Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Timely Giving on a Rickshaw Journey

After reading another story on this site about exchanging a business class air travel seat for one in economy, I am reminded of an experience tI had just wo days ago. 

The auto-rikshaw I was riding in that evening suddenly came to a halt. The driver got off and went behind the vehicle only to return to his seat with something in his hand.  On enquiry I saw that he had a pen in his hand, which he was sentimentally attached to.  It had fallen off while we were driving and was run over by his own rikshaw. From his sigh I could make out that the pen was damaged beyond repairs. 

When alighting at my destination, I quietly handed him the amount payable and my pen.  He turned around looking into my eyes and gave me back the pen thinking it was by mistake that I passed on the pen along with cash.  When I told him the pen was for him he responded with, "Oh, my!  Thank you, indeed."

Leaving Sweet Treats

I have been "tagging" at work, which is very easy since I work late and everyone else is gone by the time I leave.   The people at work  have begun to pass it on to others, as well.  We work in a kitchen at a college so to say it is stressful is an understatement. These kids eat alot!  Our  work space is very tight and crowded in the kitchen , which is one reason I work later.

I've been leaving tea and mugs with candy with a card for a sweet treat.  Others I have heard have copied this idea and it has become like a game. Only one person was annoyed. I was so surprised when I heard that someone had reached out and this person was annoyed because she now felt like she had to do this.

I guess you can't expect everyone to feel the way you do when you give , but it is good to know that others have gotten the positive out of it.

Looking for Ways to be Kind to Strangers

Over the weekends I often find myself leaving home at around 9:00am. I find it hard to stay indoors on a Saturday, so I either head to the office or to town to run some errands. Towards the end of last year, after being encouraged by various acts of kindness from this website, I resolved to make it my mission to touch people's lives unexpectedly.  My target was the underpriviledged in society and in my country the street children were my target group. Each Saturday morning as I would go to get some milk and bread from the nearby shop, I would see how many kids there were in the vicinity and buy them milk and bread also. They would of course have no clue of this and all I would do is creep up on them and give it to them. One day, I was heading back to my bus terminus and saw this beggar on the street in a wheelchair. ... Read Full Story >>

A Professor's Unforgettable Motto

I was priviledged to join a college which not only created an environment for attaining professional qualification but also ensured that each and every student left the college an all-rounded individual. Most of the colleges in my country were commercially oriented and students tended to come in, have their lectures and off they went.  The lecturers in the college I attended always embraced higher ideals and many of the kids coming straight from high school would dread this college on the basis that it was strict. It was no bother to me anyway and I often looked forward to my college days. One of the lecturers, in particular, captured my attention most, not because of his tutorial skills but by the way he would always walk and leave no dirt or paper behind him. He would always bend over and pick any piece of paper lying on the floor and throw it to the nearest dustbin. On ... Read Full Story >>

Frustration Turns to Generosity

    I have been  feeling stressed lately due to a recent move and a new job.  My boss is  demanding as well. Mostly , I think I've been feeling scared and  focusing on my problems. I am re-focusing or "pointing the camera at a different angle," if you will.    I am legally blind yet partially sighted.  I had a brain aneurysm several years ago. Claudia, my neighbor who I met a  few days ago, is visually impaired as well. I wanted to do laundry Sunday and realized both washer and dryer were full. I felt frustrated realizing Claudia left her laundry sitting there. I made a quick decision and realized I needed to "get over myself." I folded her dry clothes. I love folding laundry so I it was very relaxing.       Claudia came downstairs while I was doing this and apologized for leaving her things. She is from ... Read Full Story >>

Forget Discouragement, Remember the Smile

Sometimes I feel like I am not good at anything and I get so discouraged.   We spend more hours at work doing menial tasks than we do at home.  I would like to feel some kind of accomplishment after all of the hard work.

Then a great friend at work lifted me up with a smile and reminded me that this is life, its gonna be ok.  Then I stopped to look at the things I have to be thankful for.  There are so many things that I have been blessed with!

Am I gonna remember this discouragement  tomorrow? Probably not.  But I will remember the smile.

A Driveway Full Of Snow

Last winter, my family & I headed up north for a long weekend as the kids had a day off school. We made it up before a big storm hit on Friday. Driving home Sunday afternoon I was dreading the foot of wet snow & the wall of snow that we would find at the front of the driveway when we got home.  I envisioned hours of heavy shoveling before getting into the house. 

Much to our surprise, as we pulled around the corner, we caught sight of the house and what did we see but our neighbor just finishing plowing our driveway. It’s so wonderful to have such kind & generous neighbors.

Offering a Word of Love

It was freezing outside my car.  I did not want to get out of it, when we passed by a small shop selling odds and ends. Suddenly I noticed a tiny figure, bent and covered with some bits of cloth, shivering with the cold from the harsh winds that were blowing so hard that night. It was only 5 degrees in Um Al Quwain that evening, which is freezing cold indeed.  Here was an old man of 75, seated in the corner of this store, waiting for anyone who would think of lending him a single coin or a cup of hot tea. I was about to open my biscuit packet , but my mind and soul went out to this old person.  I asked my husband to go over and hand it to this old man.  He looked into my husband's face and smiled, I could see that smile from the car window and he said, "Thank ... Read Full Story >>

When is a Discount Added Value?

   I was doing my regular shopping and noticed someone had left discount coupons they had clipped on the corresponding items. Being a busy mom,  I have little time to clip coupons so I used what someone had left behind.  Someone had been kind enough to leave these coupons on the items and that good turn helped me save. So, the other day, I had a coupon for a 10 percent reduction that I wasn't going to use so I decided to surprise someone.  I found a lady with a young child who had a huge buggy of groceries and gave it to her. Whoever you are, "coupon clipper," I paid it forward!

Remembering My Father Through Acts of Kindness

My father always wanted to help the needy as much as he could.  Now he is no more but I make sure that I feed the poor and hungry to remember him.

Its not much to do but I think it gives me some peace that my father would be smiling from above.  I also donate some money to the church whenever I can.Though not much it does help them.
I  thank my father for teaching me these small acts of kindness and am proud when people recognise me as his daughter.

Contagious Kindness in a Grocery Line

It seems as if most of us hate to stand in long lines.  Yesterday, there was a long line at the grocery store.  I decided to let the couple behind me go ahead of me. They were very surpised and thankful!  Others that noticed seemed to relax a little more and become more friendly-- smiling and nodding.  Even the cashier seemed to relax, and enjoy the moment, as she noticed.  Kindness really is contagious!!  I've decided to let someone go in front of me at least once a week when I'm standing in line,  as it is also good practice for patience.

A Smile Knows No Language Barriers

I was visiting my sister a couple of weeks ago and it was snowing hard, in between bursts of icy raindrops. My husband and I dived into a coffee shop for a quick burst of heat. Sitting there watching the rain run down the window and people battle with their umbrellas all I could focus on was the one girl standing outside of the shopping centre selling a homeless magazine. Her approach wasn't pushy, just to ask if anyone wanted to buy it and then avert her gaze to the puddles on the ground. So many people walked past weighed down by bags of goodies from the sales that I began to feel quite sad. I sent my husband back to the counter to buy her what I had just enjoyed -- a big hot chocolate with cream. Her smile melted my heart when I handed it over to her. She was foreign so ... Read Full Story >>

I Finally Had A Chance To Do This

I don't go to Starbucks very often because although I love coffee, their special drinks are a little on the pricey side.  When I do go, I usually don't have any extra money with me either.  But today, I had time to go before work and I had enough money to pay for the lady in back of me at the drive-thru - I've always wanted to do that!  

When I got to the window to pay, I was really excited!  The barrista was very deadpan about my request.  He said, "Well if you really want to be that generous, you can."  Glad he finally approved!

I drove away excited and exhilarated and a little curious about what my "victim" might be thinking - I just hope it made her day as happy as it made mine!

Get Well Bouquet On The Way

Recently, I heard from a friend that a neighbor of mine is back in the hospital.  She has Cystic Fibrosis and many times she has bleeding in the lungs and needs immediate medical treatments and support for several days. Since she is due home today.

I will be picking up a bright flower bouquet, vase, get well card and some light reading material to make her bed stay go quicker. I am thinking of enlisting a neighbor's son to drop it off, ring the doorbell and make sure someone is home to receive it because I do not want the flowers to wilt, die or freeze. He will have to promise not to disclose my identity and I am not going to sign the card.

I hope this is a BRIGHT spot of sunshine in her day and that the goodwill and well wishes assure her that others care and encourage her to rest and take care.

A Taxi Driver Who Proved Me Wrong

Yesterday, when I was going back to home after finishing all my paper work at the college, I stopped a taxi to take me back home. The man seemed to be very nice and couldn't stop calling me "Son".  I liked it but was a little bit surprised by this because I usually think that taxi drivers are not kind people.

When I reached my destination I was searching for the money in my pocket.   I was having trouble finding the change.  The man noticed and said, "It's ok son, if you don't have the money you can go."  I was so shocked and responsed, "I do have money," then I gave it to him. When I got out of the taxi I was really Happy about this kind person. I wished him all the best of luck.

Sometimes we get the wrong idea about a group of people. But, after some time and after going through an experience like mine, you will really change your ideas.

Pano's Basement in Bosnia

It was the early 1990s.  During the bleak years of the Bosnian war, the Serbian Army surrounded the city seeking it's surrender and the expulsion of all non-Serbians.  The residents, with a minimal volunteer and civilian militia, were unorganized but mounted a spectacularly brave defense.  From around the world, many people converged to help them.  It was an almost magnetic pull to serve a valiant and vulnerable expression of our human experience.  I was one amongst those who came. Fueled by Hemingway and feeling much like the Spanish Civil War, international brigade volunteers were driving ambulances around town.  And yet it was resident foreigners who were causing the most distress in their hurry to leave the besieged city.  The strong passports allowed most to escape the darkest days, and to sojourn on the Dalmation coast filling their memoirs with a few notes, before going home. A few of us, though, stayed during ... Read Full Story >>

Ms. Secret Smile

Hello, You dont know me or do you? I cant tell you who I am so just call me Ms Secret Smile. 

I have volunteered to send smile cards and I sent out my first batch this week.  It was a challenge for me because I am not in the best finacial condition but I wanted to partake so badly.  So I committed myself to send smile cards for as long as I can.

There was someone who stood out in my shipping list.  The address was litterally around the corner from my home.  I had an idea.  I was going to give this person 20 of my own smile cards on top of the 10 she would receive from HelpOthers.  I also gave a card to her explaining why I bought the cards personally and it was all wrapped up in a ribbon with a smile ballon waving in the air.  I placed it in her mail box and rang bell the bell until someone opened the door.  With speedy footsteps, I ran away from the home hoping to escape before they came out to look.

I have been smiling all night wondering what she thought.

Sharing Myself and a Ceasar Salad

The other day I went to the city to get a present for a friend. Whilst I was wandering around getting lost, I noticed the homeless people sitting on the ground. It can't be nice sitting on the ground watching legs rush past. If I were in that situation what would I want? The attention of someone for more then a moment. For someone to look into my eyes and see a real person. So I bought an extra large Ceasar salad and went looking for someone to give it to. I ran into a man selling the Big Issue- a magazine about current affairs in which the homeless seller gets half the profit.  He placed down his book and jumped up to greet me. I gave him the Caesar salad and bought a copy of the magazine. He accepted it much more gracefully then most people with no customary 'oh I ... Read Full Story >>

Puppy Therapy

Just two days ago my brother brought home his 6 month old puppy to stay with me and my parents for a while. My mom thought it might be a good thing for me since because I don't get out a lot in the winter due to a disability, which makes me allergic to the cold.

It has helped me a lot because instead of being home alone now I have a dog to take care of and play with.  I want to say thank you to everyone that trains dogs for therapy.

Helping My Little Brother

   My little brother is in the fourth grade and has always had problems with his homework.  He would come home from school distraught and angry because he knew he had to do homework.     When i first started helping him with his homework, he was always focused on being angry and negative because he just did not want to do it.  Many times, he would sit in the chair and not do anything. When i asked him a question he would not answer or answer in a very low voice.    Slowly, though, i made things more fun for him. I also realized i had to stop being so hard on him. He is just ten years old and should enjoy his childhood. I wanted him to be happy. I gave him fun examples he could relate to with his math problems and used chess pieces to help him understand the principles. ... Read Full Story >>