Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Up in the Air at 35,000 Feet

A Midwife, the Sea, and Sharing

I have been trying to think of ways that I can give without having to spend money, as I've been finding it quite hard to do. I was cleaning out my 18-month-old son's bedroom when I found the packaging to his sea-life-themed bedroom set, which cost about $250 and included stacks of things to create a full bedroom theme. I loved it and really enjoyed putting my baby in a room with these surroundings. I justified the price at the time by keeping the packaging and vowing to sell the stuff when I was finished. However, i decided that instead of selling it, I would wrap it up with a gift bag and a card and take it up to the hospital and let the maternity nurse decide who needed it the most and who may not be able to afford something similar. The midwife was really touched by the ... Read Full Story >>

Dad, Can I Do That Again?

Let me tell you another story. It’s not a mythic story; it refers to a real event, which I attach great importance to, which was told to me when I was teaching a class at a business school in Mexico.  I was teaching a class in business ethics, and we were dealing with the question, What is a good human being?   Can you be a successful businessman and also be a morally good man or woman at the same time, or do these two goals work against each other?  Or to what extent do they coincide and to what extent do they oppose each other?  It’s a very interesting question, and a very central question for our society now in all kinds of ways. At a certain point during the discussion, one of the students -- a young man of about thirty -- described an event that took place at Christmas.  ... Read Full Story >>

Noticing An Agitated Duck

Kim Tucker was heading home to West Sacramento last week and saw a sight that can't rightly be ignored. There, by the side of the road, was a remarkably agitated duck, pacing the pavement and flapping in fear. Her ducklings, Tucker learned on subsequent inspection, had fallen through a drainage grate and were desperately treading water in the filthy bog below. She looked for help, eventually enlisting a burly construction worker (to pry off the grate), a slew of onlookers and, she was surprised to note, a teenage boy, who whipped off his shoes and, without hesitation, slipped into the drain and started retrieving the ducklings in distress, one by one. "He was right on it," an impressed Tucker said. "It was (a very) human moment." But not all 13-year-olds are so human, judging by the number of like-aged boys who passed by the scene with little more than a glance. What made this particular kid ... Read Full Story >>

Sponsoring Smiles :)

When I first joined a Smile Group, I immediately purchased some smile cards which I doled out quickly.  So I went back to purchase some more immediately.   The high from practicing RAOK , seeing others smile, etc was so addicting that I wanted to do and share, more and more and more!! Well, guess what? The second smile card purchase also disappeared rapidly -- seems that when I got new cards, they "burn a hole in my pocket " urging me to gift and give away at every opportunity.  Do your cards whisper to you too? Reading the website thoroughly one day, I noticed that I could donate money to sponsor cards for others so right then I wrote a check, sent a hand written note and the money, knowing I was assisting others who would want cards but may not be able to afford them. I have since been printing out smile cards from my computer and I pass ... Read Full Story >>

Poor Lady

When i was in my childhood days, I knew a mentally disabled lady who had a very rich background. She had two sons and a husband who was doctor. But he had an accident. One of the sons exiled her from the home and she became mad because of this incident. Everyone denied to help her or give her anything and basically turned her away. I used to see all this when my father brought me sweets or a new dress and I would say, "Please, keep that for the lady." I gave her many things that I kept for her and she gave me lots of blessings. Its really gave me so much contentment.
After a short period she died. When my mother told me she was run over by a truck, I cried a lot. This imprint is still in my mind.
From then to now, whenever I saw such poor people I have a great inclination toward them. I am ready to give up wat I can give for them. So if you have seen any people who really need you, please help them! it will add to your karmas, and believe me it causes no loss to your bank balance.

Rescued While Running Away From Home

A few years during the worst phase of my life, I ran away from home and did not know where to go. I just landed in a town to meet a friend who happened to be away on a vacation. It was late in the night and I had nowhere to go.  I called the phone number my friend had given me. A polite voice answered the phone and informed me that he was my friend's friend. He came to meet me at the bus station and took me home for the night. I confessed everything to him and he really took care of me like a baby and spent the entire next three days with me, trying to reason things. Once he was confident that I was ok, he booked my ticket to go home without informing me. He took me out  for the day and introduced all his friends and by evening gave me ... Read Full Story >>

How To Make Someone's Day For $20 Or Less (Or Even Nothing)

I struggled through St. Louis’s Lambert International Airport with my toddler and a heap of coats and carry-ons to catch a 6 a.m. flight. After making my way through the security line, I landed by the gate with my laptop still hanging out of my briefcase and my sock-footed son trying to make a run for it.   I stared longingly at Starbucks. It was only 15 yards away, but it might as well have been 15 miles, since a loudspeaker kept warning that leaving your bags unattended was not allowed. Then I noticed a well-heeled woman observing me. As she walked toward me, I was sure she was going to reprimand me for being such a disorganized mess. But instead she leaned over and said, “How do you take it?” “Huh?” I said, confused. “Your coffee, how do you take it?” I stammered out “cream and sugar,” and watched in shock as she waited ... Read Full Story >>

Generosity "Grande" at the Cafe

So, here's a long story made short. I love Starbucks, but I tend to get fattening items when I go, other than my usual soy chai tea latte. So, that's why I immediately gifted a $25 Starbucks gift card to my friend Cathy who, interestingly, had been teasing me about being part of this "goofy smile card experiment." Nevertheless, I gave it to her and said, "Don't pay me back, but pay it forward." Cathy went to a Starbucks in Lake Oswego and as she was paying for her own drink, she gave some money and my smile card to a lady standing behind her. Much to Cathy's surprise, the lady lit up like a Christmas Tree. She was very excited and said she was going to immediately "pay it forward" and surprise the lady behind her. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was feeling rather down this morning but this has completely brightened my day!! Witnessing her joy, Cathy immediately caught the bug and saw how much fun it is to be a part of this experiment. When Cathy told me the story, I wish I had a camera to show you her enthusiasm. It made me feel great and I hope it does you, too.

The Little Black Book

I met a work colleague of my husband's a few weeks ago and had forgotten just how hard he was on himself. He thinks he's stupid, ugly, unable to communicate, a bad parent, unable to control his temper and unlikely to amount to anything much in his life.  I found this to be a complete contrast to what I see when I look at him. He's caring, considerate, a good listener, very capable at work and a real family man who will sacrifice anything to give his loved ones the best.  After a few drinks I broached this subject of affirmations and told him I was going to write him a book of inspirational quotes to make him stop in his tracks and see what others see.  So, one long wet winter afternoon I sat with a little black notebook and put what I consider to be an inspiring quote on every ... Read Full Story >>

Holiday Cheer Bears!!!

Last year during a hospital stay over the Christmas holiday my daughter decided she wanted to do something in the coming year for the kids at the hospital. I forgot over the course of the year, but she remembered!
We purchased 40 bears, made cards and tied them around the bears neck with a bow. We arrived on the 24th (which is also my birthday.) We went to each floor and asked the nurse on duty if there was anyone that needed some holiday cheer and each one gave us a few specific room numbers. We passed out bears to children, men, and women of all ages. We could have done it all day it was so joyful, but we ran out of bears!! We decided that we would make this part of our tradition every year. I cannot tell you how much joy I received by giving gifts away on my birthday with my daughter. I hope we are able to buy a lot more bears and cannot wait until next year!

Mystery of a Missing Class Ring

Many times we write about how we shared our kindness and I wanted to share a brief story about how I received kindness from a stranger. 

Kristin, my 22 year-old daughter, just graduated from college and also just recently purchased her first new car.  In the process she traded in her old car, which by now is 10 years old and was a good and faithful friend that proceeded to overheat 4 times on her way to the dealer to pick up her new car.  This transaction was completed in the beginning of November. 

On Moday of this week, there was a message on my answering machine, from a small wholesale car dealer that had purchased Kristin's old car.  In cleaning it out, they found her high school class ring.  Kristin only wore that ring for about 6 weeks when she lost it and that was 6 years ago!  What a kind effort on the part of this car dealer  to go to the trouble ot tracking us down and contacting us -  it made my day as well as my daughter's! 

Bringing the News a Little Closer

In Upstate New York it is blustery and freezing cold today. It's Sunday. I dressed and went out early to grab the newspaper, which in my neighborhood is left on the driveway. I happened to think of the neighbors around me and how it would be nice for them if their paper was right on their front stoop. So, I took a little stroll and grabbed their papers and placed them by their front doors. I hope they have smiles on their faces when they see they don't have to walk all the way outside and down the driveway to get their Sunday paper. :) ~Aurelia

Memories of a Special Construction Worker at the Hospital

I would like to share a random act of kindness by a stranger whose name I don’t know and don’t think I will ever see again. Six years ago when my son was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. He was hospitalized for much of his treatment and as you can imagine, keeping a 3 year old entertained in a hospital room can be quite a challenge.    He was seriously into trucks and tractors at the time, wearing his yellow construction hat and boots every day, even during treatment. Conveniently, there was some construction going on at the hospital that involved a huge crane. To alleviate my son’s boredom, I would wheel him down the hall (IV pump and all) to the big picture window where we could watch the construction work. It was one of the crane operators that really made a difference for my son. It started as ... Read Full Story >>

An Empty Wallet and a Full Heart

Today while driving to the grocery store we saw a woman standing with a sign "Family fallen on tough times" by the side of the road. Usually we give the person some food or fruit that we have with us or a bottle of water. Frantically rooting around for a snack, my son and I could not find anything in our bag and by that time the light had changed.  I said out loud, "I only have a $20 bill in my wallet. Too bad, because usually I would give away dollar bills if I had any."  I told my son that we would give something to her on the way back if she was still there. Well, she was still there and on the way back I gave her a smile card wrapped in my only cash-- the $20 bill.  There were cars behind me so I had to drive off quickly (to avoid ... Read Full Story >>

A Gift on My Desk Just When I Needed It

When I got to work today there was a gift on my desk. Inside was a book called Hugs for Friends along with a music CD with songs of friendship including wind beneath my wings, etc.

I was shocked to find out that it was from my girlfriend who seems to always be there for me -- on her card she said that 'I' was always there for HER!!!!

You know I've been feeling the loss of my mom more than ever lately and this was just what I needed.  I listened to the CD all day at work and intend to share some of the messages from the book with everyone on this site. 

Here's one: Friends are angels who life our feel when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly. 

Friends...where would we be without them?

Birthday Cards That Transformed My Son

Back in October, I found a website -- wishuponahero.com -- that has changed my life for the better.  The site is all about people helping others out of the goodness of their heart, not expecting anything in return. I am a single mom on SSI and have a developmentally delayed child. My son's 12th birthday was the 29th of October 2007 and knowing that I could not afford to get him anything at all for his birthday, I felt broken hearted.  I decided to post a wish on "Wish Upon A Hero" website for people to send my son birthday cards. I knew he loved to check the mailbox and always asked if there was anything for him. So, I thought that if he could get a few cards, it would make him smile and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be so upset that I wasn't able to get him ... Read Full Story >>

Neighbors Help a Single Mom

While I was growing up, I loved children and used to earn my spending money through babysitting.
I had a neighbor around the corner and down a street who had two children. The younger male was slow in learning and developmentally challenged.
When the couple divorced, the mother asked my Mom and I, and other neighbors, for assistance with one of her sons who needed daily therapy, which she called "patterning." It took two people at a time to go thru his exercises, one on each side of him.
Once a week, Mom and I walked to her home and gladly assisted her son after she trained us on his daily therapy. We were glad to help, as were many other neighbors, so that she did not have to shoulder the responsibility all by herself.
Don't they say that it "takes a village" to raise a child? Well, in our case a neighborhood to help support a child or family.

Warm Delights to Rekindle a Lost Friendship

December marked the end of my final semester in college. When nearing a landmark event like graduation, I think it’s instinctive to take a step back and reevaluate, figure out what I have accomplished and what I want to accomplish.  This was a rough one for me.  Sadly I believe that college was a waste of my time; I don’t think I learned much that will help me in the “real world.” In the wake of this depression, I tried to turn it into something semi-meaningful. I looked around at all the girls in my sorority who go through their day-to-day lives, fulfilling obligations, complaining about petty things, and losing perspective. I knew I was like that too and wanted to change.   Marissa and Mackenzie were two of my sorority sisters who had been best friends in the previous year. Naturally they became roommates. They shared clothes, school supplies, the same ... Read Full Story >>

A Cold Walk Made Warm

I witnessed how it is our attitudes that make a big difference in our everyday lives. My good friend doesn't have any pets. I happened to notice her outside in the below-30-degree weather walking a dog early in the morning yesterday. I pitied her, out there walking a dog that's not hers in such freezing weather. I thought she was probably saying to herself, "Yeah, this is why I don't have any pets!" I was wrong. Later that day I saw her and said, "I saw you out there walking a dog. Are you sorry you offered to dog sit?" She said that she was enjoying getting out there and walking the Boxer and that she's getting good exercise because of him. She also said she talked to her brother, the dog's owner, who is vacationing in Orlando, Florida and ... Read Full Story >>