Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Old Lady Who Made My Day

While out shopping recently there was an elderly woman behind me in line. I told the clerk to go ahead and check her out first as I was still organizing my purchases.

After the elderly woman paid for her things, I noticed that she used a cane and had purchased two bags of items. I asked if I could carry the bags out to her car for her. For an instant, she seemed surprised at my offer, but then said with a smile, "That would be really nice ... if you wouldn't mind".  

As we were walking out the door she asked if she could hold on to my arm as we walked through the slick parking lot. I said "sure" and my new friend and I talked as we walked arm in arm to her car.  After putting her purchases in the car for her she asked if she could give me a hug and said how much that act of kindness had meant to her.  I was happy to do it ... she made my day!

Helping A Single Mom

Yesterday I heard about a single mom with two kids that I barely know. She was pleading for help to pay her phone bill so it wouldn’t get disconnected. I have seen her help many others over the past months. She struggles to make ends meet but puts on a smile so her children won’t worry. She has no family near her so if she loses her phone, her children or their school will have no way to get in touch with her. After reading her plea, I thought about it all night and it broke my heart. This morning I contacted her and told her I wanted to help. I called and paid her phone bill so that she would not lose it. She wrote me one of the most sincere letters I have ever received, telling me how thankful she was. She cried and said that I would never ... Read Full Story >>

A Mother and Daughter Exchange

   My daughter, Paula, paid me a visit the other morning.  She was down and we talked, ate, and I gave her money for gas so she could get to work that day. She came over again yesterday and I watched her daughter, Belle, while she went to buy some new work pants. Belle had a cold and preferred to stay with Grandma, eat cereal, and watch ''car-coons.''   Paula came back and handed me the money that she borrowed. I just slid it in my back pocket and realized later on when I took it out of my pocket that she had paid me double!  It was so hard bringing up five children as a single parent, but let me tell you, it sure was worth it! God certainly has blessed me....:}

Unlikely Tip for a Rickshaw Driver

The other day, I was travelling home from work in an autorickshaw (a motorised three wheeler used as private transport in our country). The auto driver was quite friendly. On the way, he asked me if he could stop at a shoe store. He wanted to pick up a pair of shoes for his little daughter who goes to school.  Mission completed and he chatted on regarding how much the pair had cost him, about family, inflation and other stories in general.

When I reached home, I got out of the autorickshaw and decided to surpise him. I paid him not just the auto fare but also the cost of the shoes. I added that it was my gift to his daughter. He was really surpised and went away happy.  So did I! :-)

Expired Meters And A Pockeful Of Change

Just another simple one.  I noticed that I was walking with a slight list the other day due to a large amount of change in my right pocket. Now, I know that I could have shifted my ballast just a bit and evened things out, but there were cars parked there on expired meters :-)  Oh Darn!  It was a weekday too!  So I engaged in a paperwork reduction act of my own.  I figured that the metermaid wouldn't have to write so many tickets if I fed some meters.  Welp, I made a couple of blocks and was walking on a more even trim, and didn't have to shift ballast at all :-)

A Blanket of Sisterhood

I have been doing what I can to look out for someone who lives close inside my heart though the daily lives we experience are quite far apart .  In my home, I wake up to a fresh morning, experiencing the luxury and warmth of the comfort of my own bed laden with a floral quilt that my grandmother once made for me. On the opposite coast of the country, within the confines of the lonely hospital walls, my sister rests often unpeacefully and in pain on a cold and firm plaster white sterilized bed. A cancer inside her is spreading despite a recent mastectomy and three months of intense chemotherapy. Radiation was not a possibility for her and now this condition has seeped into her skull and spine. The comforter which I grip so tightly begins to unravel in my hand and the texture of the fabric begins to soil, as I feel a piece of me lying there with her in the hospital room.  In order to keep myself from crumbling, I began to send blessing blankets, little toy angels, and a book of ... Read Full Story >>

Edy's Key Lime Fruit Bars

I recently saw the movie Stardust.  Claire Daines plays the part of a star that has fallen to earth.   Whenever she is happy, she glows.  I must have been glowing while I shopped at my local grocery store yesterday because I had a most unusual night. I'm fairly outgoing. I believe in the power of random acts of kindness, and I usually strike up conversations easily.  Tonight was different.  Tonight everything felt more "connected".   From the butcher who praised me for being the nicest customer ever ( I was patient as she filled my order).  To the young mother of two toddlers who seemed to thoroughly enjoy conversing with an adult (even if it was just about the the temperature of the freezer).  To the older gentleman who offered to help lift my heavy items into my car.  It was all delightful.  And then came the cherry on ... Read Full Story >>

The True 7 Wonders Of The World

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes: 1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. The Taj Mahal in India 3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona 4. The Panama Canal 5. The Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World ... Read Full Story >>

Offering a Steady Hand

Recently our family went to an all-you- can-eat  buffet. It makes for a carefree dinner. Everyone eats what they like and we all are relaxed and enjoy our food.

As we sat at our table chatting and getting excited over our choices, my husband noticed this man at the chocolate milk dispenser. He was trying very hard to get two glasses filled and his hands were shaking apparently because he was elderly.  My husband said, "Now, how on earth is he going to carry that milk back to his table?" I just looked at my husband and raised my eyebrows with a smile on my face.  He knew what to do. The next thing I knew, he went up to the gentlemen and asked if he could help him and then carried the drinks to his table for him.

Take time to notice and don't be afraid to lend a helping hand or two, like Jim did.

Serving Up Smiles at Baskin Robbins

I'm just a senior in high school who works for minimum wage at a local Baskin Robbins. In and outside of work, I always wear a smile and try to influence my amiable attitude towards others. But lately, I've been inspired by the stories here to reach out in kindness in other ways beyond just acting friendly.  So, today, when I went to work, I decided I would take my first big step and truly help a complete stranger. Two young girls came into the store and looked around. I offered them my usual "Welcome to Baskin Robbins!" greeting.  It was a couple of minutes later when one of them finally decided upon a flavor, chocolate chip. So then, I made a big scoop and put it upon a cone and handed it to her. Interestingly, though, the other girl didn't get anything even though I could tell she was eyeballing the variety of creams.  So, I ... Read Full Story >>

Taking a Chance on My Friends

In December, just before Christmas, my daughter and her husband lost a very dear friend to brain cancer.  He was married with a 13 year-old son.  A few weeks later, my daughter called to tell me that her friend's wife was really struggling financially.  She had lost her job when her company closed suddenly a few weeks before her husband died.  The life insurance policy she thought was in place was not and she was frightened.  She was a young woman in a happy marriage one day and left with no husband, no job and no money the next.   My daughter asked, "Mom, can you think of anything to do to help?"  I told her to let me think about it for a while. My thinking time was short.  I had my address book on the table beside me and the Christmas cards I'd received in a box next to it.  I decided on ... Read Full Story >>

Wondering: "Why am I Kept Alive?"

    On Saturday evening we had some new friends over at our house. One of the guests was a frail 91- year- old lady, the mother of one of our friends. At some stage in the evening the two of us were alone at the table where we were sitting outside in the beautiful evening.     Margaret, the elderly woman,  started talking. She is very quiet and mostly listens to conversations. Being very weak, she cannot walk on her own any longer, and weighs probably something in the neighborhood of 40 kilograms.      “I don’t know why am still kept alive,” she said. “I struggle physically, don’t sleep well, and feel like a burden to my son.” (She lives with her son).      We talked about possible reasons why she would still be around. “You bring out the gentleness and kindness in people, simply by virtue of who you are, “ I said. ... Read Full Story >>

Coffees and Cakes on a Country Road

The exhaust of my car recently fell off on a country road, when I was driving along with two of my friends with me.  A man stopped to offer his help, showing us ID so we knew who he was.  At the time, we were waiting for the breakdown truck to arrive.  He offered to take us somewhere safe, but we said we weren't in a hurry, as were were only on our way to have coffee and cake at a local garden centre.  So, he wished us well and left.

Ten minutes later he turned up with coffee and cakes for the three of us!  It certainly put a smile on our faces and he didn't want payment.  He said he hoped someone would do the same for his wife if she had broken down somewhere!  His kind gesture certainly cheered up three women!

A Table for Three

My fiancee and I decided today was the day to finally treat ourselves to a nice dinner. It started off as 'our' day' but little did we know that it would turn into much more. I didn't want the whole day to be about yearning to leave the office for the upcoming dinner and I didn't want the dinner to be just another romantic night for two... So, I felt compelled to turn up the notch of giving that day and see what that could do.  During the work day,  I began in small ways. I inserted a few more quarters, dimes, and nickels, into the vending machines at work for the staff, so that something extra jingled inside for the next hungry worker. I posted smile signs in the lobby which gave clear instructions on how to smile as employees entered the office, either before their morning cup of coffee or right before a meeting with their boss. I drafted some powerful words of inspiration on colorful strips of paper and decorated my cube, so that any colleagues who came by, might just stop for ... Read Full Story >>

Cleaning Windows In The Rain

I was in a seaside town a few weeks ago and winter was blasting it with a vengeance! The wind was one you really had to battle against and salty rain was blowing near horizontally in from the sea. Whatever litter there was around was dancing up and down the street.  Soaking people hurried for shelter.

Then I saw the window cleaner.

He soaped up the window on the outside of the bank building then squeegeed it off.  Bracing himself against the wind, he leaned back to inspect his work.  Finding a spot he was disatisfied with, he rubbed at it with his cloth until it was right.

Moments after he left that window would be smeared by the rain and the wind.  He probably knew that.  No one inside the bank would be able to tell what kind of job he did that day and none of the passers by cared.  But still, he took the time to do it right.

Because he would know.

All Bundled Up in a Wheelchair

Yesterday I went to the card shop with my friend.  She went about her shopping and I did mine. We met at the register and paid.  Walking  together we approached the exit door.  There was a little old soul in a wheelchair, just inside the doorway of the store.  She was wrapped up with a blanket, hat  and scraf, which was around her face.  All we could see were her eyes peeking out.  I couldn't help but wave to her as we approached the exit door.  I smiled really big and said, "Enjoy your day!"  I could not see her mouth for her smile because of the scarf, but her eyes were dancing! My friend said, "Who was that?"  I replied, "I don't know."  She said she thought I knew the lady because I was waving as we approached her and I spoke to her.  I said, "No, I don't know her, but I'm sure she ... Read Full Story >>

Being a Big Sis for My Little Friend

I want to tell you all about Clare.  I refer to her as Little Clare because I know so many Clares.  I have a feeling no matter how old she gets, she'll always be Little Clare to me. My school goes all the way from classes for five year olds to classes for 18 year olds, with a seperate area for the junior and senior school.  Last year, I bumped into my old year 5 teacher in the library.  My teacher called me over and asked how I was going. Then she told me about Clare. "I have a girl in my year 3 class. Her name's Clare and she reminds me so much of you, Cassie. She seems a little bit lost in class.  Do you think you could come down one lunch time and maybe have a chat to her?" Of course I was very keen to do this and to meet Clare in order to find ... Read Full Story >>

The Original Warm Fuzzy Tale

Once upon a time, a long time ago there lived two very happy people called Tim and Maggi with their two children, John and Lucy. To understand how happy they were you have to understand how things were in those days. You see, in those happy days everyone was given, at birth, a small soft Fuzzy Bag. Anytime a person reached into this bag he was able to pull out a Warm Fuzzy. Warm Fuzzies were very much in demand because whenever somebody was given a Warm Fuzzy it made him feel warm and fuzzy all over. People who didn't get Warm Fuzzies regularly were in danger of developing a sickness in their backs which caused them to shrivel up and die. In those days it was very easy to get Warm Fuzzies. Anytime that somebody felt like it, he might walk up ... Read Full Story >>

Small Acts Of Kindness Add Up

I always think I need to write about some grandiose act of kindness I performed each week, but I realized that there are lots of little acts that I'm just starting to notice.

Like one day it was a chilly 10 degrees outside and I was in the ATM (heated) cubicle. There were 2 people outside patiently waiting and I let them in so they could be warm.

Then there was the delivery man who was coming towards the door with way too many packages to carry let alone open the door.  So, I held the door open for him and it was amazing to see the big smile that resulted in that small act, from both of us.

Often times I let someone go ahead of me in line (or in traffic) because they are in a bigger hurry. Sure beats road rage :-)

I smile at people on my walk to the train station. It's amazing how many people smile back. I think it brightens both our days.

I'm noticing these small acts more and more as I read and contribute to this site. It's amazing, but it really does improve my outlook on a daily basis.

An Act of Kindness in 1988

ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her. Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988. At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness: "You’ll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man ... Read Full Story >>