Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The More I Understand, The Less I Know

After a couple of decades on this planet, many years of soul searching, and studying the "self," I feel that I am finally closer to knowing myself which ironically seems to be a journey which tells me that the more I understand myself, the less it is that I know. I now can say I have truly felt the difference between the deepest agony of the human condition and the highest state of joy. I know from my own experience that the main difference that lies between "you" and "me" is just a feeling, a feeling of being separate, isolated, lonely, lost, versus a feeling of being whole, connected, at home, and loved. I think most people, if not all, live with a kind of homesickness, a sweet nostalgia which they can't quite put their finger on as if they were once in a place that they can't quite remember but desperately, somehow, want to get back to. The mystics have said for over a millennia that in existence there ... Read Full Story >>

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I was a DJ, playing music for wedding dances, reunions and such. One Christmas, some coworkers wanted to have a dance for a Christmas party. They asked me to be the DJ, and decided to have an admission charge and donate all of the proceeds to charity. After looking around, we found that several children in the area could not afford shoes or coats in the wintertime. There was a local group, the "Resource Council" that worked with WalMart to provide $15 vouchers to needy families for shoes and coats for these families, but there was never enough money to go around. We decided that the money raised would be donated to the Resource Council for this purpose. After thinking about it, I wondered why an endowment fund couldn't be used for this purpose. With an endowment fund, just the interest would be given each year, and the principle would be left ... Read Full Story >>

Transformation from Taker to Giver

I used to be the kind of person who never gave to anyone.  I would take, take, take.  I used to think those people who gave in all the time or were so nice to people were 'weak.'  I came from a very negative environment in my upbringing.  In the last year I have had a BIG wake up call.  I look back and can't believe I used to be the person I was.  Boy, was I wrong.  Those people who I thought were "weak" were, in reality, the luckiest people in the world.  I have only started my new journey!  Last week I sent gratitude cards to some family members who have inspired me in my life.  I also sponsored a soldier and sent him a letter.  This week I put  some special cards in the mail to some relatives that needed a 'pick me up' or who I was really ... Read Full Story >>

People Helping People - It Works!

Is people helping people such an unconventional idea? I don't think so. One of life’s more challenging aspects is being in need of assistance and having no one to turn to. For many of us, asking for help is a difficult concept. It can require a certain amount of vulnerability. We may feel as if we are admitting a personal limitation that the world would not have known about, had we not asked for help.   This is why I started the Helping Movement, in my local area (Ithaca, NY). The Helping Movement is a free online tool that gives people the power to ask for help from our entire community. I noticed that there were many opportunities to volunteer your time to help specific organizations, but not a way to volunteer time for people’s individual needs. The Helping Movement fills this void by giving people the ability to ask for ... Read Full Story >>

The Smile Revolution

Maya Angelou once said:  "I have learned that people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." I got a chance to speak with my Grandma Gigi yesterday. She lives in Texas now and because I live in Missouri,  I don't get to spend much time with her anymore. I miss her so deeply that it is agonizing. I cannot articulate through words how much she means to me and how much I love her, but I do.  I talked to her for an hour today and I just wanted to jump on a plane and spend all week with her. I felt so refreshed after talking to her. We are like mirrors of each other. She is just like me, always trying to make people laugh and smile. She is the one who always told me to shoot smiles at everyone because you never know if that person is having the worst day of their life and if ... Read Full Story >>

My Son, My Hero

Just after his first birthday my son Cameron was struck down with a rare blood illness.  In the following years he has needed four courses of chemotherapy, multiple blood and platelet transfusions, harsh immunosuppressive treatments, suffered a thrombosis in his leg and over 800 hospital visits, including stays of up to 3 weeks at a time.  All this has led to him now also being an insulin dependent diabetic. Cameron is now 9 years old and raised over £71,000 to support other sick children.  He has equipped his beloved children's hospital with books, televisions, game consoles, arts and crafts items, toys and games.  To the hospital school that taught him how to tell the time, he also gave laptops so the most poorly children could work in their beds, along with a music station, a libary, paints and crayons. A couple of years ago he found out that his hospital was closing and a new one was being built.  ... Read Full Story >>

Generosity is Universal

This beautiful story was found in the Daily OM....I believe the Okinawan people also have a sharing tradition similar to this one.  It makes one think of stories about the pioneers who had barn raisings and community gathering to bring in crops and bread starters. Its message is timeless as generosity transcends both history and cultural barriers. Potlatch Encouraging Generosity We can learn much from the Native American tradition of the potlatch. It is a tradition that values generosity above all else, and a potlatch, which is a very grand ceremony, is an exercise in giving away material possessions, food, and money. It is not uncommon for the host of a potlatch to give away so much of his own resources to his guests that he ends up with nothing. However, he can regain his wealth by attending potlatches at which he is a guest. In this way, a potlatch validates generosity and encourages the flow of ... Read Full Story >>

A Heart of Cheer

To make our lives more meaningful,
it takes a cheerful heart...
and loving life and living it
each day is a brand new start.

It takes a positive attitude
when struggles come our way...
to have the strength to carry on
and let the pains wilt away

Life is our creation,
for the time that we are here...
so craft your days with a cheerful heart
and see miracles appear.

An Ode to Our Family

This song I wrote is dedicated to the family I have in my life.  I believe that we have two types of family:  the ones that we are born with and the ones we create as family along our life journey. It is this collective growing family which has helped me learn the importance of trusting myself and believing that though I may rise and fall in life, I am forever graced with their love.  I’m blessed to have 6 lifelong friends that I see as my brothers and my sisters in addition to my Mom, Dad, and Brother. Though it may seem that I have very few people in my life aside from my immediate family that I can count on, I have come to see it as an eternal blessing because it is they who have showered me with unconditional love through their presence and have helped me see that it is through the love of family, I came to see my own light. This song is for my growing family. They can say, Anything they want to say, And ... Read Full Story >>

You Came Here To Do Great Things

You are worthy of all the goodness that life can hold.

You are capable of making a valuable contribution to the moment you're in.

You do not need to beg for the kindness of others. For you have within you the ability to express and manifest enough kindness to fill your world.

There is no reason for you to feel sorry for yourself, and there is no point in acting in such a way that others feel sorry for you. For a world full of positive possibilities awaits you, if you will simply lift your head and open your eyes.

You have no cause to be ashamed of who you are or where you come from. For there is so much you have to offer.

You were born to do things that have never been done before and to understand things that have never been understood.

You are here in this place to express the rich and unique beauty that lives within you.

The silly little dramas of  the day cannot get you down for it is just now you have realized you are here to do great things.

-- Ralph Marston

Small Boy, Big Smile

      As I was cleaning our garage the other day, a boy approached.   He was barefooted, with sweat dripping from his forehead.  His small hands were dirty, his skin was no longer that of a young boy, it looked like it was already suffering from the damage of the scorching sun. I knew at once that he was tired. He offered to throw away the garbage in exchange of two pesos. I told him to come back later, so he can pick up the garbage bag when I am done. Thinking that he was gone, I proceeded with my task. But I was wrong.    I cleaned, he waited.    Finally, I reached into my pocket for some coins. I was sorry I did not have my purse with me that time so all I gave him was a few coins.    I approached him and told him he didn't have ... Read Full Story >>

A Precious Stone

A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone
was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. 'I've been thinking,' he said. 'I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.  Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.'

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you that
others need…..A Precious Gift inside you. 

Uncle Unconditional

I went to visit my parents this past holiday weekend. During the trip, we went to visit my ailing uncle. He was in the hospital due to a heart attack. It was the second heart attack he had in the last four months and this time the doctors said it is really quite serious. The whole family has been wishing him thoughts and blessings of healing since he is the eldest one in our family and particularly because we hope he can live to see his son's upcoming wedding which is scheduled for next month.  As I looked at the situation with all of its uncertainty, I began to think about the life this man lead. He is 60 years old. He has spent his whole life teaching low-income inner city school children whose families are primarily broken, that these youngsters have hope, because hope is priceless. When I went to see him one last time before I left to head back to my home, I brought my uncle a fruit basket with ... Read Full Story >>

A Special Party for the Children at MOMS House

I am working on my bronze award for my Girlscouts.  It's the higest award you can work for as a junior Girlscout and it takes a lot of planning so it's a big big honor that I got permison from my parents and my scout leader.    There are a lot of rules about what I can and can't do for the bronze award.  One big thing I can't do is raise money so I can't have any fund aisrs like I usually do.  There is a place here in my town called MOMS house -- it's a great place 'cause they take care of the babies of teenage mothers so that they can go to school and get a job to be able to take care of their children.   My idea is to have a great big birthday party for the children that they take care of because their moms are so young and they don't have a lot of money.  After ... Read Full Story >>

It's Not What I Got, But What I Gave

It took me quite a while to realize that a simple smile and short greeting could truly make a difference in people's lives.  I did not smile much as a teenager or young adult.  Once in a while someone would say, "Smile", and I would want to tell them to mind their own business. 

As I grew up and was able to get out of my own head , I began to realize that it was not what I got but what I gave that would ultimately make me smile with autenthicity.  Even when life is rough, I remeber that others might be having a tough time too and I always try to rise to the occasions and brandish a smile.

My Moment with the Bear

I was leaving for work at about 6:20 am on Monday morning. The sky was gray but the sun was rising. I stepped out the front door, looked up at the trees breezing in the wind, and  suddenly I realized the large creature resting at the foot of our driveway was not my black dog 'wolfy' but was a different furry, black animal that was ten times larger: a full grown Black Bear! The Bear and I looked directly into each other's eyes at that moment. It was a rather long pause. He then proceeded to waltz around our property as he must have found it rather interesting. He walked by my bright red Toyota Yaris. I suppose we have the same taste in cars!  Frightened and yet also curious, I gradually shifted backwards to the front door, but still carefully observed this fascinating beast.  It was the most beautiful bear. Of course, I was mindful of how fast bears can run, how large their teeth are, how vicious they can devour their prey, but as I ... Read Full Story >>

A Memory that Lives and Gives

My husband’s administrative assistant (who is a friend of mine) suddenly lost her grandmother this weekend. Her department sent flowers to her on behalf of the company.   We all signed a sympathy card which was mailed to her home. That was very thoughtful,  but I wanted to do more. I wanted to do something extra since I knew she was very close to her grandmother and this was her first major family loss. I decided to surprise her with a Living Memorial Gift. It’s a tradition in my family which was started over 15 years ago with the sudden loss of my sister. I made a donation to a foundation who agreed to plant 25 trees in memory of her Grandmother which includes a full name dedication and a certificate. These trees will be planted in a U.S. National Forest that has been devastated due to insects, diseases, and wildfires. Excited to surprise my friend with this gift, I brainstormed on how ... Read Full Story >>

I Have a Secret

Psst....I have a secret.

I have a positively powerful secret that I want to share.  If you look deep into my heart, you can see how you have touched my life.  Can you see me changing?  Have you noticed my new countenance?  Perhaps you have sensed the smile that has been placed not only in my heart but also on my lips. 

When you said the right thing or encouraged me, it made a difference. When you shared my pain or agreed with one of my thoughts, you lifted me up.  When you gave me a new perspective, it was welcomed. 

Did you know that I am a better person because of your presence in my life?  Did you know that I have learned from your pain that you were thoughtful enough to share?  Did you know that  your insight has heightened my own? 

My secret is this: when you share,  it shows how much you care.  Okay, now you can tell this secret to the world.

Small Price, Great Feeling

    I've started a habit that is very inexpensive, but has been very rewarding!

    We have a grocery store that requires customers to pay a quarter to get a shopping cart. When we're done shopping, we put the cart back in line and get our quarter back. Now, when I leave the store, I start looking for someone just arriving, and give them a free cart and a Smile Card.  Even though the gift is inexpensive, the smiles on their faces are priceless.  I had a person last week that immediately brightened up and said I must've known how bad her day was going. Small price to pay for the great feeling I get. 

Singing In Traffic

I have been studying the teachings of Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Wayne Dyer (Power of Intention) among others.  A theme that carries through both teachings is  "blessing others." I've started a new habit of singing on the way to and from work because I felt that there are lot of people who need blessings, especially while they are stuck in traffic!  I sing rather awfully, but the good intentions are there!  I sing to all the drivers around me, to all the employees working in the companies beside me, and to all the passengers in the planes flying above me.  I sing to everyone and even though I am not a songwriter, this is what I came up with: Calm is inside you Love is all around you It is already such a beautiful morning! Peace is inside you Smiles all around you It is about to be such a beautiful afternoon! Joyful surprises Laughter and Kindness It is going to be a beautiful day!                                                        ... Read Full Story >>