Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Abraham Lincoln's Letter To His Son's Teacher

A cup of generosity

I just found out about this website recently and I have been reading many wonderful stories and ideas of ways to brighten someone's day.

Today I was driving to the grocery store to pick up some items and I had a terrible headache and decided to stop for coffee thinking that maybe some caffeine would help.

Funny thing is this drive-through coffee place is about two blocks from my house and I had never gone there before. While waiting in the drive-through I remembered the stories I had read about paying for the person behind you. So, when the cashier handed me my coffee I asked if I could pay for the person behind me. "I guess you can," he said, and then asked if I knew the person. When I said I didn't, he looked baffled.

But then the coolest thing happened. One of the other workers said, "she passes on the cheer Brad." Another worker shouted, "Way to go!" and several others started cheering "yes." I never got to see the reaction of the person in the car behind me, but the reaction of the people working in the coffee shop totally made my day.

Three Simple Words

The other day I was parked outside cleaning out my jeep.  Coming my way from across the street was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous, but there are other times when you just don't want to be bothered. At this particular time, I did not want to be bothered.  I hope he doesn't ask me for any money, I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the wall in front of the bus stop, to wait for the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. 'That's a very pretty Jeep,' he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity about him. His scraggly blond beard kept more than his face warm. I said thanks, and continued cleaning out the ... Read Full Story >>

A Mental Cry for Help

Last week I went to the store to recharge my cell phone credit. I only had 50 pesos and so I spent all the money I had available in cash. Once I paid, I realized there was this little kid crying because his mom had sent him to the store to buy orange juice, but once he paid for it, the bottle fell off his hands and he broke it, spilling the juice around. He was crying begging to the cashier to change him the juice bottle because his mom was going to spank him. The lady said so un-politely "I am not changing the bottle! It was your fault! pay for another one!" So there I was, without any cash and I couldn't help this little boy! I felt so sad about this situation, and I thought I couldn't do anything.  I left the store feeling bad about it and then ... Read Full Story >>

The Helping Movement

The Helping Movement is continuing to gain momentum and is proving to be an effective and easy to use resource for people in need as well as providing volunteers a unique opportunity to help their community on an individual basis. Just recently a local Ithaca resident, Helen, was given until the end of March to remove all of her collected life belongings from her basement or her landlord would have been forced to dispose of the items due to fire code issues. These items meant the world to Helen and to lose any of them would have been devastating. After extensive searching for a place to store her belongings she was able to secure an affordable storage unit; but her next challenge was moving a completely full basement across town without access to a truck or manpower. Helen contacted the Helping Movement and explained her dilemma. The Helping Movement was ... Read Full Story >>

These stories matter

Hello everyone.

This site is full of wonderful people who are making a difference, often not even knowing the impact they are having. Your kind words and stories are not boasting. Every kindness shared reminds and teaches others. It matters!

I have found myself performing more acts of kindness because of all of you! I get great ideas from your stories and they touch my heart, causing me to pass along the goodness. Your kind comments about the stories others write often mean so much to them. Please don't forget that. Some of my best experiences here have been finding out that a small note made someone's day and watching the kindness flow so freely to everyone.

Thank you all. Keep up the great work! I very much appreciate all that you share here. Remember this.

Unconditional Compassion of an Animal Keeper

We have been living in a hotel for the past couple of months and this hotel allows pets inside of the rooms.  My son, who is an animal lover, tries to make sure that all of the animals in the hotel are taken care of because this is what he loves to do.  Last night, he noticed that a dog was locked up in a car that was parked at the hotel.  He went to the hotel office to see what he could do to find the owner of the car and of course they could not give out personal information.  So, Michael took it upon himself to stay outside with the dog to make sure it was okay in the car. The owner saw Michael standing around his car and thought that he was trying to do something wrong, so he called the police on him.  When the police got there, Michael ... Read Full Story >>

Relaxjacks

The other night I was speaking to the owner of a coffee shop who was concerned about some business matters and was feeling down.  To cheer her up, I am going to take her a tray of totally scrumptious homemade 'relaxjacks' (instead of 'FLAP'jacks).  People can sense dis-ease and it won't help her business if her customers feel uneasy.  I figure that if I can help her to relax and put a smile on her face by doing a small act of kindness, then hopefully her smile will spread too and things will start to look brighter!

Reaching Out in a Waiting Room

While I was waiting at the neurooncologist's office for my 3-month check-up on my brain cancer (it is inoperable, so they just monitor it), I noticed a nice older lady sitting in the waiting room, who seemed a little upset.  I smiled at her and asked how her day was going.  She came to sit next to me and tears started falling.  She was just informed that her daughter had a new tumour growing in her brain.  Although it may not seem like much to some people, I decided to share my story with her, hoping it would help her to realize that she is not alone.  I am a 40 year-old mother of 3 teenagers and I was diagnosed with two inoperable brain tumours last year.  The doctors say my life expectancy is 5-7 years, but God says something different.  I have learned that everyday is a blessing.   I talked with the lady for some time, ... Read Full Story >>

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Some members of our community have gotten together and when new people move into our area we each pitch in some money and make a basket to welcome them. I think this is important for many reasons, but the most important one is just so the newcomers will know some of their neighbors. Too many people these days move into communities and never really connect with any of their neighbors. Have you introduced yourself to your neighbor yet?

Community Kindness Blossoms for a Gardener

Last year, a gardener at school lost his family home in a fire. He is a faithful worker to the school and has been serving it for as long as I can remember.  Because the school compound contains a primary and secondary school, he often works long hours and is always the last one to leave the school. When I first entered class 1, I remember always seeing him doing carpentry, mowing the lawns and fixing many broken things and he is still doing so now. The gardener was at school working when he heard that his humble small home had caught fire. He raced back, however, by the time he reached back, the house had already burnt to the ground.  His wife and sons were all standing outside with the little they could save from the fire.  It was his worst nightmare. Most people thought that he would stay with his family and find measures ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Without Strings

Good morning, or afternoon. I would love to share some of the great things that are happening to me. This might seem a little self-centered but it is reallly about how people have helped me.

I was worried about how I could fix a Thanksgiving dinner for my family (last year), because I was out of work and finances were very tight. All the money I had was already been earmarked for rent and other necessities. The shelter where I volunteer gave me a turkey because they had so many given to them by generous people. They gave me all the stuff I needed to make a dinner for my family. I feel truly blessed to have such nice people in my life, being true friends when I had no one in my life except my immediate family. I am living in a new community and these people have really openned their hearts and have taken me in.

So everyone, wherever you may be, know that there are so many blessings out there. Be a blessing to others and show you care. It doesn't have to be money or anything like that. Just be there as a friend to someone who needs someone with no strings.

Garden Of Blessings

There’s a park that runs through the centre of Edinburgh. Sitting beneath Edinburgh Castle, the Princes Street Gardens are full of families, sunbathers and, of course, ice cream stands on sunny days.  The weekend my wife and I spent in Edinburgh was scorching. We had an amazing time, seeing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and being entertained by street performers along the Royal Mile, all rehearsing their acts for the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts. Well, all good things must come to an end. So, we packed our bags and left the hotel. The gardens were empty at this time of day so we decided to walk through them on the way to the station.  That’s when I saw the old fellow. Picture a “salty old sea-dog” with deeply lined face and bushy white beard. He was wearing the tattered remains of several coats, which seemed to be lined with black, plastic bin ... Read Full Story >>

Healing a Heart with Kindness

I suffer from atrial fibrillation of the heart, and recently had to go through a 5-hour heart stress test to check my arteries and blood flow. I had been very stressed out and fearful of what they might find, and also was uneasy about the upcoming tests.

During one portion of the test, an angel in a nurse's uniform named Julie spent the 30 minutes or so that it took to complete the test answering my many questions, advising me on my choices, and reassuring me that all would be fine and I'd probably live to be 90. 

When I desperately needed someone to share my fears with, just someone to hear me, there she was. And get this: as I prepared to leave, she gave me a big bear hug and told me how blessed SHE was to have met ME!

Her kindness was so sweet and wonderful that when I left there I felt like a million bucks!  On the way home I stopped and bought a cute thank you card and popped it in the mail to her.   All the thank you cards in the world could not express my gratitude to her for being such a light in the darkness when I needed it the most! God bless her always!

Thinking Outside the Bun to Share Smiles

Last Friday, I went to Taco Bell late at night to get food. I looked down at my car door and remembered I had the Smile cards.  I smiled, drove up to the window to pay for my food and asked the cashier if I could pay for the food ordered by the person behind me.  The cashier looked puzzled, but agreed to my request. 

After I paid for my order, I gave the cashier a smile card.  The cashier read it, smiled and wished me good night. As I thought about how surprised the person in the car behind me would be, I smiled big and thanked God for my blessings.  My heart felt light, especially after having an emotional day.

Just ask! You might be surprised

A work group from the company where I work toured a United Way agency named Hope House that provides day care for kids diagnosed HIV-positive or who have parents who are HIV-positive. It was a place so full of love. One little boy greeted us with hugs and then told us that his Daddy was in heaven. As you can imagine, we were very touched.

The agency provides a place for the kids to learn, grow, feel safe and deal with the challenges of their lives. I asked the director what material goods the agency needed and she indicated paper towels and diapers.

As a result, we put out the word at our work place and the response was tremendous. We put a big box in the lobby and put up notices and figured we'd give it a week. Well, after one week the box was overflowing and there was enough on the ground to nearly fill another two. Some people gave 12-packs of paper towels and large pkgs of high quality diapers.

I am proud of the giving and the generous spirit of my fellow workers. Sometimes, you just have to ask. The response was more than we ever expected. Now I'm looking forward to Hope House receiving our gifts.

Yes, there are people who love their job!

My ipod is in very sad shape right now so I called the Apple Support line and surprisingly, the lady I spoke with was wonderful. She was nice and informative.

Wow!

I had to stay on the phone for an hour and a half, but while things were downloading etc. we chatted, and she was so pleasant. It just really makes me glad that there are people out there who love their job!

A Tattoo Named Lost

Got on the plane in Minneapolis for the two hour and nine minute flight to NY. Spent the first nine minutes of it talking to the young curly-brown-haired passenger with long sideburns. In the first three minutes of talking to him I noticed on the back of his hand a ball-point-pen tattoo. One word. "Lost". And for some reason that touched me. In the same inexplicable way that "Help Wanted" signs in store windows do sometimes. That people would be so honest, so open about their vulnerability. I wonder what he is going through. This fellow passenger with his friendly manner who freelances for the magazine "Popular Photography" and moved back to his hometown in Lawrence, Kansas from NY- because even though there's a lot you can do in NY there's a lot that you can't do there when you're broke. And now he's learning how to do video editing and trying to ... Read Full Story >>

Pay-It-Forward Massage Therapist

Since I joined this website last week, I was mulling about how to incorporate acts of kindness into my life as a regular practice. I was truly inspired! I am a massage therapist and have my own practice. What I decided to do is to no longer keep my tips; instead, I would use that money towards giving someone a free massage. For instance, I charge $75/hour. When there is $75 worth of tips given, I will offer someone in need -- who cannot afford the massage otherwise -- a free one. Well, no sooner had I hatched this plan that a client called me and said she had to cancel based on financial difficulties. Guess who got the freebee?!? The beautiful thing is that this woman just lost her father and is in a ... Read Full Story >>

Turning Frowns Upside Down

I am a full time college student at Wilmington University in Delaware and as part of my work-study program, I tutor special education students at a nearby school.

Unfortunately, I hear stories every day of the often poor ways others treat these wonderful children. The gift I like most to bring to this work is an ability to make people laugh.

I feel good when I am able to answer a question about the study of English or science, but I feel best when I see genuine smiles on previously frustrated faces. I try to be kind to everyone and everything. Some day's it is an effort since I am only human.

One of the greatest things I have learned over the past few years has been how to embrace differences. Sharing smile cards with my students and their instructors really has been fun! Hugs for you all.