Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Reading Your Smile Stories!

I have gone through 7 pages of stories and will be able to leave today for work with a smile on my face.

I have read stories that had no comments and made it a point to leave a comment to let those folks know that their stories have been read.

In reading those stories I will go out into my world and use some of their suggestions and stories to set a good example of kindness today.

Thanks to all of you that are part of this site!!!!

A Rainy Day At The Carwash

One rainy cold day, I decided I didn't care anymore if it had been raining all week, I just wanted my car clean. Besides, if it was nice and I had it washed, it surely would rain anyway!   I went to the carwash around 1 p.m. and sat there a minute before a young attendant came out.  He seemed somewhat dejected.   After I pulled out of the carwash, I didn't get far before a thought occurred to me -- I had a bag of homemade cookies; they were meant to be for a friend but knowing the compassionate nature of my friends, I figured he would understand.  So I immediately made a "U'ey" and pulled back into the carwash.  The attendant seemed even more surprised to see me, again!   With a big smile, I handed him the cookies and the card that said "SMILE, you have been tagged" and he got a huge smile ... Read Full Story >>

Holding My Hand

As the little girl and her father were crossing a bridge, the father was a bit scared.  So he turns to his little daughter and says, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."

To which the little girl replied, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," said the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
 
   
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting them to hold yours.

Ride For A Mom and Two Kids

I was at the checkout of a local store last night, when I noticed a mother and her two beautiful daughters.  The mother was dressed in sweat pants and a simple tee shirt with kind of run down sneakers, and the girls had pretty summer dresses on with cute sandals.  Along with some cleaning items for the home, the mother had bought some clothes, games and some sweet treats for her daughters. She had so much in her hands to carry out and asked the girls to help her. They both said no. What surprised me was that the mother was so calm. She never said, "Look what I bought you and you won't help?" Instead, she was saying, "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize how much I bought." You could tell as soon as she headed out the door that the bags would burst open and spill all over the ... Read Full Story >>

Down In The Dumps

Very recently, I have had to move from my home and have been living in a hotel room with my son who is 17, my sister and her two children ages 4 and 8.  

Times have been hard and I have been still going to work and pretending every day that it is no big deal, that we will get through this.  But today I was really down until I logged on to this site .... and read everyone's stories!  It just brightened up my day.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and everyone  for their acts of kindness.

Even though times are hard for me right now, I am still going everyday to help my mother who has colon cancer and try to help others with their problems.  Compared to some others, my problems are not so terrible.

Thanks for reminding me.

Baby Booties

As my husband and I got ready for church last Sunday, I thought of this young couple who recently gave birth to 2 preemie twin boys. I thought about a bag of crocheted booties I had put away in the closet some time ago and went to find it.  I looked inside the bag and found 2 matching blue hats and 2 sets of blue booties..

When we got to church this couple just happened to sit in front of us. I tapped the mother's arm and handed her the items... She turned and smiled as she took them... Made me feel good.

Later she thanked me and yesterday she sent me e-mail pictures of the babies. They are sooo cute! 

I'm glad I make these little things in my spare time.

Helping That 'ex'tra Special Someone

I had been dating this girl for seven months, and me and her had been getting very close. Seeing each other for days on end, spending every waking (and non-waking) moment together, and generally getting more and more involved with each second. Then the unexpected happens: she dumps me! To this day, I still don't know exactly why.  Something about her changing and wanting to move on.   Maybe she just wanted to "get" with other guys and everything -- she can be shallow that way. At this point, I was pretty shook up, unable to accept that things had ended.  I was going through the classic stages y'know: denial, anger, going-to-my-ex-girlfriends-counselling-so-she-won't-be-lonely. yer, and so on.  But less than a week after my first ever proper breakup, I'm around her, taking a car, a bus and a train to go help her.  With a load of our m8s, we both head to this massive music festival in Essex with ... Read Full Story >>

Ending A Friendship With Kindness

I lost a friend last week.  Business should never be mixed with friendships.

I have learned that people come into your lives and people leave your lives.  I know this is the end of the friendship and so I wondered how I could make it just a little better.

I decided to write my friend a letter to say how important our friendship was to me.  To say what a difference he made in my life.  To highlight the good times and to say thank you for those.

I also wrote the letter to wish him wonderful things in life.  I wanted to end it positively.  At first I thought I was making myself vulnerable but then I realized it did not really matter.  I really did value this friendship and even though it has ended in a horrible way, I refuse to look over it negatively.  I want to remember the good.

Thank you my friend.  Our walk has ended together but you will be special in my heart always.

Flowers For Friends

The other week I went to dinner with 3 of my close girlfriends.  I decided to surprise them with a flower and small gift which they were all shocked to receive. 

Enclosed with the gift was a Smile card and I told them to pass it on and do something nice for someone else.  I told them I just wanted to do something nice for them to let them know that I truly appreciate their friendship.

It made me feel great and it even sparked a couple of ideas at dinner conversation as to how they might pay it forward.

Gypsy Girl On a German Bus

While we were riding the old German bus in Tirana (Albania), a gypsy girl entered. Seven years old. Most gypsy kids have a 'dead' look in their eyes. Hardened by the world, by what they have experienced. The Albanian gypsies live in slums, their children beg on the streets so that the parents can afford to buy alcohol and continue their addiction. Girls as young as twelve wash car windows at the stoplight, holding a baby with their other arm. Little kids lay down on the sidewalks of Tirana to catch some sleep and rest their dirty limbs. Everytime we saw this hardened 'dead' look in their eyes. But not this girl. She was radiant. A beautiful smile across her face, sparkling eyes. She just stood there, in between me and my two friends. Flip flops, black t-shirt, short messy brown hair which matched her tomboy personality. A joyful presence. She ... Read Full Story >>

No Words Necessary

I recently had a friend tell me that she was missing my presence in her life and that she felt as if I was not around. As I was listening to her, I was wondering how this had happened. I began to realize we all have expectations within relationships, suggesting how much we should give before someone else should give back to us. This raised a big question in my head. How can I make my friend understand that I am here to serve not just her but anyone that needs it? I began to explain myself and realized that she was begging for attention in that moment. I tried to assure her that I was there for her, and that she could just ask anytime day or night. And then, right then, she accidentally cut her finger while cutting apples for her children. I looked at it and said, "we ... Read Full Story >>

The Bus Outside Walmart

Last week, while visiting Walmart, my 6 year old and I noticed a school bus parked in front of the store.  Before entering the store, a lady handed us a list of school supplies to put on the bus.  It was a program sponsored by United Way to donate school supplies to  under privileged children.

My son and I had a ball shopping for the bus!!  They let him take the supplies on the bus, and actually sit in the bus!!  This was such a thrill for my 6 year old because he's never been on a school bus, but has always wanted to. :)

Sometimes you give, and immediately receive!

Oh, and I made sure I sliped one of the smile cards in the bag before he placed it on the bus.  Maybe one of the kids, or a worker for the program will get the card. :)

A Tiny Gesture At A Local Fair

My husband and I had been sitting in a parking line for more than 10 minutes trying to get into a local fair when, I discovered I was in the wrong lane, and nearly to the gate! My husband waved to the van next to us. The woman driving, who I could see had several children with her, seamed happy to let us pull in front her after we asked if we may. I was so excited to not have to ‘go around and wait' again, I decided to pay for her parking.  

After paying, we parked, and entered the fair, not giving it another thought. Until, 20 some minutes later, when a small horde of people approached us to profusely thank us for our generosity.

Apparently they had been looking for us, just to thank us, and for such a small gesture. It choked me up quite a bit; after all, she was the one who had started the ‘generosity’.

That touching event has stayed with me all this time. To this day, it still amazes and thrills me that a tiny gesture could cause a ‘cascade’ of warmth and unselfish kindness.

If this is the result of a small gesture, what might a ‘medium’ gesture initiate?

Picking Up the Phone!

Last night my phone rang.  Seeing who it was on my caller-id, I did not answer it.  The guy calling is married to the neice of my ex-partner.  Just six months ago, I was separated and had a tough enough time getting over it without being reminded through visits by her relatives! The phone rang again this morning, it was the same person calling, and again, I didn't answer.  Then, I got to thinking, "Why would he call me?  We were never close friend or anything." Still, something inside me told me he needed to talk so I called him back. He told me he was going for a run and would love drop-in for some coffee.  I said, "Of course, it will be good to see you".  Within five minutes he was on my doorstep as he had been looking for my house and was not sure which one it was. ... Read Full Story >>

Smile-Card Surprise In The Mail

I have to say.  I had never heard of helpothers.org until today.  My oldest daughter just returned from her daily trip to the mailbox, waving a large envelope in the mail screaming THIS ONE'S FOR ME, THIS ONE'S FOR ME. Once I got her calmed down, I made sure she did not destroy the return address and let her continue ripping it open.  She was beyond excited.  A few minutes later she places an envelope on my lap and says it's for me.  Well, I opened it & inside was a Smile. You've just been tagged! card, a bookmark and a white feather.  I was flabbergasted.  I did not recognize the name of the person on the envelope but I have it saved to send a thank you.  I have to say, you don't know how happy you made my little girl this afternoon.  It could not have come at ... Read Full Story >>

Holding The Hand Of Life

Last summer, I was working as a tour guide at a cave and there are about 230 stairs round-trip so it made it pretty difficult to walk for older people or younger ones.  This is kind of two stories in one. On one tour, you know the tour guide has a flash light and leads the way, well.. there was an elderly couple on my tour, the only two. He had a cane and had trouble seeing the bumps and stairs, so the entire way through the cave, I walked backwards with my flashlight right in his path. It felt good because I knew that I was doing a nice thing, it also hurt because since I was walking backwards ... I'd hit my head a few times, but it was totally okay! Also there was this one where this little girl just was like attached to me! She was so ... Read Full Story >>

Why I Just Love Smile Cards!

I was recently transfered from one department to another. So I decided to give a token of appreciation to my old boss. Then, I realized that I still have some smile cards and decided to make their day in a slightly more elaborate way. As a thank you for everything she had done, I made some jewelry for my old boss -- a beaded colors stones necklace!  Then, I gave the secretary a gift as well -- a brown beaded necklace.  And finally, the volunteer recruiter, a brown beaded bracelet and matching earrings. All ladies were so pleased and grateful that I made their day. The recruiter was so touched with the gesture that she now wants to incorporated the smile cards into the volunteer department, so other volunteers can do random acts of kindness too. I am so happy to have given the gifts to the ladies and attach the smile cards. Because ... Read Full Story >>

Love Thy Neighbor, For He Is Me

[Originally from Ode Magazine, June 2007] Two thousand years ago on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, a lonely traveler was attacked. No one—not even the priest who happened by—extended a hand to help the man. But just before he lost consciousness he saw a friendly face hovering over him and felt two strong arms lift him up and put him on a donkey. When he woke up the following day, he was at an inn; his wounds were dressed, his thirst quenched. His benefactor had moved on, but had paid the man’s medical and hotel bills. “Who is this man who spontaneously took pity on me?” asked the traveller. The innkeeper smiled. “His name is Samaritan.” What we’ve known for 2,000 years has now been scientifically proven. Samaritans are rare. But here’s the good news: Altruism can be learned. Of course Samaritans are scarce because—according to the research—they come ... Read Full Story >>

Cell Phone For A Construction Worker

I was in a convenience store the other day and overheard a man asking the clerk about using a telephone.  He was dressed pretty rough ... he was a construction worker. 

I left the store before I heard the clerk's answer, but I saw the guy leave the store and stand there looking around.  I called out to him and asked if he needed to use a phone?  He said yes, that he had left his cell phone at home and needed to call his wife.  I told him he could use my cell phone. 

From his surprised reaction you would have thought I had offered him the moon, not just the use of a cell phone!  I gave him my phone, he called his wife, and gave my phone back along with a big Thank You!  I smiled and gave him one of the Smile Cards.  He read it and loved it!

I have to say it was a little sad that he was so surprised by such a small act of kindness, but I'm so glad that I got to be the one to remind him that there are nice people in the world!

D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S Crab Meat!

Each week I’m at the Farmer’s Market manning a table. Typically, I have to make sure I have cash in hand to buy my goods.  And recently, I’ve been on a smoked  salmon kick and just about each week I buy a small package of it to satisfy the palette. Last week, just as I was going to pick up my treat, a man came up next to me and asked how much the crab meat roll was. The fellows working told him it was $4.00. He looked at me and asked,  “Have you ever had one of these from here?” My reply was, “No.” He  said they were, “D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!” I smiled at him and proceeded   to pay for my fish. Just as the worker placed my change in my hand  the crab roll guy bumped my arm and said, “Here, this is for you!” I looked at him with my mouth ... Read Full Story >>