Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Naomi And Harry Potter

Today is the beginning of my annual holiday here in the UK. A friend  and work colleague is a single  mum of 2 and struggles financially at times.

She mentioned the other day that her eldest really had her little heart set on the latest Harry Potter but she didn't know where the extra money would come from!

I got the  book last night - gift wrapped it and put it on my coleagues' desk while she was at lunch. I dont know who will have the best holiday this fortnight ...

Naomi or me !! 

A Dime for a Folder

I have recently thought about an incredible act of compassion extended to me many years ago.

In fourth grade we were suppose to bring in a dime for a folder to use in class. My parents were divorced and money was in short supply. Watching my mom fend off creditors, I did not have the nerve to ask her for a dime. When I got to school, I really wish I had asked my mother for the dime because everybody else in class had the dime ready on their desk for the teacher. I was embarrassed and felt silly.

Somehow, A girl named Karen, sitting next to me, saw my personal suffering and waited until the last second to put a dime on the corner of my desk. Even though I never said a word, she saw my quiet anguish and only wanted to relieve it. She said nothing and I was too embarrassed to say thank you. It was the most genuine, authentic act of kindness I've ever experienced.

Preseverance

A lady staggered across the road in front of me.  She was crying.  Pedestrians stared but no-one helped.  The light turned green and there was a line of cars behind me.  I pulled away but became anxious for her.  I felt God was asking me to go back.  When I got back, there were so many people everywhere but she was nowhere to be seen.  "Lord, if You need me to help, show me where she is” I prayed.  As I turned into the direction she was headed, reality hit me.  This was one of the most unsafe areas in town and I was on my own.  I began to feel angry at myself. “Is this really God or me being over-emotional” I wondered.  After all, someone would surely help her.  I decided to turn into the next road that would lead me out of there.  I did and there she ... Read Full Story >>

A Bus Ticket

I was traveling in a public bus. At a bus stop a group of small boys got in to the bus with books and bags in their hands. The conductor of the bus started to issue tickets for them. All the boys were getting their tickets individually while one was still searching for his money.

He put his small hand in to the pockets on his trousers. He put his hand into his bags' deepest ends and corners. He was nervous.  I noticed this and quickly  took a note of money and slowly put on his small hand. He looked at me with a relief impression ...did not say a single word....and quickly asked for his ticket from the bus conductor.

This incident made me really happy.....even today when I remember this, I feel really happy.

                                                    - Chandrika

Gift From The Universe

I was recently taking a walk and noticed a tree with a low-hanging branch reaching out towards me. I immediately saw it as a hand reaching out, offering to take my hand. It felt good to think of the notion of one being there to hold my hand in difficult times.

Later I considered this tree to be a lesson for me. It was a reminder that the universe offers us all we need to traverse life's challenges. It only requires that we be "present" in the moment to see what is before us.

"The Secret"

I manage apts in a difficult part of the Bay Area.  I've given notice to resign from my position and will be vacating my home on site.  I wanted to leave a gift  for the residents to inspire them to do well. 

I had purchased the movie "The Secret" and  I wanted to share it but I didn't have the funds to buy new movies for everyone so I decided to loan it out.  I was lending the movie to a neighbor and she said she could make copies for me, but she was out of blank disks.  I told another neighbor I wanted her to watch it and she said she could make copies but her computer was down but she did have 5 blank disks.  I took the blank disks and went to a 3rd neighbor who offered to make copes last night.  My desire to share the movie with others inspired them to help me get it out there.  

It reminds me of the story, "Stone Soup".  We all have a way and a means to contribute if we want to and I trully believe we all want to. 

Painting Mindil with Smiles

I live in a small town in the north of Australia. It's not much and it's only starting to be a little more known because some scenes in the movie "Australia" are being filmed there. However, before the movie and resident of my town would tell you that it's famous for Mindil. For people who don't know, Mindil is referring to the Mindil Beach Markets which are held on Mindil beach every Thursday and Sunday night in the dry season. So that's the basics you need to know. I was down at mindil on Thursday night last week in the last few days of my holidays. It was busy and there was lots going on. I had recently received my 70 smile cards all the way from America. I was excited and ready to paint a smile on the face of Mindil. I went prepared. Bright coloured clothed, rainbow shoelaces and ... Read Full Story >>

A Message Of Peace

A Message of Peace I contribute to Peace when I strive to express the best of myself in my contacts with others. I contribute to Peace when I use my intelligence and my abilities to serve the Good. I contribute to Peace when I feel compassion toward all those who suffer. I contribute to Peace when I look upon all as my brothers and sisters regardless of race, culture or religion. I contribute to Peace when I rejoice of the happiness of others and pray for their well-being. I contribute to Peace when I listen with tolerance to opinions that differ from mine or even oppose them. I contribute to Peace when I resort to dialogue rather than to force to settle any conflict. I contribute to Peace when I respect Nature and preserve it for generations to come. I contribute to Peace when I do not seek to impose my conception of God upon others. I contribute to Peace when I make Peace the foundation of my ideals ... Read Full Story >>

Pretty Stationery

This past week, I thought I would get in touch with an old friend, whom I haven't seen in about 3 years! 

I simply mailed her some stationery, with a flower pattern. I also included a matching pen and magnet, because this friend loves to write!  I sent her a short note telling  her that I'd been thinking about her and that I loved her.  I'm sure she was surprised. 

I often feel that the best gifts are the unexpected ones.  Especially when you feel that you are probably the last person on the person's mind who sent you the gift!  ( :

Thanks , Meg

A Friend to Lean on

The doorbell rang... it was 9am, and I was sleeping in. I wondered weather or not I should ignore it, roll over and go back to sleep. I thought I had better answer it, it could be an emergency. A woman stood at my door, with a scarf over her head, covering her hair, and she said 'Hello, is your Mum in?' I said she was on holiday, but did she want to come in anyway. It turns out she is an aunt of a friend of mine, who Iv lost contact with. They are refugees from Afghanistan, and her brother had just been murdered back in their home land, she was crying, and had remembered how my family had looked after her neice when she needed it, and came to find us. She just needed a shoulder to cry on. We sat together for 6 hours while she cried, ... Read Full Story >>

Acute Depression

I suffer from depression and take medication daily in an attempt to correct the situation. Like most people who have depression you don't want it known and tend to keep it to yourself. Today at work we were faced with a situation where an employee was struggling with work, this had been the case for a while. Some of the other staff made comment that he seemed very down and was not performing his work tasks well. I thought to myself "I bet he is depressed". I made a point at lunchtime of going out to see him. You could tell straight away that he is suffering from acute depression. I am no medico but have seen that look many times in the mirror. Anyway I asked him to come to my office for a chat and explained that I have a few "challenges" in my life with depression and that ... Read Full Story >>

Ripples of Kindness in an 8 year old.

My granddaughter came to visit yesterday and she asked what the smile card on my desk was for. I explained their meaning to her. She responded by informing me that everyone should have smile cards and should use them every day. 

She is very kind hearted and loves to help people. I have to admit she even comes up with ideas of things for me to do for the veterans I adopt. Her grandpa wasn't feeling well so she took it upon herself to go to the garden and pick the cucumbers and other vegetables. She brought them in so he wouldn't have to go out.

When she got back, she said, “their grandma I did a kind deed today too.” She's only 8. I hope she continues to be this way the rest of her life.

"Making it Our Own"

We have just moved house, and there are boxes every where. My sister and I take a lot of pride in our places, and love to make it ‘our own’, with pictures on the wall, ornaments out, and things put away tidily. My sister’s room was by far the worst, a total bombsite, as she had packed everything up in 1 rushed hour. Clothes were everywhere, stuffed in random bags and boxes, shoes, bags, cosmetics just scattered every where. She has a busy job, working 5 days a week,and comes home from work totally drained. She was keen to unpack her room and get it organized, and tried to do little bits after work, but just didn't have the time and energy, so just left it.   That weekend, she went out for the day. I went into her room, and got to work. At first I hesitated, I had no idea where ... Read Full Story >>

Twelve Dollars for a Check

Today, I was in line for the parking garage at the convention center. The one line was a not moving, so I moved my car over one lane. Then, a girl pops out of the car and walks to the car behind her and says, "Can you give me $12 for parking and I will write you a check? They only take cash; otherwise, I will need you to back up so I can get out."  They didn't help her. They were a little confused at first, they thought she worked for the garage. After a few attempts. She walked defeated to her car. I had just paid and yelled, "Do you need money?"  She said, "yes, I will write you a check."  I said, "here is a $20 just bring back the change and pay it forward. I do not want a check" I pulled to the side and waited for her to ... Read Full Story >>

Seeing the Joy Spread

Yesterday, while shopping I reached for a cart at the same time as another woman. She immediately let go of the cart and said " you carriage has arrived, madam".  She gave the cart to me.

I was so shocked and I said "that was a random act of kidness". She said, "yes it was" and at the same time we said " helpothers.org." we laughed like crazy and shared the basket.

Friends in Need

In 1987, our 18 year old daughter starting feeling bad.  At first we thought she was run down from dieting.  She went through all kinds of tests.  Our family doctor had exhausted everything she knew to do.  She suggested we go see an infectious disease doctor.  He immediately diagnosed endocarditis which is an infection that if antibiotics can't knock it out a person's mitral valve has to be replaced.  He thought that because she was so young antibiotics would rid her of the infection.  Unfortunately this was not the case.  Open heart surgery must be performed.  In 1987, blood testing for Aids was not nearly so accurate as it is today.    We decided that we only wanted direct donors of blood.  We did not want her to have to worry about contracting Aids because of blood transfusions.  We had a very limited time to get the donors so that the ... Read Full Story >>

Love "Seen"

I had a friend that every time you walked in her door for a visit, her greeting was "Hi Honey".  She had a way of saying it by dragging it out as she said it, that made me feel like she was so glad to see me.  We met several years ago when her husband was admitted to our Hospice program.  I got in on that admission as I was on call the Saturday he was admitted.  We hit it off right away, and my friendship with her continued even after her husband died. We visited together once or twice a week, never for very long, but always with sincere joy in one another's presence.  She had told me that when she got ready for Hospice care, she would let me know and we could admit her.  Sure enough, one day she told me it was time.  We continued to have ... Read Full Story >>

Infectious Smiles Around the World

Smiling is contagious
You can catch it like the flu
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too.

I pasted around the corner
And someone saw my grin
And when he smiled I realised
That I'd passed it on to him

I thought about that smile
Then I realised it's worth
A single smile just like mine
It could travel round the earth

So if you feel a smile begin
Don't leave it undetected
Lets start an epidemic QUICK
And get the world infected.

By Anonimous

Balls of Yarn

I bet that everyone has a local seniors center or home in their neighborhood! Everyone has an opportunity to make a seniors day.

For the past 13 years I have been buying huge garbage bags of yarn at the Salvation Army and other second hand store were I can purchase this cheap (for I do not have much money) and then I drop them off at the local seniors home.

Many seniors love to knit and do crafts. But many homes do not supply this! Senior homes have limited funds and most do not supply what they determine extras. So why not make a seniors day in your area. I bet they will appreciate it!

I get the biggest JOY from seeing what they have made out of the yarn.

A Blind Date And An Eyebrow Wax

I was sitting in the salon with my eyebrows bushy and badly needing a wax. The man tells me it'll be ten minutes.  Ok, I'll be back I say. And I'm back in 10 and waiting patiently.  Just then a lady walks in requesting the same service - an eyebrow wax. The man asks her if she wants to wait awhile. She laughs and responds, "Do I want to wait? No."  She readies herself to turn around and leave. I speak up and ask if it's still 10 minutes for me? No, it will be 20 minutes for the new lady, your turn is now. What else can I do? I tell him "No, please give my turn to this lady and I'll come back tomorrow." He looks at me confused "That's what you want to do?" The lady thanks me and asks how did I know she had a blind ... Read Full Story >>