used to be a friend and cleared the air between us.  I forgave my husband for one of those daft things he does that irritates me.  And tomorrow I plan to keep on with ,or without , the rain. Thank you all!

Countering the Culture of Suffering

I was at the emergency room of a local hospital yesterday helping my brother-in-law who had injured his knee. I hadn't been to the ER in a while, so I was a little taken aback by all the people in there with their various ailments and sufferings. We sat down by one woman who was just crying and crying, while her husband sat looking stunned and in shock. I guessed that they had a relative in there and it was bad, perhaps life-threatening. I realized that the ER is a place where suffering is the culture; it is blended into the walls. This made me a little down but also eager to be of service. Surely I could do something small to put a smile on someone's face... perhaps counteract the thick cake of suffering that gripped the walls. My chance came when my sister and I brought some food back to ... Read Full Story >>

A New Old Friend

My daughter and I have recently moved across the country to the West Coast. I know no-one here other than my sister and her husband. I started feeling a little lonley and missing my friends and family back east. I have now started to go back to college and have been enjoying getting the education I should have gotten long ago. I'm an extrovert and I love to talk, that's why I enjoy going to school so much because it gives me the opportunity to meet new and different people. I think you learn the most from people and life experiences. I love talking with and learning about people from different walks of life, different religions, and age groups. Children and the elderly are the most interesting to me. Children look at everything with eyes full of wonder. The elderly have been there, done most of it, and can tell you all about it. You can learn so ... Read Full Story >>

Tears And Cheers

I am a high school teacher in a small school in a very rural area.  My personal "goal" each year is to greet each student in the hallway by their name at least twice every week.  Graduation is coming up so people are becoming very sentimental. 

Today a senior student zoomed over to me in the hall and handed me an envelope.  In it was a Thank You note which read, in part, "Thank you for talking to me when no else would. Thank you for saying hello to me in the hall.  No one else says hello to me. Thank you for visiting with me about what books I've read and how my cats are."  This student is a shy person and not too socially fluent.  School is tough for her because "there are so many people in one building". 

Her note meant so much to me and of course, I started crying.  Inside I also cheered because she took the time and energy to "connect" which is what I hope all students will be able to do.  I love teaching and am so lucky to be able to go to work at a job I love.  What a lovely gift I received from this student.

Walk With Me

Come walk with me in the sunshine

I'll tell you a bit about myself

I haven't got much in my wallet

and there isn't much food on the shelf

But there's something that just keeps on growing

You can see by the look on my face

There's a love that so freely is flowing

Let's  walk  in the sunshine of grace!

Come walk with me in the sunshine

and share a piece of yourself

I don't want what is in your wallet

and I don't care what is on your shelf

I want you to know you are glowing

as we walk along sharing this space

I want you to know that I love you

as we walk in the sunshine of grace!

Small Acts to Make a Difference

This past week has been a stressful one for me because, as the school year winds down, I have many big responsibilities and deadlines.  However, I've learned that it always makes me feel better to do something kinds for others. 

On May Day, I sent flowers (anonymously) to two elderly ladies from my church.  I also made good luck notes saying Good Luck at State and Score Big and attached a 100 Grand candy bar.  The team placed second in the state competition, and as Morrie Swartz in Tuesdays with Morrie would say, "What's wrong with second?".  I gave a Smile Card to an employee at Sam's because she was being so helpful to a customer and acted as if she actually enjoyed her job.

Although these acts weren't major happenings, I hope that they made a difference.  I thank all of you who have helped to keep me inspired.