Stories of Kindness from Around the World

All it Takes is Chalk

Today, my friends and I had an early release day at school and got out at about 11:30.

We had decided to try to incorporate random acts of kindness into our lives last Sunday at our meeting for our charity group, Minga.

We brought sidewalk chalk to school and walked for a half hour from school into town writing nice messages on the sidewalk all the way. We came up with quite a few like, "Smile, it's sunny", "Peace", "Have a great day!", Give someone a hug", and "Be happy".

It was so rewarding to see people smile when they saw them and it's thrilling how such a small gesture can really make a difference!

Now, whenever one of us is walking home, we're always going to continue on the tradition!

Sent on a Mission of Kindness

I am in a relationship that has had some hard times.  I don't even know if we will make it.  We both love each other but it seems that everything is going wrong. I tried to have a nice weekend with him only to end up a disaster.  Today we had a big fight and I didn't know what to do.  I know he wanted to get away from me.   Even when he says he didn't.  I was so depressed and sad,  when I looked through my mail.  And there they were -- SMILE CARDS. Reluctantly I took out 5 smile cards and gave them to my man.  I told him go out and use these.  "Do 5 things for 5 people."  He looks at me and asks where I got these from.  "No questions right now.  I know you don't want to be around me right now so go out do 5 ... Read Full Story >>

Just a Routine Grocery Trip

Yesterday evening while at the grocery store I was approached by a young woman. She had the most sincere smile I can remember ever seeing and for some reason she was smiling at me.

I looked behind me just to make sure and yes I was the only other person in the aisle.  As she got close enough,  she said "I was sent to make sure you know God loves you."

I can't lie here.  My first thought was -- 'Oh boy, here comes the pamphlets and preaching'.  But instead she just gave me that amazing smile and said, "Have a blessed night"

That was it.  And she walked away.

I was upset with myself  for automatically assuming the worst "cult" senerio. I didn't even say anything to her. Except a much too late and clumsy ' Ahh.  Thanks'. 

I have been thinking all day what I should have said. I logged on and saw "Because Kindness Is Contagious!"  Thats when I realized it didn't matter what I said if anything as long as I allowed that interaction to change me for the better.

Bridge Toll Bandit Strikes Again

We were on our way to visit my mother-in-law and I paid for the car behind me and left the toll booth attendant with a smile card for him. 

This time, however, the person I paid for actually passed us on the road.  It was a young man (apparantly college student, Saint Mary's) he waved and smiled as he passed. 

It brought joy to my day. 

Gift of a Stone

I work in a very demanding position within the medical community and would absolutely  "crash and burn" without my assistant.  Ellen is an incredible young woman with a very exciting career ahead of her.  She will finish up her thesis this summer and then move to another state to begin her new life.  This will be a very difficult day but none-the-less a day to be celebrated.  In the mean time, I try to let Ellen know just how appreciated she is.  Words are wonderful and meaningful when expressing thoughts so I offer her thanks when I can.  For example, when we are involved in a project and get so busy we forget to take a break I make time to send her a nice little e-mail offering my appreciation. There are other little tokens of kindness provided to Ellen during our time together: the usual lunch, coffee or last ... Read Full Story >>

Difficult Choices Bear Deep Rewards

I think that while some acts of kindness are easy to do or are done in a sort of planned way,  there are other moments that test you. In the face of hunger, suffering and misery, my mind begins to rationalise and justify why I shouldn't be helping.  However, sometimes after the good fight, a sense of compassions wins and I do something.  Otherwise my laziness or fear wins over and I just walk away. Today I faced this kind of choice. I had walked a bit of a distance from my University Campus to my bus stop.  I did not have all that much money to spend and wanted to catch the train which was a cheaper form of transport, after which I would have to change to another train and then a bus.  I also needed to cross two national highways to reach the stop-places with fast cars and huge trucks ... Read Full Story >>

A Beautiful Day

The sun is shinging, birds are singing it feels really good to be alive.

Got a lovely surprize today a box of chocolates and biscuits.

They where from a young couple we know who have a baby  a few months old.

The baby was  quite ill in hospital a few weeks ago and when I visted them they had been sleeping at the hospital and only eating crisps and biscuits.  I gave them £10 to get something to eat and told them to take a few hours break and I would watch the baby.  The hugs and kisses I got when they got back made my day.

Feeling on top of the world I decided to take a housebound neighbour a brighly coloured house plant, I made her a cup and we had a chat.

What a perfect day!

My Manure Angels

We own 15 acres and built a barn and house on it. I have 3 boarders. It's difficult to get good boarders sometimes as a lot of horse people can be quite difficult, but these people are wonderful and kind and very helpful. I had left a note in the feed room (our usual way of communicating since we don't always see each other) that I was thinking of having a "poop picking up party". I like to keep my pasture as free of manure as possible as horses don't like to eat where they potty. I asked if a Sunday would be good. Next morning, they replied yes. Sunday at 10am they said. I responded back, "You don't mean TOMORROW do you?", because I had plans and did not have the money to supply food and drink as I told them I would do. Well, the next morning, I discovered ... Read Full Story >>

The Flower Elves

A couple we know who have fallen on hard times went out of town over the weekend we think to probably regroup and try to re-establish their love for each other so they can weather the adversities they have recently encountered. They are the type of people who will not ask for help and even if it is offered they will not accept it, at least not willingly.

We decided to do something nice for them by doing a quick landscaping job on their entrance walkway. They have a nice paved walkway but on either side it was just bare dirt, not very attractive. We went out and bought some flowers and some red cinders and replanted the walkway and then spread out the cinders for the asthetic look and hopefully to make weeding easier with less weeds able to grow through.

We think it looks great and hope that when they drive in their driveway they wonder if they are at the right house. We feel it is important for them to know that they are special people who have friends who love them.

Who Can I Make Happy Today

March is here, spring just round the corner, crocus are bursting with colour. I visited the charity  table.  All the things I donated last week have gone but instead of just books and records there is a variety of items, tools, garden seeds, even some tins of cat and dog food. This time I donated a pair of gloves, a scarf, a child's toy, a chess set and some paint brushes.  People have a chance to get something they need and get the pleasure of giving. I was so pleased that other people were getting involved I decided to try and do another smiley act. I wandered around - would it be a lone elderly lady or a pleasant shop keeper?  Then I spotted a young man trying to get people to change there gas supply.  People just grunted at him or ignorned him as if he had a cloak of invisibility.  So I ... Read Full Story >>

Insipration From Another Post

I cant seem to find it again but there was a post about a woman who sent her husband out on a date with his mother as a present. He has a great time with his mother and she later died soon after.  It was a special post. I then told my fiance to take his grandmother out for a date. So this past saturday he did. The date wasn't perfect.  They went to one resturant but the line was out the door.  Then went to another but the wait was so long she was getting tired.  It didn't work out exactly as it should have but she was so happy to be out of the house. When I met them in front of the restaurant after my meeting, I made sure to sit in the back seat since she was HIS DATE.  I wasn't going to retire her to the back just because I was ... Read Full Story >>

Pancakes & Praise

Late Saturday morning,  the local IHOP restaurant was a zoo. Our middle-aged waiter stood out in a sea of young co-workers.  He made a passing comment that he had been at it for five hours already - and so I observed him for the rest of the meal.

He was a veritable Whirling Dervish, a blur of motion, carrying heavy, hot platters, stacks and stacks of plates, remembering my request for this or that.

As we were leaving, I went up to him and said, "You know what?  I think you should have a nice day"   and slipped him a tip that exceeded the cost of our meal.  When he unfolded the denomination to see what it was, he smiled and said, "This will help!"

Hats off to all of the minimum-wage wait-staff out there --  hard, hard work for little money - I admire your work ethic!

What Goes Around Comes Around

I was at pita pit and decided that I would spread some kindness by paying for two drinks for the next customers. I left the person at the counter money for two drinks and two smile cards.  I told him to give the drink to somebody who doesn't purchase a drink and to also give it to two people who are not related.

I felt good about myself and felt even better later that night.  Later that night I went to grab slice of pizza for dinner.  After paying for the drink, I decided that I needed a drink as well.  When I told the cashier which drink I wanted and went to pay for the drink, the cashier said  "Don't worry about it".  I confirmed what he said and said thank you and walked away in awe.

After walking around the corner, did I realize what had happened.  I went back in the store and gave the person a smile card for that kind gesture.

Who would have known that karma works that fast.

Actions Speak Loud

D was sitting alone in the University canteen and eating.  D is generally known as a rich spoilt brat always driving around in fancy cars and hitting the nightclubs.  D is the hardened sort who doesn't believe in really caring about others in general. A sits down with D, who is not a very close friend or anything. A buys 2 plates of food,  thinking she is very hungry. A and D keep chatting about various things like music, their careers and classes  and then A finds out that she's pretty full just by eating the first plate.  A acts with thoughtfulness and packs up the untouched second plate.  When D looks puzzled,  A  explains that she'd like to give the food to some hungry homeless person. D and A giggle at the way the packing is being done and then in a moment of poetry, D tells A that he is really touched to see things like this happen.  ... Read Full Story >>

When I was a Homeless Teenager

When I was a teenager trying to get away from a bad home life,  I ended up from the streets to the doors of Covenant house of NYC.

They gave us a place to stay, health, social, mental services.  We had food and even clothing.

I remember being a big girl thankful for the few things they could find for me in the clothing room.

Now that I am a grown woman I wanted to do something special for them.  I put up signs in my neighborhood collecting all types of clothing.

After about 6 months of collecting, I had 10 giant garbage bags full of clothes.

I was able to make an appointment to see the building.  Going through it all again was really an experience.  Seeing the changes, seeing the advancement.  Seeing how it was so different now.  But they still had the same purpose.

It made my heart feel very good.

We're All In This Together

I read a lot of spirit and intention books. I remember reading Wayne Dyer one night and in his Power of Intention book, he wrote something along the lines of if you can’t give a homeless person money, give him a smile. The other day I was waiting for the light to change in downtown San Francisco and there was a homeless guy who was walking around with his sign and he went from car to car (I was the 3rd one in). The cars reacted as they usually do, just closing the windows and ignoring him, one car moved up, you know the drill. As he came to my car, I looked him in the eye and I gave him a HUGE smile, I said I’m sorry I can’t give you money and he just stood there smiling at me. There was probably a 10 second pause before the light turned ... Read Full Story >>

Use of Smile Cards Pays a Surprise Dividend

The second time I used my smile cards was to  pay for the sunday newspapers for 2 senior citizens that come into a nice, clean,  little breakfast place every Sunday early in the morning, just to pick up the Sunday newspaper.  I got in very early that morning and  I handed the card to the owner with some money to cover the 2 newspapers and I said I wanted to pay for the 2 sunday papers that the older people pick up every sunday.  "If you'd please give them this card when you tell them"  is what I said.  She looked at the card and with a half smile and asked if I had any more cards. I said I did and I gave her about 20 from my stash in the car before I left. Today, about 10 days later, I went in for breakfast with my son. A few minutes after we started eating, a ... Read Full Story >>

Just a card

My son and I sat down the other day and wrote a card to send to his Nan and Pop.  We do generally see them every week but they were having a particularly bad week so I decided we would send them a special card.

The night they received it, we got a phone call to say what a lovely surprise and how it had brightened their day.  Nan had a good chat with my son, and my son loved talking about the card and picture he had drawn.

A simple gesture but it allowed my son and I to let two people we love know it!

I Just Can't Stop Smiling!

I haven't smiled this much in a long time.  I am reading many stories leaving comments and getting great ideas for Random Acts of Kindness.

I didn't even realize that I was smiling and feeling so good until I sat back and broke out in a big WIDE smile.  I feel so good and I wanted to write about it because within less than 48 hours I feel my life has changed.

I have always been one to give RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness)  usually without thinking about it.  But now I feel better because I have a plan.  I am doing things on purpose.  Makes me feel good to have a purpose in life other than work and paying the bills.

I feel I am doing things now to counter act the negativity that comes at me.  As long as i have RAOK to do then I am ok.

I Thank everyone for there stories.  I Thank HELP OTHERS for making this a place where we can come share. 

And guess what I am going to thank you right now.  Yes you who is taking the time to read this.  Because this is why i wrote it for YOU!

ARE YOU SMILING YET!

Raqui

Widening the Circle of Compassion

My friends and I are now going to part soon since my life as an undergraduate is coming to an end.  Today one of my friends told me that she would never forget the time she came along with me to a home for senior citizens near my college.

She wanted to make another trip before we left.  It was amazing.  As we listened to people like our granparents - just spoke and laughed with them.  It was amazing how much this little time seemed to lift their spirits.

The funny thing is never before in her life has my friend been into conscious acts of service, although her everyday kindness lights up people's lives.  So she truly said she felt joyful after this trip we made- widening the circle of compassion.