Stories of Kindness from Around the World

One Scary Man

I know that the title is little curious. But the scary homeless man is even more curious. I have lived in Mayport Florida for about three years. Every day, leaving work, coming home and running errands, I pass this homeless man with two shopping baskets full of his treasures.  Except for about 2-3 months of the year (and I'm not sure where he goes during that time), he is always around, never to be missed. Anyhow, the reason I call him a scary man is because my son and I are often together when we see this man and he's always talkin to him self and staring at people with an awkward look. He talks loud and much of what he says does not make sense. With his two carts filled to the top, he's there just talking away.  It's intimidating. My wife and I are always talking about his misfortune and how ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Hand With A Resume

I have just started up a small business helping people find jobs and particulary to do their cv and covering letters for job interviews (after 16 years I still love the work).  We charge a minimal amount of NZ$25.00. I have had two clients this week come in who are desperately looking for work and needed a CV (resume).  They did not have the money to pay for it, so I said for them to let me look at what I can do and asked them to come back the next day.  I finished one that night and rang the lady to tell her I had finished her CV, that I also have an employer who I'm sending a copy to and told her that she can pay me when she gets a job.  She had not expected much other than advice, but hearing the joy in her voice was what it's all about.  While there was a phone line, ... Read Full Story >>

The Purpose Of A Dog

[ I lost my dog Samson back in February, one fo the hardest things in my life. My sister just sent this to me, and I believe it's true. After all Dog is God spelled backwards. :) ] Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. I  examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we  couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia  procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they  thought it would be good for the four-year old Shane to observe the procedure.  They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.  The next day, I felt the ... Read Full Story >>

Noticing The Small Things

My internet went down for a little while and now that its back up I've been very excited about reading some more stories to get inspired!

To get back into the swing of things in helping others I thought I would share a story of a simple random act of kindness towards a work friend of mine. This friend loves cake and most days he goes to our work cafeteria to buy a piece of cake. I noticed today that he wasn't having a particularly good day and seemed down. I checked our breaks and realised mine was before him so I raced up and bought him a slice of his favourite cake. I came back to our office to give his slice of cake to him and I couldn't believe his smile! He was so happy that not only I had bought him a piece of cake but that I had noticed he enjoys cake and which cake he likes the most. such a simple act of kindness made his day!

Kindness In A Box

Last Mother's Day, I woke and quickly took a stroll to a few neighbors' front stoops to leave an anonymous treat.  Earlier in the week I had put together little treat boxes with a few chocolates and other hard candies, a Pretty Mother's Day Poem, and A Smile Card. 

I also delivered a few to the nursing home just down the road. I left them at the front desk and said they are for anyone who might not otherwise be remembered today. 

It felt extremely rewarding to be able to give on mother's day to mom's who have had a difficult year because of divorce, death, job loss and just plain forgotten.  :)  No one will know who shared these little boxes, but I signed the card :Love GOD

Still Good People Out There

My husband had lost his job of 15 years. It was very difficult on him and his self esteem was at a low. Being in his 40s, made it hard for him to find work because his training was in a dying field, hand drafting, and also telecommunication installation. He was without work for over 18 months. Not even a grccery store would hire him as they felt he was Over qualified and that He would leave when he found something better. Then an angel arrived at our house -- my daughter's friend's mom. She knew we were feeling the money crunch and talked to her husband (who owned a company) about offering my husband a job. And he did! My husband had to be trained in a totally different field of work, but he learned quickly and became very good at it. We are grateful for that angel's visit and that ... Read Full Story >>

I Honor All Who Mother

[Originally posted on May 12th] Today as I reflect on Motherhood, many images come to mind.  Some encourage and inspire me and others have me reflecting on my past sorrow. I am elated for myself as I will share Mothers day with my 2 children; I am sad that my other children will only be a thought and a dream of what might have been.  You see, I have lost 9 children 6 thru miscarriage and 3 thru failed invitro fertilization.  Today, I honor all of my children. My own Mother grows older and suffers mild dementia and has suffered strokes.  Yes, now I Mother her.  I try to meet her needs physically and emotionally while trying to remember that she is my Mother and will forever see me as a child.  Her life has changed and for that I am sad.  Yet she remains with me, while so many others will feel the ... Read Full Story >>

Mystery Muffin Giver

What would it be this morning -- a warm Blueberry Lemon?  Banana Nut? Cranberry Orange? Oatmeal Raisin? There is always a warm muffin or two tucked into a white napkin and placed next to the morning newspaper, waiting for me once I open my front door. Who is the Mystery Muffin Giver? I try to wake up early to see if I can catch him/her in the act so far I've been unsuccessful.  But no matter what, I've got those goodies and a good read to dwell on! [Now for the background story!] My Mom lives in a Retirement community and she moved in after my Dad passed.  She loves it.  Most of her neighbors in the apartments are widows just like her and they keep each other good company.  In this community, though, while lunches and dinners are prepared in the dining room, there's no breakfast. Now, my mom is an early -- and ... Read Full Story >>

A Forgotten Young Man

Some years back when I was growing up, we had a young couple who were our neighbours.  They had five children and were a fairly established couple, with a car and other amenities.  Since we were neighbours, their children were like my brothers and sisters.  I must say they lived a good life; their parents took them to better schools than us. In 1988, though, their father passed away.  Two years later, their mother died too.  All of a sudden, the children became orphans.  Some greedy relatives husttled the car and other valuables and the children became destitutes.  They moved out of the neighbourhood and went to stay with their grandmother in the village. Fifteen years later (early this year), I ran into one of the boys. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Somehow the boy remembered me and then we remembered the "good old days" as neighbors.  By the time I ... Read Full Story >>

Breakfast of Kindness Stories!

Hi Friends,

Since I have become a member of helpothers.org, I have made it a point to read stories whenever I log onto the Internet.

I feel so good and light at heart. I think I have become mild too, as sometimes I flare up in small things. But somehow I'm able to control my temper and be calm. I try and see the goodness in everyone and let go off things which I don't like.

I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for such wonderful stories and writing inspiring comments.

:)

Accidental Firefighters

Where I live, July 1st means firecrackers!   Last year, we had just finished lighting off a heap of firecrackers on the beach and had watched the show, so we started walking home. That's when we saw the smoke.

Near the museum (about 50m away) there was a bushfire. The dry grass and pandanas were burning away with no intention of stopping. The museum cafe staff were trying to put it out but they were only two women and having a hard time of it.

As we were leaving, one of the cafe chefs called out to my dad: "They're some great kids you got there, you know?" My dad just smiled and nodded.

I don't think anybody ever found out it was us that put out the fire. We weren't made honorary firefighters but what that cafe chef said made it all worthwhile!

40 'Left Over' Carnations From Graduation

Recently I graduated from high school, and as a gift I recieved a huge bouquet of carnations; 40 to be exact! I had so many that I didn't know what to do with them. The next weekend my niece and nephew came (ages 4 and 5) and we took every single carnation and tied a smile card to it's stem. We then went to our local Dillions Store and I gave each of them one flower at a time. I explained that these flowers would make other people smile, and then they could take the cards and do something nice for someone else! They loved the idea, but I wasn't sure if they fully grasped the idea. Furthermore, I thought that they possibly might get to shy at the last minute, but boy was I suprised! My nephew ran excitedly through the doors of the store and found the very ... Read Full Story >>

Just Listening

I've found that just listening to people, and their problems, and what they're going through, is a good way to show kindness. A lot of people just want someone to pay attention to them, to hear them out. I know I do.  And it's a wonderful feeling when someone actually cares enough to want to listen to you, your deepest thoughts and troubles, and help you dig to the roots of it all. 

I want to become a therapist someday, God willing, and although a lot of people think that are just "quacks" that don't know what they're talking about, that's not true. They truly want to listen to you and they care about their fellow human beings enough to actually help them. A lot of people think suffering is only physical.. more often it is psychological. 

Anyways.. I'm going off on a tangent.. so in a nutshell: really listen to people. God gave us 2 ears and only one mouth for a reason.

A Trunk Full of Goodies on Good Friday

My family and I have suffered some severe financial difficulties this year, and were struggling to put food on the table for awhile. We didn't share that information with anyone, not even family, so when we got our blessing, we were very happily surprised! I got a call on Good Friday asking if I could stop by the place where my sister works; she had a gift for me. Since we are a close and generous family, I didn't think anything of it. When I arrived at her work and she opened her trunk, I could not believe my eyes: the "Easter Bunny" had left a huge basket for my family, filled with food and goodies! In the basket was enough food to make a full Easter dinner, right down to pie for dessert, and some chocolates for the kids, eggs and coloring, even three precious little stuffed bunnies. Somehow, a ... Read Full Story >>

Twenty-five Dollars Isn't Much, Or Is It?

My 13 year old daughter babysits for a 2 year old and an 8 month old.  As it happens, she had a track meet on one of the nights she babysits.  So I volunteered to pitch in and babysit so they wouldn't have to miss work. 

The parents of these precious babies have recently come across some hard times financially, with a job loss. Now he delivers pizza and she is a server at a nice restaurant in a nice hotel.  They are struggling. 

When the mom got home from work, I told her of the events of the evening with her kids (the 2 year old threw a plastic fish into the toilet and clogged it up) and she tried to pay me $25.00!  I told her that this one was on me.  I enjoy looking after kids and to me, after raising three of my own, spending four hours with her two wonderful kids wasn't a big deal to me. 

I saw her shoulders slump over with relief and knew that I had made the right decision. 

Thanks To A Veteran

NEXT TIME YOU SEE A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A LICENSE PLATE THAT SAYS RETIRED VETERAN OR P.O.W. thank the driver like i did!!!

WE WERE AT A RED LIGHT AND THE LICENSE IN FRONT OF US SAID VIETNAM VET SO I WENT,SO WITH PERMISSION FROM MY MOM CAUSE WE KNEW THE LIGHT WAS A LONG ONE I GOT OUT AND SAID TO THE DRIVER ..thankyou soooooooooooo much for all that you did for me and my family to keep us free.i am very proud to meet youAND THE ELDERLY MAN SMILED AND SAID YOUR VERY WELCOME YOUNG LADY

AND i think he had a tear coming out of his eye BUT MY MOM TOLD ME THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

Free Hugs -- Hug The World

Hug the World   Welcome to the planet Earth It can seem quite sad and cold Never fear there’s someone here With a heart of shining gold So let me tell you a story One that started with a hug And maybe by the end of it You’ll do more than shrug   Our story starts in Australia A truly sunburned land With ever stretching coastlines Of lovely, pure, white sand Now let’s zoom in on Sydney And a busy shopping mall Where people seem so distant Like they don’t care at all   At first he looks quite normal No different from the throng But as he stands with his arms raised His message is loud and strong FREE HUGS is all the sign says The people laugh and point Who is this man? They wonder Will he hug or disappoint?   But still he stands, the sign held high His message is clear as day And then the people realise He’s changing the world his way Then someone comes up to him Looking down and out “I sure could use a hug he ... Read Full Story >>

The Waffle House Waitress

I was recently traveling with a friend when we decided to get something to eat. Being a huge Waffle House fan, we scouted out the area we were in, and found one. If you have never been in one, or have never heard of it, Waffle House is kinda like a chain of diners that serve the best waffles around! They won't be found at the top of any Zagat's list of Fine dining, but they are my favorite! Our waitress took a while to take our order, asking the same questions a few times. We made a few substitutions and "complicated" the order, but she wrote it all down. When the orders came, they were not right. When the bill came, it was not right either. The only thing that was right was the taste of the food and the smile of the waitress. She may not ... Read Full Story >>

I'm Not The Only One

i think everyone tries to make some sense of this world.  no matter who you are, i believe that you have a part in this world.  everyone really does play a part in this world. it dosen't matter if you are the president, a king, or a soul living in poverty; we are all human and we all matter. i believe that if we can all use our heads and hearts as one, and we stop being so into ourselves we really can make a difference. i know people will say, that will never happen, nothing you say can change people, it will always be the same. but "never doubt that a small group of people can't change the world, indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." so i am challenging anyone who wants to, brighten someone's day, say hello to somone you don't normally talk to.  simple acts of ... Read Full Story >>

Community Involvement With Smile Cards

I recently requested 10 Smile cards.

Upon receiving them I handed 9 of them out to friends and asked them to Play "Smile Tag" with me. I set up a page on my personal website and asked card givers and receivers to share their stories. It is still in it's early stages, however; it is really creating a buzz around the town.

I personally sent a bouquet of flowers & a letter of appreciation to a woman who greatly influenced my life. It turns out she was going through a rough time and received the flowers on one of her especially "down days". It was so appreciated by her and special to her, to receive this gesture of kindness. Everyone who has joined me in this challenge has said what a positive, wonderful experience this has been. It feels wonderful to be a participant in spreading kindness. I am thankful for the opportunity. Thank you.

Lesa  ( Newfoundland & Labrador)