Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Talking To The Homeless

Today I was walking along the street when a homeless woman asked me for some change. I gave her some money and stopped to talk to her for a while. I asked her about how she ended up on the street and if there was a shelter she could go to. She told me about some of her struggles. She told me that she left home at seventeen and was homeless since then (she now looked close to 40). She said that her bag with all her clothes and possesions was stolen the night before, while she was sleeping outside a church. She said that she goes to the day centre everyday and they make calls to try to find her a shelter but nothing is available, as all shelters for women are full up. It has been like this for months. I listened to her and said a few kind words to ... Read Full Story >>

I Always Wanted To Be An Angel

I was walking from my office to my car during rush hour at the end of work day in San Francisco.   As I waited at the corner of 3rd and Folsum for the light to change, I noticed a car about to go through the intersection. The driver looked harried and was talking on his cell phone.  

As he accelerated through the intersection, papers and a manilla folder began swirling and flying out the window.   The driver was clearly dismayed, but given the traffic and the one-way street, he simply pulled over a few blocks down. 

As the light changed, other pedestrians stomped the papers into mud puddles in their rush to cross the street.   Looking at the drivers panic stricken face, I decided to try to pickup as many papers as possible before the light turned and cars started running them over.   I noticed these paper looked like the papers I signed when I bought my house.  

As the driver came up to me to get the papers he said "You are an angel, You are an angel." 

Hearing that made me feel better than I had in weeks.

Everything Can Be A Gift

Back about 4 years ago I started to attend a grief support group.  My sister's husband died in a car accident and a year and a half later she was killed.  It took be about 1 year before I went to get support.  Since then I have become a faciliator of the group.  It doesn't seem like a big deal to me to give in this way, but the people who attend are ever so grateful that someone is there for them and knows what they are going through.

This has inspired me to start a support group that I would facilitate for people who are separated and going through a divorce.  I'm in the process of getting divorced and I attended a divorce support workshop and WOW.  Now I see my divorce as a GIFT.  I want to share the possibilities with others.  The group I am starting is for Spanish speakers, because believe it our not in my California neck of the woods, there isn't anything for these folks.

Mocha for Me

I live on a very busy street and the morning commute can sometimes be almost unbearable. 

One morning, I let a car out of a side street and proceeded on my way to my favorite drive thru coffee shop.  When it was my turn I ordered my mocha and as I went to pay she told me that the car in front of me had paid for me because I had let them out in traffic and they noticed I had gone to the same coffee place that they had!!! 

Now that inspired me to do likewise and occassionally that is what I do---pay it forward!!!   A small kindness like letting someone out in traffic can make someone's day!   And the bonus this time was a mocha!! Totally unexpected blessing!  It works both ways!

Power of Anonymous Flowers

I work for a large investment firm in Vancouver, and our "back office" is located in Toronto.  There are two special ladies in Toronto who always answer my questions and treat me well, even though the only reason I ever speak with them is when something has gone wrong...they save my butt time and time again. 

Today, one of them resolved an issue that has been ongoing for a month.  I was beginning to think that I would never be able to tell the Investment Advisor at the firm that everything had been set right.  I was so grateful for her help, and mentioned this in an email to her. 

Although she thanked me for my kind words, I felt that this was a time to give a little extra effort.  So I ordered some flowers to be anonymously delivered tomorrow, addressed to both of these "Super Women" with a note thanking them for all that they do.

I feel so wonderful knowing that the flowers will brighten their day, and show them that someone is thinking about them!

One Email Begets Another

A few days ago I was really frustrated because no one seemed to be free for some random acts of kindness. I had wanted to go out and do something big and was about to give up all together when I realized that I could easily do something just as meaningful right from my computer in about 15 minutes. I logged on to Facebook (which is an utterly addictive yet pointless website :)) and sent a message to each one of my friends. Most of them were along the lines of, "Hi! I'm having a random acts of kindness day and I'd just like to wish you a beautiful day!" I had been a bit nervous that it would look corny but after I did it, I felt great!   And I felt even better still when I came back that night to find an unexpected 70 or so replies! They ... Read Full Story >>

Love Notes Left for My Hubby

There were a few days I realized my dear hubby was feeling stressed from work, tired, and just feeling a little out of sorts.

Thinking of what to do to lift his spirts .... I got out some colored paper, cut it in several pieces until I had about 6 to 8 total. On each of the papers I wrote several little "I love you notes" and signed my name to them and placed them all over the house in places he would find. For example,  when he lifted the lid to his laptop, he found one there. I also placed one in his undie/sock drawer; on his nightstand; in the jar he keeps his pocket change; where he sits in the living room; on his pillow, along with other places he would eventually look.

The first time he found one he said, "What's this?" and read it and with a big smile on his face, responded, "I love you too!"

For several days he continued to find more notes until he finally found the last one. He really enjoyed what I did and it really blessed and changed his spirit, lifting him up!

Helping Homeless Harry

I am on staff at a church and we often get homeless folks that come in and need assistance. Part of my job is to try to help folks out, which is an awesome thing.

This week I have made a new friend and am touched by his genuineness and willingness to do what he needs to do to get out of his situation.  I have been able to help him with some food, gas, hooking him up with job possibilities and helping him get his car window repaired. 

While these are all physical things, I have been blessed by the interaction that we have had and have probably learned more from this man than any church member!!! 

The thing that sticks in my mind the most is that Harry has thanked me time and time again over the past week for my smile and for always being welcoming. 

In the process of blessing him, I think I have been blessed!

Seeds of Compassion, Buried but Not Gone

Michael was 16 years old when his life changed. How much worse could it become? Mental retardation had allowed him only one great pleasure — his bicycle — and even that was taken away when he was hit by a truck while riding. The resulting head injury caused multiple behavioral changes. Once sweet and soft-spoken, he became disruptive and violent. No community environment could manage his repeated bouts of agitation, lack of control and aggression. I first examined Michael in the mid-1980s, when he was a 30-year-old patient in a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane (though there were no criminal charges against him). He would stay in his room all day long for weeks on end, uncommunicative, with periods of extremely hostile behavior toward anyone who came nearby. Psychotropic medications worked to decrease his agitation. But they blunted his emotional expression and caused restlessness, muscle stiffness and tremors, along with ... Read Full Story >>

Returning A Shopping Cart

Each morning, for work, I have to go to the local post office and then to a supermarket to pick up lunch for a few of my co-workers.  

Doing this for almost year now, I always bring a cart from the parking lot to the front of the store (where it belongs). 

It's a small act, but anyone who has the job of retrieving carts will appreciate this act-of-kindness. 

Try it !  I feel so good inside and gets me into thinking of others at the BEGINNING of the day ahead of me.

My First Experience With Smile Cards

Well.....I just couldnt WAIT to try out my smile cards. Last week I set out on my nightly outing -- to a meeting, and then to spend some time with my best friend. I told him I wanted to use my smile cards. First stop, the Dollar Store. I bought 2 nice candle jars with thoughtful things written on them. Next up, 7 Eleven. We parked and looked for someone to give a candle and card to. A woman had just gotten gas and was walking into the store. I hurriedly got out and ran over to her car, put the candle and card on top where she couldn't miss it, and ran back to my truck and waited. When she came out, she saw it, looked around, and acted like she was afraid to touch it! Another man getting ... Read Full Story >>

A shop full of smiles

Hi Everyone,

While packing a bag of items for a charity shop in the village, I thought about the volunteers who work there.  Every week they turn up and donate their time.

I thought I would take them a little surprise.  I got a nice thank you card and wrote in the message.   (For the happy and friendly ladies who work here, your time is very appreciated).  With the donated items and a bunch of flowers I went and handed them over.

You should have seen the happy faces - the whole shop was full of smiles. 

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity by Joseph Addison.

Afriendlysmile :):)

Don't Underestimate the Kids!

I teach a sixth-grade Hebrew school class every Tuesday at my synagogue.

This year, the staff has worked to institute a "mitzvah theme". A mitzvah is a good deed, as well as a commandment in the Jewish religion. However, we have talked about the fact that anyone, of any religion, can perform a mitzvah.

Recently the Rabbi asked us to set goals for our classes to be reached by the end of March. I sat down with the kids to talk about it, thinking that what we should really focus on was finishing the prayer they've all been struggling with.  Instead, the kids decided they wanted to do a mitzvah project.

I encouraged them to do it, but secretly figured they'd lose interest by the next week. However, the next week, my kids came in with a proposal for a book drive and a furniture painting workshop -- they wanted to collect books and then paint bookshelves and donate books to Reach Out and Read, an oranization that gets books to kids in hospitals who can't afford their own. They even designed a flyer about the book drive!

I was so proud!

A Blind Friend Cleared My Vision

I recently acted as a scribe for blind students, writing during an examination, in one of the less privileged areas.

It was a great experience interacting with my blind friend because I got to learn a lot about my life!

She was happy to have a friendly hand to hold and talk to rather than just a mechanical interaction before and after the exam.  And while I was feeling sad before hand, speaking to my blind friend cleared up my vision too.

Funny, how that works.

Power of Simple Generosity

I used to work in a small department of a company.  Because I use to make everyone smile, I made them feel special on a bad day, celebrated their birthdays, they all felt special and I was often called the "heart" of the department.

When I left after six years, I had the most amazing farewell.  So many people showed up that I was amazed!  BUT most of my friends and collegues were in tears because "no one will be there to listen to their problems or to motivate them anymore."  I had no idea I was even doing that for them.

So since leaving, I have joined this website and I have been sending them inspiring stories from this website and I think they feel better that  "someone" cares. 

I miss being around those people, I miss making them smile ... it was my goal every morning when I woke up -- to make people happy!!!

Pushing Some Snow

Yesterday we had a few inches of snow.  

School was letting out, and I was getting into my  car.

I saw  a teacher just leaving school, and her car was covered with snow.  She was using her bare hands to try and clean off her car.

I had a snow brush in my car, and helped her clean off her car.

:)

Four Sitters and a Baby

I think one of the rarest gifts to be offered is the gift of baby-sitting a child. Recently I had to be alone with my 4 month old baby for a good 18 days. I was weighing different options like taking time-off from work (which was very difficult at that time) and leaving him in a day care system.  I was still undecided when a good friend just jumped in and offered to take care of him while I was at work.  Just like that. What I didn't know was that she herself was flooded with work at that time! And the other thing I didn't know was that by taking care of 'him', she meant 'us'. So we moved lock stok and barrel -- diaper pail and all -- into into her artsy home. And over the next two weeks, she and another good friend cooked and cleaned and ... Read Full Story >>

Ten Dollar Gas For My Cab

I was just starting my duty for the evening shift of driving a cab.  As I pulled into a service station to get gas, I waved at the people, a local musical duet, who were pulling off. When I got ready to gas up, the pump would not work. I went into the store to figure out why and they said that the person ahead of me drove off without paying. "Oh no, I know them, they would not knowingly do that.". The clerk told me that she would reset the pump for me but asked me if I would just give them the names of the people that drove off so she could make a police report. I asked how much was their gas bill, she said it was $10. I gave her a twenty and said that I want $10 in gas for myself and pay the other tab ... Read Full Story >>

Rosie MacKlutz

When working at a retirement  home, I came up with a fun way of celebrating April Fool's Day.

I dressed up as a new admission, and planted myself at the breakfast table with a group of ladies. I misbehaved by flirting, turning up a portable radio, winding up toy false teeth to go across the table and tossing butter to a resident that requested some.I donned a wig, dark sunglasses and put on a thick Irish accent to disguise my voice. No one recognized me.

At the end of my skit, I revealed my identity. The residents had a blast with the whole thing.

You can have fun at no one's expense and in a facility such as the one I worked at, it was important to engage everyone in the fun.

Now 8 years later the skit is still talked about and laughter still  evoked from the residents remaining who still remember that particular April Fool's Day.

Little random acts of kindness

Although the big ones are most memorable, I find little random acts of kindness make me pretty happy as well. Holding doors open for people, listening to a friend when they're having a bad day, providing advice, smiling at someone so that they smile too.  Those are only a few things of a long list we can do everyday. Kindness has no limits! Keep it goin!!