Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Soulful Strut At MidDay

My wife opens the doors and says, "Man, that lady must be having a really bad day.  She was really rude."  After a slight pause, she adds, "What she really needs is someone to tag her."  "Well, let's do it!", I proposed in an excited tone.  "Who is this lady anyhow?  Any ideas of what she would like?" Two minutes, later: Operation Mid-Day Chocolate to Lady Behind the Counter.  I get a box of new chocolates from the refrigerator and think up a note to write about.  As my wife was walking to an errand earlier in the downtown area, she said the usual "how are you" to a homeless man -- Ronnie -- on the streets; oddly enough, the man responded, "Could be better .... but can't complain."  While returning, she saw him from a distance and thought of ways to "better" his day. With her usual smile, she ... Read Full Story >>

Dress Shirt, Tie and Socks

After landing my first full time job after graduating from college, I bought a brand new suit at a local boutique.

It was obvious to the owner that it was my first suit, so he made sure I felt comfortable with my decision, and said I could return it and have it exchanged. When the suit was delivered to my house, it had an extra dress shirt, tie, and dress socks attached with a note:

"You have to have these items to complete the picture. These are on the house."

To Marco, thank you for that gesture. It was very thoughtful, and meaningful to a young kid who had just started working. I regularly refer my friends to the store, not for the suits, but for the person selling them.

Sharing with a homeless man

I was really moved when I saw an old man. He used to previously do gardening and other odd jobs around our area and earn a living. Apparently his famiy has now deserted him since he is no longer young and able. He was wearing just a tattered vest and a dirty veshti (cloth tied around the waist). I felt very sad when I saw him wipe his thick dark glasses and hands with this very dirty shirt. I went home and brought him a nice shirt belonging to my dad. He felt very touched.  Since he occupies a pavement in front of a neighbourhood temple that is visited very often, I thought that maybe people would be compassionate.  But he told me that he goes without food for several days.  Below him there was a filthy orange that someone had given him.  I brought him a loaf of bread. Since then on ... Read Full Story >>

Give One, Get Two Skates Free

In December, I went to the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Philips Square. As I was sitting at the side of the rink taking off my skates, a little boy about 6 or 7 walks up and asks "Are those your skates?"

I answered ‘Yes’ and wondered if he thought I had stolen his skates, since I wear boys hockey skates. He said: "Oh, I don't have skates." For some reason, I blurted, "Do you want mine?"

I told him to first ask his mom. He ran away excited and his mom asked if it was really okay [and I said yes.] He was jumping up and down in excitement. After he put on the skates, I watched him take off with a big smile.

Two weeks later I was in the recycling room in our condo. Residents leave items for others to salvage. I found two Bauer boxes with new skates, both in my size!

I gave one pair to a friend who was there the evening I gave the boy my used skates. She shook her head and said: “You give away one pair, and you get back two”!

Winning versus humanity

It was a sports stadium. Eight children were standing on the track to participate in the running event.  * Ready! * Steady! * Bang!!! With the sound of the toy pistol, all eight girls started running. Hardly had they covered ten to fifteen steps when one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down. Due to bruises and pain she started  crying. When the other seven girls heard this sound, they stopped running, stood for a while and turned back.  They all ran back to the place where the girl fell down. One among them bent down, picked up the girl, kissed her gently and enquired 'Now pain must have reduced'. All seven  girls lifted the fallen girl and pacified her. Two of them held the girl firmly and all seven girls joined hands together and walked together and reached the winning post. The officials were shocked. The thousands of spectators filling the stadium clapped. ... Read Full Story >>

Investing in People

Today, an incoming email gave a 'success confirmation' to one of the greatest ‘small investments’ of my life. No, it wasn’t a car, a house, or a new gizmo. I chose to invest in a human being who needed working capital to pull herself out of poverty. Her emotionally connective story was posted on a website of a SF based non-profit, Kiva.org. Six months ago, I made a micro-loan to this seamstress, Deisy Hernandez of Mexico. Today, Deisy made a full ‘repayment’ on my $25 investment; but, rather than extracting, Stella Nogiomwan of Nigeria benefited from my personal choice to ‘re-invest’ those funds into her business which will take 6-12 months to prosper and repay me. Through this experience, I’ve learned that people are good if you just inspire them to take action and provide them a platform to do good. You see who your money is going towards – ... Read Full Story >>

An Unforgettable Accident

In 1974. I was 19 and had come to Toronto to find work. My first evening, my friend and I were driving in the rain in the Dundas St. W and Bloor area. My car, a 1969 green Malibu, slid off a streetcar rail, into another car.

I caused substantial damage to my car and the other car, which was newer than my own. In the 70s, we could buy $25 insurance coverage called FINE, that allowed us to drive without insurance. I had no insurance, only this FINE.

The Judge told me to make arrangements to pay this man's damages. It was a large sum of money which I did not have. The man bought me a coffee, asking about my financial situation, told me to drive safely and wished me luck. He told me that he had once been young and waived all costs for his car. God puts the right people in out path, to teach US kindness to others.

Birthday celebrations

I had my 25th birthday last week.  I am tired of drunken debaucheries :) so  8 of us got together and decided to do something nice for the people who pick up the phone when we call the college shuttle.   It is because of them that we are able to go from one place to another in this freezing cold.

We made posters saying - "Thank you for all you do", "Your help is appreciated!" and others.   We bought coffee, cakes, cookies, and chocolates and decided to take it to the shutte headquarters.  

It was a blast -- haven't seen sooo many unexpected smiles in a looooonggggg time! 

It was indeed the best birthday ever :-)

Birthdays are for giving

My birthday was coming up last week and I was thinking of ways I could pay forward some kindness on the day to send good wishes out in the world.  And then on my birthday itself, right in front of my eyes, three different opportunities came up one after the other, to support my colleagues at the charity I work at in different ways. One girl decided she wanted to give back to the charity that gave her so much both as a child when she was growing up and also as an adult by employing her to deliver services to other children.  So, she's going on a trek and raising money for our charity.  She is now part of a really amazing program that works with the most at-risk young people in our area, many of whom have already been kicked out of 3 schools, carried a knife to school, ... Read Full Story >>

Living Like Paupers but Feeling Like Princesses

The other day, I was standing in line to buy my groceries, looking at a magazine.  The woman behind me, with two small girls with her, struck up a conversation with me about the movie star on the cover. 

She mentioned she was living in some weekly suites near the store, and was having a problem with the father  of the girls paying his child support.  I noticed the older little girl (about 4) was very excited about getting a cartoon plate set (the set that comes with a cup, plate, and matching silverware with the character on it), and there was another one in the cart for the smaller child.  I asked if I could purchase these for the girls, and she agreed.  Honestly, I didn't agree with some of the things about this woman's life, but I don't feel that children should bear their parents' burdens, and I wanted to do a little something to make their life more enjoyable.

Simple but delicious

I have my in-laws over for dinner and when I do I make an extra dinner for them to take home - especially lasagna- because they love it so much. They can have it for a few days and it makes them so happy. Even some small act of kindness goes a long way. Anytime I do some small act of service it makes ME feel so much better.

Passing on the Smiles

I have been getting packs of smile cards in the mail, usually a few a week. My daughter who is 10 asked me about them the other day.  I explained what they were for, and what to do with them.

She is going to drop her first smile card tomorrow to one of her favorite teachers.  She is going to write a letter of appreciation to this teacher, and attach a smile card to the letter, and place it in her mail box.  I am going to write the letter for her, so the teacher doesn't recognize her handwriting. Just think of the smile that will come from her letter :)

A Tall, New Fridge

My mother in-law who always puts others ahead of herself had a pretty broken down fridge.  My sister purchased a new one and was trying to get rid of her old one.  I transported the fridge across the Bay Area to deliver it to my mother-in-law.  When we arrived we realized that it was 3 inches to tall.  So I learned a bit about cabinet making in the process.

My mother-in-law is very happy about her "new huge" fridge and I am very tired from the ordeal but very satisfied.  It's funny how second nature it is to go out of my way to help a perfect stranger but I sometimes "have to make time" to help my own family.  I'm glad I did.

Colorful Smiles

I am very involved in my church and I am also a volunteer in our Garden Ministry. Basically I am one of three who takes care of our gardens, watering, weeding, etc. a couple of days a week. The main entrance to our church is a very long driveway with 2 flowerbeds on either side. I'm not sure what had been planted there before but whatever it was became scraggly and really wasn't very appealing. We decided to yank the plants, pull the weeds, turn the soil and get all of the rocks out so we would have nice beds for planting new flowers. This took us 3 days and when we were finally done we decided to shop for flowers. First we went to Home Depot but the selection was minimal as we needed around 100 plants. Next we went to Walmart and they had what we wanted but ... Read Full Story >>

Thank you for your kindness!

For the past 5 days, I was down with viral flu and I wasn't really feeling well. My father lost his job, I've had trouble in my work and a lot more trouble I can only imagine.I can't help but cry. What keeps my sanity for these agonizing days? You guys in here - people I really don't know personally but by your never ending stories of kindness. I know at one point I'll be able to stand up and gain whatever helplessness I am feeling in my heart now.

I really just want to thank you for letting me feel your kindness here in my heart.

Nanny's Birthday Lunch

Last weekend, a few of us drove to Oklahoma to see my husband's mother, who is now in a nursing home.  We wanted to take her out to lunch to celebrate her 88th birthday.  We decided to go to an all you can eat buffet.  Now when I said there was a few of us, I should have mentioned 10 people in all.  When you have over 50 members in your family, 10 is a few to us but not to the waitress at the buffet. The waitress began clearing off a couple of tables and moved  the tables together.  Then she started running around the room to gather up enough chairs so we were all able to sit together.  It was on a Sunday, and  the peak time for  lunch.  The place was packed.  You had to get a clean plate for salad, entries and desert.  I figured we ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Bit Each Day

I have two young children, so I can be limited at times in what I can do for others, but I try to work something small in each day.  In the past few weeks, here are some of the things I have done: -- I have taken my two young sons on a walk with a bag to pick up garbage.  My four year old had a blast!  -- I let the person behind me in line at Wal-Mart go ahead, even though she had almost as much as I did. -- I have a friend whose son attends the same preschool as my son, and she has 4 month old twins.  Knowing what a pain it is to get kids in and out of the car for just a short trip, I stayed in the car with my 11 month old and her twins so she could run her son in ... Read Full Story >>

Easter kindness

In 1997, we had quite a spate of burglaries in our neighbourhood. Our home was targeted 5 times between December 1997 and February 1998.

At the time, my children were age 10, Shaun, and age 8 twins Graham & Timothy.  All of them were really scared, but Shaun had taken it really badly, and he needed to be put on antidepressants.

Then just before easter 1998, there was a story in our local newspaper about a two year old boy whose home had been burgled and they had smashed up all of the easter eggs that people had bought for the little boy. 

When Shaun heard this, he asked me to contact the paper and ask them to come to our home and he and his brothers shared their easter eggs with that little boy.

When the reporter asked Shaun why, he said he knew what it was like to have things stolen from him and he didn't want the little boy to feel the way he and his brothers felt.

Giving a bag-full, leaving with a full heart

Recently, on the occasion of the festival of Pongal, I was walking back from my grandma's house. She had given me a bag full of food that she had prepared - fried savouries, sweets that were elaborately made and other festival specialities.

I was walking back when I went past a homeless man wearing tattered clothes who I see quite often. It looked like he was quite hungry and tired, maybe even recovering from a hangover. I had nothing with me except the bag full of goodies.

Seeing this man enjoy these treats vs. indulging my own gluttony?

It was no-contest!

I parted with everything that I had and walked home with my hands empty but my heart very, very full.

Caring for those around you

The 55 year old lady Mrs.L ,who has been cleaning our house every day for tha past 20 years had recently been diagnosed with diabetes.Since Mrs.L is the only earning member of her family, she is finding it difficult to cope. My family has decided to buy her the diabetes medicines which are quite expensive.

The day Mrs.L was admitted in the hospital for symptoms like fainting, my mom guessed that she may be diabetic. My mom usually gives Mrs.L lunch and coffee every day, which she leaves for her before heading to work.

The day Mrs.L recovered fully and came back to work, my mom automatically made her a cup of coffee without adding the usual spoonfull of sugar .Mrs.L hadn't even had a chance to mention her diabetes to my mom since she came to work only after my mom had left. She was really touched when she tasted the unsweetened coffee-moved by the attention paid to small things and the concern we felt for her.