Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Recycling At The Beach!

A few days ago I was at the beach, and I felt sorry to see so much trash lying around near the rocks. How could I relax with so much litter around?
So, my friend and I grabbed a pair of gloves from a nearby place, and started picking up the litter - as many number of cans, napkins, bottles, and rubber as we could find.

While we were picking up these items, a man passing by also joined us and lent a helping hand. I think we collected a bag full.

We should all do our part to be the solution and recycle!
 

237 Reads

Childhood Books for Local Library

This morning I donated a box full of my childhood books to the local library. I hope that those who read these books can gain some knowledge which may help them in the future. It is said that knowledge is the best gift you can give, and I hope to donate more books for children to read.

It feels really good to donate!! While I was there, I also signed up to volunteer to read to the children on my free days. This will be a wonderful experience which I await eagerly.

278 Reads

Cookie Love

The Healing Power...of Cookies! 

I made a double batch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

Our mothers (my husband and mine), were great bakers and infused such LOVE into everything they made. I have learned from them to add the same into my culinary endeavors.

The extra cookies provide kindness opportunities as I run errands today. Also, I like to have them packaged and ready for when our UPS and PO delivery persons come to our door this holiday season, as well as any unexpected guests.

You just never know who might need the healing power of a cookie!
 

307 Reads

I Was Dropping My ...

I was dropping my mom and sister off at the train station after their holiday visit. On the way I saw a man in a wheelchair in an empty lot. It looked like he wasn't wearing shoes. After dropping off my family, I went back to the lot and he was there. His chair was on the incline that lead to the street and it looked like he was struggling with his bare foot to keep from sliding into the street. I asked if he wanted me to pull him back up. He nodded. I asked him to pick up his feet and pulled him back up into the lot. He didn't respond when I asked if this was far enough. Then, I opened the box I had brought with me. It was a shoe box with an old pair of shoes that I had kept in my car in case I ... Read Full Story >>

1003 Reads

Love Of Books

Our local school is having a book fair so I donated some money so the librarian could buy a book or two to a child who cannot afford to buy their own.

I love reading and want others to enjoy it also!!! Hope they got a lot of books for others!
I also take scraps of fabric from each quilt and make bookmarks. I donate them to the school. The librarian says the children love them! Makes my heart happy😁😁

290 Reads

Fruit For Children

I saw a big container in one of our supermarkets in Cape Town with mixed fresh fruit in it.

On the side of the container, there is a note saying that any children under 12 may take some of the fruit for them to eat – it is for free.

I think this is a very clever – and kind – initiative, also because lots of food get wasted worldwide.

311 Reads

“hope Is The Thing ...

“Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune
Without words
And never stops at all…”

- Emily Dickenson

Inspired by the awareness brought to our attention by brad2 and ladybird’s posts about the card writing campaign of HOPE for the children of Makwa Sahgaiehcan School, who have been marked by a rash of suicides, made a few oversized origami models with a positive theme.

Mailing them today, so the school can receive in time to read and perhaps place on their holiday tree of inspirational messages from around the world.

Here is a link for more info about: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-woman-card-writing-campaign-makwa-sahgaiehcan-1.5376572

Keeping those struggling with mental health issues, especially our dear children and their families, close in prayers and thoughts.

Thank you, my kind friends, for bringing Light to those in need. Shine on!


265 Reads

Found Some Lovely Christmas Decorations

Found some lovely Christmas balls which open magically just to hide a KIND card and maybe a peace dove. I'm preparing a box full of small gifts for anyone who visits in December to pick and take for them or to give away. 'Kindness is never wasted...'
 

134 Reads

What A Way To ...

What a way to start my morning. Walked to the beach to Touch The Ocean, while listening to my audiobook and talking to my mom. Then, headed to Sprouts for items for breakfast. On the way out I saw a woman who appeared to be in need. I offered her one of my "homeless bags." She was grateful. I asked how she was doing with socks. She needed some, so I told her I'd get some for her. Ended up buying her socks, gloves and a knit cap. When I came out of the store, there was another woman in need with the first woman. The first woman gave this new woman some of the food I had given her. So, I gave her a bag of her home which she didn't want to accept at first, but turned out she had no food. It had been stolen the night before by other homeless ... Read Full Story >>

239 Reads

Miss Joy

It was approaching Christmas. She was so happy to be involved in the Secret friend gifting in school. She put her heart and soul into it and travelled about 3 hours just to get a special gift. Every day for a week, she left small anonymous gifts wrapped with love. Then the reveal came;  all  the Staff met in the meeting room where all the beautiful gifts were on display. I wondered which one was hers.  I knew she would have been happy with any of them. As was customary, when you received your gift, you then passed on the gift you had bought for your secret friend and said a few special words about them. Somehow, there was confusion, she ended up gifting before she received. She stood filled with excitement and love which is so typical of her. But where was her gift? Where was her secret friend? Confusion? No, sadly, no ... Read Full Story >>

281 Reads

Humanizing The Homeless

Recently I invited a homeless man to have lunch with me at the Soup Plantation so that he could eat as much as he wanted to fill his tummy. I met him over the phone when I was calling Father Benno’s, a soup kitchen. Something within me stirred to invite him to lunch. Since he did not have a car, I offered to pick him up. We had a wonderful four-hour lunch. I learned a lot about his struggles but more importantly, I left lunch feeling a greater gratitude for a roof over my head, warm shower, comfortable bed, and food on the table – all of which we may not think twice about. He, too, enjoyed the connection, his lunch, and a rest from spending his afternoon on the streets. I learned long ago that one person alone cannot solve the homeless epidemic in California or the U.S.; however, each person ... Read Full Story >>

1127 Reads

A Story Of Kindness As A Gift

I began a new practice last year, which I have continued. After many years of being on the receiving end of gifts from my students, especially around this time of the year, I asked my students to forgo giving me anything. Rather than getting me something that I don't need, I asked them to take that money and make a donation to a non-profit and I gave them names of a few that I like to support. There are so many beings whose basic needs are not even met. I have an abundance of all that is important! Or, I asked them to do an act of kindness and write me a card telling me about it. On Monday a student gave me a card and said, "don't worry, there's no gift card in here." She began my telling her her act of kindness. She volunteered at a hospital and told me about ... Read Full Story >>

1131 Reads

A Croissant For A Stranger

I went to a bakery and bought two croissants: One for myself and another for a stranger who would come sometime after me to buy one. At first, the seller did not understand my request; then she smiled and accepted my request. When I was leaving a young lady came in and asked for two croissants. The seller said one was gifted by a previous customer and then pointed toward me. I was by the door on my way out, so I rushed so that the customer could only see my back. It made me feel happy :). ... Read Full Story >>

576 Reads

Gifting a Much-needed Book

A young hard-working girl works with me, and I see a passion in her eyes.

One particular day during our conversation she shared that she is preparing for a competitive exam and mentioned to me about a particular book which she was unable to afford. She is a working girl and I understood her parents were not allowing her to buy the book.

I immediately asked her to show me the book at Amazon and ordered it for her.She was a little hesitant, but when the book arrived I was very happy and grateful that I could afford a book which will help her in studies.
 

408 Reads

Buttons For Benjamin (update)

365 Small Acts of Kindness in Honor of My Missing Son, Benjamin Morse Archer I'm still keeping my promise to do small acts of kindness for 365 days. I began on February 21st of this year, Ben's birthday. I haven't missed a day. The hardest part I knew would be documenting everything, and I was right. I was getting really overwhelmed and stressed by this.  I didn't want to break my promise, so I compromised. I wouldn't write anything down or post blogs, but I would keep my promise by checking in with myself each night before bedtime. At first, I felt like a complete cop-out.  I had promised to do this publicly.  I was so ashamed, I changed every blog that talked about Buttons for Benjamin into a private admin-view only.  I don't think anyone was judging me though, except for me.  I'll make those blogs public again as I get ... Read Full Story >>

443 Reads

Life Saved With One Small Act Of Kindness

I had moved to Arizona about two weeks before the start of my junior year of high school, so not only was this  a new school for me, but also a new state and I did not know anyone. On the first day of school at lunch after getting my meal, I sat down at an empty table in the courtyard. As I began to eat I looked around at the other tables and saw another girl sitting alone, so I decided why not go sit with her. Anyway there was no reason for me to have a whole table to myself, and who knew maybe I could make a friend. I walked to verify and said, "Excuse me, do you mind if I sit with you?" She was surprised at first, but then smiled and said "Sure!" We hit it off right off the bat and became close friends throughout the ... Read Full Story >>

1188 Reads

The Dish Ninja!

In my workplace, we share a kitchen/dining area where folks from several different departments gather, store items in the refrigerator, heat up food, prepare coffee and so on.

Now, this shared space also has a history of abandoned dirty dishes that are left in the sink to languish for days. Signs have been posted over the sink over the years in an effort to get people to wash their own dishes, but signs are just that - words on paper.

For the past 3 months, I have been stealthily washing dishes whenever I see them. Not asking questions, not leaving notes. Just washing the dishes that are there. I am a dish ninja, the secret Santa of soap.
Anonymous gifts are the sweetest. Be clean and be well!
 

319 Reads

Caught Ya!

Last week I got caught doving at the bakery I love. For over two years I have been slipping peace doves and other origami and kindness cards in this tip jar. The staff hangs everything up in big streamers from the ceiling. It is almost embarrassing as it shows how often I go there to get treats!

The other day I had left the dove in the tip jar and I hear the barista exclaim, "I got one!!" She looked all around and I was the only one in there, creaming my coffee and no one else had come or gone. "Hah! I caught you! We have wondered for years!!!", she said. I had to laugh and told her how touched I was that they hung them and that I sent people in to see them. She told me people always ask about them.

This bakery is called Sweet Life and they are the sweetest. I am still feeling the deliciousness of that moment.
 

362 Reads

Kindness Book!

I serve in Bridgeport Public Schools to help students who often have challenges in learning and communicating. They also feel uncomfortable in being a part of the school community. These same students have found strategic acts of kindness to be life savers for them! I gathered them together to create a Kindness Learning Community called BCS Squad. The squad set a goal to write and illustrate a book for Kindergarten through second grade on how to be kind. They met their goal in completing the book and they have proudly read it to over eight classes. They also issued a kindness challenge so that the kids could do kindness acts. Kindness is contagious!   ... Read Full Story >>

451 Reads
  • Posted by kindbroker
  • Dec 16, 2019
  • Comments (6)
  • Share Story

Unexpected friendship

I had participated in the 21-day kindness challenge last summer. During that period, I came across a homeless women who was threatening people as they entered and exited a strip mall. As I approached her, she threatened me too. I asked her what was REALLY going on, and she responded: "I haven't slept in days, I haven't eaten in three, and they are trying to take my kid from me." I told her that the only thing I could do to help her was to buy her lunch and listen to her. It has been a year, and she still comes to my office to check in with me. That initial meeting changed both of our lives for the better! ... Read Full Story >>

945 Reads




Submit your own
story of Kindness

Search by keyword

Tags

Subscribe to the Kindness Newsletter

98.2K subscribers

About Us

KindSpring is a place to practice small acts of kindness. For over a decade the KindSpring user community has focused on inner transformation, while collectively changing the world with generosity, gratitude, and trust. The site is 100% volunteer-run and totally non-commercial. It is a shared labor of love.

Other servicespace Projects Include

KindSpring.org is a project of ServiceSpace. BY-NC-ND 4.0