Stories of Kindness from Around the World

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 >>

Small Act Of Kindness at the Recycling Center

This is a small act of kindness but significant, as it’s important for me to remember that these acts don’t have to be grandiose to make a difference. My daughter and I took on the task of redeeming the soda cans and bottles for deposit money, something we avoid and I usually end up doing alone. We had 6 garbage bags full so we knew we’d be spending a bit of time at the redemption center. When we got there, a man and his kids were also spending the morning recycling and were using 2 of the 4 machines to recycle their plastic and cans. Luckily, we were able to use the 2 remaining machines to do our work. Of course, there were others that came, but when they saw the two families with multiple garbage bags full of recyclables, they quickly left. However, one woman came in with just 5 cans ... Read Full Story >>

Making My Life Worth It

One day, after I finished my classes at university and was heading towards the bus station to go home, I kept thinking about how miserable my life was and how I couldn't succeed in anything. I was really sad and I thought I'd never do anything worth it in my life.

Then, I arrived at the bus station. I was looking around and watching people passing by.  I saw this very old lady who was carrying a very heavy bag. I kept watching her for a while and noticed that she was struggling to walk while carrying this bag. So, I decided to go up to her and offer to carry the bag and walk with her to wherever she was going.  She looked at me, shocked at first, but then she gave me the bag and smiled :) I walked with her until she reached her destination and I handed her the bag. She was still smiling and kept thanking me and wishing me the best of everything.

I really can't describe how happy I felt after she left. Yes, I made her happy but I was the happiest person on earth at this moment. It feels great to help people and makes my life feel worth it!!

Valentine's Contest

I am running a Valentine's Day Contest for kids. I'll buy prizes for the winners and probably give a treat to EACH participant (although I haven't told them that yet). This contest will be multipurpose. The kids gets to do something fun and receive a prize, then the cards or drawings will be used by me to brighten Valentine's Day for residents of a local nursing home in February. The young and the elderly - nothing brings more joy to my life!

Gifting Subscriptions

I LOVE to read and am a voracious reader.  I also visit the library, swap books and order new, used books and magazines. Recently, I had two magazines that needed renewal so what I did was to renew my subscriptions to both and order additional subscriptions to pay-it-forward.  My Mom, and two different friends will be getting a monthly magazine free of charge.  They will not know that I paid and I know they will enjoy them as we have similiar interests.

When I refinanced our mortgage a few years ago, the loan officier and I became friendly.  She is a wonderful person and we clicked.  Boy was I surprised to find out she has gifted me a year's subscription to Home & Garden's.  So, even though I can't take credit for the idea, it is certainly worth repeating to share the surprise and joy!

How to be a Kick-Butt Volunteer

A volunteer, by definition, serves and improves our community. But a little birdie once told me there are some volunteers who prefer to laze around and play Candy Land instead of getting any real work done. I assume these people believe that since they are volunteering, they are automatically helping and consequently forget to put genuine sweat into their work.  Is it possible to have your peacock feathers a bit too fully displayed and misdirect your admirable intentions? I posed the following questions to a bunch of my cronies who have years of experience in the nonprofit sector: What makes a first-rate volunteer? What makes a helplessly high-maintenance volunteer? How can a person become a super-hero volunteer? Listen to the following advice of my friends. I’ll be bold enough to guarantee that my grass-roots amigos can steer you down the most direct boulevard to becoming a kick-butt volunteer. Jennifer Beahrs, a ... Read Full Story >>

Taking Off My Shoes

Today was a rainy day and I was walking down the street feeling blessed. I felt like doing something kind for someone else, almost as if I was trying to spread the abundance of love I was receiving. I suddenly saw this teenage girl dressed in tattered clothes, getting soaked and without any footwear. She was making her way through the dirty garbage and sewers, trying to pick something that would be of use. I immediately told her to wait for me there as I ran home to get her something.   Spontaneously, I took off my shoes, which I really love, wrapped them up in a plastic cover and gave it to the teenage girl on the street. The girl looked shocked as if she is so not used to this kind of kindness.  She almost couldn't believe it. A distinguished musician who lives down the street corner stopped his car to ... Read Full Story >>

Remember These Moments Often

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  ~Author Unknown Yesterday was a pretty good day.  After a rough few weeks at work I was driving to a shopping center in town and I wasn't feeling myself. I almost didn't go, but I wanted to buy myself a couple of inspiring and uplifting books from Barnes and Nobles so I went anyway.  On my way there I was driving down this road when all of a sudden I see a full grown Bald Eagle take off from somewhere across the road and fly almost in slow motion across the road and land in a tree on the other side.  I slowed down immediately to take in this breathtaking sight.  I was so moved I had tears in my eyes.  Maybe this was the sign I needed to help me realize that things are going to get better ... Read Full Story >>

Crossing Guard Helped by Driver

   I was driving my daughter to swim team after school on a rainy day and I was watching the crossing guard struggling with his umbrella, which had broken and turned inside out.  We pulled over and I opened the window and handed him my brand new umbrella so he could stay dry.  He was so thankful and we drove off smiling.       

The Girl Who Gave Me Apples

August 1942. Piotrkow, Poland. The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited anxiously. All the men, women and children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had been herded into a square. Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My father had only recently died from typhus, which had run rampant through the crowded ghetto. My greatest fear was that our family would be separated. 'Whatever you do,' Isidore, my eldest brother, whispered to me, 'don't tell them your age. Say you're sixteen.' I was tall for a boy of 11, so I could pull it off. That way I might be deemed valuable as a worker. An SS man approached me, boots clicking against the cobblestones. He looked me up and down, then asked my age. 'Sixteen,' I said. He directed me to the left, where my three brothers and other healthy young men already stood. My mother was motioned to ... Read Full Story >>

Doing Unto Others As They Have Done Unto Me

Being disabled, I sometimes have trouble walking and standing in lines.  I have some kind of a movment disorder that makes me start shaking and sometimes causes me to fall.  There have been times that I have been in line at the grocery store and my legs are ready to give out.  I usually ask the person in front of me if its okay that I go in front of them because of my problem.  They can see that I'm not well and let me go first.  I know that I have held them up because it will take me longer to pay but they don't seem to mind.

On my good days, I like to let people go in front of me if they are elderly or disabled or only have a few items.  I feel it is the least that I can do to say thanks for all the times people have let me through to the front.  Why hold them up when I feel good and have more items than them.

It makes me feel good to give back what others have done for me. Thank you for letting me share this with you.  Just wanted to let you know that there are nice people everywhere.

The Power of a Simple Text Message

This morning I picked up mobile to find that I had a very low balance.  It was not enough to call anyone but I could still send some SMS messages.  Instead of sending forwarded messages, I always send special messages that my friends all know me for. 

Here's one of the messages I sent:

Hiii George.  You look great and smart today, WOW!  Nice shirt dear, I love it.  Now I see you smiling -- you have a great smile too!  Wear that smile whole day, have a great day ahead..love u

I know these short text messages bring a smile on my friends' faces, which brightens my day too. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Help While Grieving a Suicide

   Some of you may remember my story of actively listening and comforting my "drama queen"  friend when other co-workers were burned out  from her continuous list of grievances.     Well, guess who was and is my sympathetic ear and comforter during a recent work tragedy?     Yep,  my drama queen friend immediately took me aside to offer her support and comfort.  She listened while I poured out my grief, anger and shock over the unexpected suicide.    Then she shared a confidence with me, a secret she has shared with no one but relatives concerning a suicide that occurred many years ago in her family.     We talked and she told me how her family dealt with the tragedy, for instance how they went to counselling and joined a support group.  She offered advise that she gleamed from the experience. The next day she brought me a great book to read  that helped her and ... Read Full Story >>

Gearing Up 1st Graders Through Craigslist

I frequently flip through Craigslist just because I find human nature to be absolutely fascinating. Well, one day I found a post from a teacher looking for help. She taught at a grade school in Oregon, and each classroom got to pick a university to learn about, as a way to encourage the kids to go to college some day. It was a rural school in a poorer area, and evidently a lot of kids didn’t stay on track, so this was an important project to the teacher. Her first graders had picked my alma mater, the University of Michigan, as their university of choice for the project, and she was asking for volunteers to send Michigan spirit wear for her students.   I wanted to send something because I thought it was a really cool idea. Education is one of the causes that I am looking to get more involved ... Read Full Story >>