Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Little Doll At A Garage Sale

Recently, we had a garage sale as part of our fundraising efforts for a local organization that helps the old and lonely people. We have monthly meetings, picnics, shows etc.  and not all are senior citizens -- some (like my friend and myself) are young & enthusiastic members! :) After midday at our garage sale, and after some successful sales, we were all relaxing when an young girl walked in.  She looked as though she had very little money with her, and looked around & picked up a doll & came up to me asking for its price.   I knew she could not afford even the very reasonable priced doll but I did not want her to feel hurt or be belittled; so I counter questioned her: "How much do you have?"  She curiously opened her palm to show me 2 rupee coin that she was clutching.  I smiled at her ... Read Full Story >>

Free Babysitting And Stamps

Last week a dear friend of mine needed to pick up her son early from his babysitter.  She called me to see if I could watch him for a few hours while she finished up working. 

So I picked him up and watched him for a couple of hours.  My son's the same age, so they had a blast!! 

When my friend came to pick up her son, I handed her a smile card with a handful of postage stamps.  I told her that there was no need to pay me.

This seemed like a small gesture to me, but she was in tears as she gave me a  big hug!!

Thanksgiving Experiment With My Class

Last week, I did a little experiment.  Instead of holding class during a holiday week, I didn't show.  Except that I left a tote bag on the door of class in the engineering building, with a bunch of Smile Cards and $200 in $10 bills.  And this note: Hey, That's the way many of the email messages I receive begin.  It's a handy shorthand solution to the question of how to greet someone you know but don't know. Others--many fewer--begin with the word "Dear."  It's a holdover from the time when we wrote actual personal letters. I still like that, and treasure the rare gift of a personal, handwritten note almost as much as an authentic conversation about something more than a transaction issue, like a grade, a missed assignment, an evaluation of some kind--criticism or praise included. So my preference is to start with Dear... Would you read this aloud to everyone else ... Read Full Story >>

Seven Thoughts After A Lost Wallet

I lost my wallet today.  It's just one of things that can drive you upside down,  but instead of being mad, I am gonna count my blessings with you.   1. The wallet that I left in my car I was glad I wasn't sleeping in my car Thank you God for putting a roof over my head.   2. The violation I felt over stolen property At least my life wasn't stolen from me Thank you God for life and security   3. My credit card that was gone At least I have enough money to lose Thank you God for giving me more than enough to survive   4. My favorite Macy's card I lost I enjoyed that card for years Thank you God for luxuries in life. Also thank you for a sense of fashion   5. My driver's license I lost I am still able to drive Thank you God for providing me with a stable transportation   6. My Barnes & Noble's gift ... Read Full Story >>

Window Washer At a Gas Station

I pulled into the gas station to fuel up.  There was a guy there asking to wash windshields for a dollar.  He was developmentally disabled.   As he approached me, he compassionately said,  "How are you today, maam? Are you having an awesome day?  I sure am."  His cheer was contagious.

He continued, "Can you help a guy out?  I will wash your windshield the best its ever been washed?"  I said, " Yes, please go ahead."

So, he washed them all including my mirrors and, they were sparkling clean.

I gave him two dollars and a Smile Card.  He said "What is this card"? and I said, "It's a Smile Card and you have to to do something nice for someone today".  He understood immediately.  And then told me that he wanted god to bless me.

He made me smile. and, I guess since he made me smile and uplifted me, perhaps he had already paid it forward without even knowing it.

Let's Start a Hugathon

We should all start a hugathon, I think!

The overwhelming desire to hug a friend to show your appreciation for them cannot be beaten!

Wednesday night, I felt on top of the world. More happy than normal. So I felt the need to share out this happiness with my housemate.  Not only did I sense that he needed a hug but my overwhelming desire to do was a fabulous feeling too!  So why not share your happiness with others when you feel it and bring them to your energy level?

Let’s start a hugathon now!

Hug someone you appreciate.

Two Boys Knocking Our Car Window

Last night my partner and I went out to get some take-aways. While I sat in the car waiting for him, two little boys knocked on my car window.  I let them chat to me.  In that moment, I knew they needed me and so I listened.  They had no jerseys on and no shoes.  They were cold and tired.  They were selling cakes to bring money into their home for food.  They are a family of 6.  Their mom is ill with breast cancer and their dad has lost his job.  They have no food and very little clothing. We bought most of what they had.  (Then gave it to a hungry person at a traffic light on our way home.)  We also bought them each a burger, they were hungry.  They needed to go back home and for this they had to take a taxi, late at night.  My heart ... Read Full Story >>

How Much Are You Short?

A few weeks ago I walked into a Zenex Garage to buy some milk. When I turned around after taking milk out the fridge I saw an elderly man standing behind me with a small packet of mielie pap, a small bottle of Savlon, a small bottle of milk and a half loaf of bread. He was trying to hold everything and at the same time was counting his coins in his very shaky, bruised, cut hands. I walked up to him and asked him how much he was short.  Stunned, he could not even talk.  Almost apologetically, he told me he had not recieved his pension money yet and needed a few small things for his family(himself, his wife and two kids) for a week while he waited for his pension to come in. He did not know which of the items were most important to take but he clearly could ... Read Full Story >>

Traffic Jam At the County Fair

I recently went to the County Fair. Needless to say the traffic getting out was outrageous.

As I was winding my way around towards the exit, I noticed this one car with a huge line of cars behind her trying to edge her way into my line that was flowing nicely. Nobody in front of me even acknowledged her, they didn't want to lose their place in line to get out.

When I came to her I smiled and waved her on in front of me!  I started a chain reaction and noticed behind me that others were letting one car at a time in front of them also!  :)

Easy to do and means so much!

Can't Buy At McDonald's!

This week-end my husband and I are leaving on vacation to North Carolina ... As you well know, planning is essential including cleaning out the refrigerator of food that will go bad.

Yesterday morning, my daughter calls to check -in and mentioned she was going to McDonald's to get a breakfast burrito.  I told her I had the items to make that in my refrigerator and I could make it for her. She said her daughter (my grandaughter) wanted pancakes. I said I had that too!

I invited my other daughter and her 3 girls as we ''cleaned'' out the refrigerator and it didn't cost them anything, plus I have less work to do! It was fun and everybody got their bellies full of burritoes, pancakes, sausage and fruit! 

Plus I made it with LOVE!  You can't get THAT  at  McDonalds! 

Thanks For Rocking With Me!

There was once an elderly, despondent woman in a nursing home. She wouldn't speak to anyone or request anything. She merely existed - rocking in her creaky old rocking chair.

The old woman didn't have many visitors. But every couple mornings, a concerned and wise young nurse would go into her room. She didn't try to speak or ask questions of the old lady. She simply pulled up another rocking chair beside the old woman and rocked with her.

Weeks or months later, the old woman finally spoke.

'Thank you,' she said. 'Thank you for rocking with me.'"

Reading Your Smile Stories!

I have gone through 7 pages of stories and will be able to leave today for work with a smile on my face.

I have read stories that had no comments and made it a point to leave a comment to let those folks know that their stories have been read.

In reading those stories I will go out into my world and use some of their suggestions and stories to set a good example of kindness today.

Thanks to all of you that are part of this site!!!!

A Rainy Day At The Carwash

One rainy cold day, I decided I didn't care anymore if it had been raining all week, I just wanted my car clean. Besides, if it was nice and I had it washed, it surely would rain anyway!   I went to the carwash around 1 p.m. and sat there a minute before a young attendant came out.  He seemed somewhat dejected.   After I pulled out of the carwash, I didn't get far before a thought occurred to me -- I had a bag of homemade cookies; they were meant to be for a friend but knowing the compassionate nature of my friends, I figured he would understand.  So I immediately made a "U'ey" and pulled back into the carwash.  The attendant seemed even more surprised to see me, again!   With a big smile, I handed him the cookies and the card that said "SMILE, you have been tagged" and he got a huge smile ... Read Full Story >>

Holding My Hand

As the little girl and her father were crossing a bridge, the father was a bit scared.  So he turns to his little daughter and says, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."

To which the little girl replied, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," said the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
 
   
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting them to hold yours.

Ride For A Mom and Two Kids

I was at the checkout of a local store last night, when I noticed a mother and her two beautiful daughters.  The mother was dressed in sweat pants and a simple tee shirt with kind of run down sneakers, and the girls had pretty summer dresses on with cute sandals.  Along with some cleaning items for the home, the mother had bought some clothes, games and some sweet treats for her daughters. She had so much in her hands to carry out and asked the girls to help her. They both said no. What surprised me was that the mother was so calm. She never said, "Look what I bought you and you won't help?" Instead, she was saying, "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize how much I bought." You could tell as soon as she headed out the door that the bags would burst open and spill all over the ... Read Full Story >>

Down In The Dumps

Very recently, I have had to move from my home and have been living in a hotel room with my son who is 17, my sister and her two children ages 4 and 8.  

Times have been hard and I have been still going to work and pretending every day that it is no big deal, that we will get through this.  But today I was really down until I logged on to this site .... and read everyone's stories!  It just brightened up my day.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and everyone  for their acts of kindness.

Even though times are hard for me right now, I am still going everyday to help my mother who has colon cancer and try to help others with their problems.  Compared to some others, my problems are not so terrible.

Thanks for reminding me.

Baby Booties

As my husband and I got ready for church last Sunday, I thought of this young couple who recently gave birth to 2 preemie twin boys. I thought about a bag of crocheted booties I had put away in the closet some time ago and went to find it.  I looked inside the bag and found 2 matching blue hats and 2 sets of blue booties..

When we got to church this couple just happened to sit in front of us. I tapped the mother's arm and handed her the items... She turned and smiled as she took them... Made me feel good.

Later she thanked me and yesterday she sent me e-mail pictures of the babies. They are sooo cute! 

I'm glad I make these little things in my spare time.

Helping That 'ex'tra Special Someone

I had been dating this girl for seven months, and me and her had been getting very close. Seeing each other for days on end, spending every waking (and non-waking) moment together, and generally getting more and more involved with each second. Then the unexpected happens: she dumps me! To this day, I still don't know exactly why.  Something about her changing and wanting to move on.   Maybe she just wanted to "get" with other guys and everything -- she can be shallow that way. At this point, I was pretty shook up, unable to accept that things had ended.  I was going through the classic stages y'know: denial, anger, going-to-my-ex-girlfriends-counselling-so-she-won't-be-lonely. yer, and so on.  But less than a week after my first ever proper breakup, I'm around her, taking a car, a bus and a train to go help her.  With a load of our m8s, we both head to this massive music festival in Essex with ... Read Full Story >>

Ending A Friendship With Kindness

I lost a friend last week.  Business should never be mixed with friendships.

I have learned that people come into your lives and people leave your lives.  I know this is the end of the friendship and so I wondered how I could make it just a little better.

I decided to write my friend a letter to say how important our friendship was to me.  To say what a difference he made in my life.  To highlight the good times and to say thank you for those.

I also wrote the letter to wish him wonderful things in life.  I wanted to end it positively.  At first I thought I was making myself vulnerable but then I realized it did not really matter.  I really did value this friendship and even though it has ended in a horrible way, I refuse to look over it negatively.  I want to remember the good.

Thank you my friend.  Our walk has ended together but you will be special in my heart always.

Flowers For Friends

The other week I went to dinner with 3 of my close girlfriends.  I decided to surprise them with a flower and small gift which they were all shocked to receive. 

Enclosed with the gift was a Smile card and I told them to pass it on and do something nice for someone else.  I told them I just wanted to do something nice for them to let them know that I truly appreciate their friendship.

It made me feel great and it even sparked a couple of ideas at dinner conversation as to how they might pay it forward.