Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Smile Even When You're Sad

Hi, Friends, Love this story always help me to smile in hard time. About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair. As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots. As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving ... Read Full Story >>

Little Compliments

We all like to be recognized and sincerely complimented. So after a recent stay at a hotel, I pulled out the "We want to hear from you" insert and hand wrote a thank you for the nice accommodations and staffing. My Mom left a huge tip for the maid (hidden surprise under the bed pillow). One of my neighbors is usually out in her yard weeding and gardening . She has one of the best yards on our street so I stopped and told her so. What a bright smile after that compliment. I noticed and complimented a co-worker  who cut her long hair into a shorter, more becoming hairstyle that framed her face and made her look younger....she was pleased too. She said many didn't even notice and she was very attached to the length. I was also touched by a co-worker from another department  that sent me an email thank-you (copying my boss) for the consistent responsiveness and thoroughness in my follow-up to ... Read Full Story >>

Desire To Learn

I was out at the hobby store looking for some new enhancements for my remote helicopter and as I was leaving the store right next to it was one of those learning stores. The kind that sell educational supplies and games. I am constantly amazed at the items that are available for kids these days so I stopped in to satisfy my own curriosity.  While looking around I noticed signs that stated discounts to teachers.  I remembered a story on the news about some teachers using their own money to buy supplies so I posed as a new teacher so green that I didn't know anything about processes.  At the check out the manager told me how many teachers come in and purchase supplies the school can't or won't buy for the class.  That is so wrong.  We spoke for awhile and as luck would have it a teacher came up ... Read Full Story >>

A Box Of Kisses

Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,"Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. It is told that the man kept that gold box ... Read Full Story >>

Staying Late to Clean Up

A neighbor of mine celebrated his 50th birthday on Saturday. His family gave him a nice birthday party with wonderful music and food. They actually had a Pig Roast. 70 people were at his house to celebrate with him. The food was delicious and the Pig was a real treat.

We all enjoyed his beautiful back yard. We played horseshoes, bocci, volleyball and listened to music.

About 11pm everyone started leaving. I too was tired and ready to leave! Then I looked around at all the cups, plates and Soda/beer cans. Lots of food needed to be covered up and brought into the house. I said to my husband that I wouldn't be leaving yet and I was helping clean up the party area.  He stayed to help to and we all got it cleaned up quickly. Then we were invited to sit down around  a bonfire to enjoy it's beauty and relax just bit before we left a 1am.

I'm glad we stayed to clean up.

Letter to 4000 Children With A Scar On The Chest

[Mother Teresa handpicked him to be her personal surgeon. Today, Dr. Devi Shetty is perhaps the most compassionate, committed and charistmatic thing that has happened to cardiac surgery in the last century. He runs the world's second most productive heart hospital where children under 12 are treated for free and other patients pay whatever they can. After completing his 4000th pediatric heart surgery, he wrote this.] My Dear Children: I have been planning to write this letter for quite some time.  May be I just waited for you all to grow up to understand what I am trying to convey.  The story goes back many years.  When God sent you to this world it was perhaps the best thing that had happened to your parents.  Every little nudges and kicks in your mother’s womb opened up a new world of happiness and expectations.  Then one day, a miracle happened.  You were to ... Read Full Story >>

Birthday Smiles

Today is my birthday and someone came to my house and decorated my table with a table cloth, birthday plates, supper and a cake.  They left a smile card behind! 

What a blessing to come home to!  My son was here but he is not letting it be known who is responsible for the surprise! What a blessing!

How Babemba Tribe Forgives

In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the centre of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman, and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual.

Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a  time, each recalling the good things the person in the centre of the circle has done in his lifetime. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with any detail and accuracy, is recounted.  All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths, and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length.  This tribal ceremony often lasts for several days.

At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration  takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.

Are You Here?

This story was told to me by my roommate's father, who is a retired vascular surgeon. In discussing the ups and downs of life, he mentioned how he sometimes got caught up in the hectic nature of the schedule and forget the larger idea that he was not the 'do-er'.  One such period was a time that he described as a career highlight, when he performed 3 successful ruptured aneurysm procedures in a 24 hr span (a trifecta rarely seen in the medical profession).  He described the subsequent period as one of a euphoric high that left him simply doing the work required as a doctor but not being "there".  After treating one such elderly patient during this period, the elderly gentleman told the doctor to sit down. He said 'you've been running around here like a zombie the past several days. I wonder if you actually stop to enjoy ... Read Full Story >>

Tire-It-Forward

One of my friends, let's call him Jose, is one of those guys who doesn't even need to say anything and people will just feel comfortable in his presence. He is an amazingly compassionate guy, who will flat out tell you that his purpose in life is to bring more beauty on this planet. No, if's, and's, but's ... clear and simple, unwavering in his life mission. He doesn't need to convince anyone and he can't be swayed from it by anyone else. It's a funny story about how he learned his initial lesson of compassion.   He was madly in love with his high school sweet-heart for many years. He would do anything for her and she was the most important thing in the world to him. Until ... she left him oneday (perhaps she cheated on him before that). It hit him like a bucket of cold water. Never before had he ... Read Full Story >>

Band-Aid for A Broken Heart

I'd just like to share this story I have just read with you: "Hi Mum, what are you doing?", asked Susie. "I'm making a casserole for Mrs Smith next door," said her mother. "Why?" asked Susie, who was only six years old. "Because Mrs Smith is very sad; she lost her daughter and she has a broken heart.  We need to take care of her for a little while." "Why, Mum?" "You see, Susie, when someone is very, very said, they have trouble doing the little things like making dinner or other chores.  Because we're part of a community and Mrs Smith is our neighbour we need to do some things to help her.  Mrs Smith won't ever be able to talk with her daughter or hug her do all those wonderful things that mum and daughters do together. You are a very smart gir, Susie; maybe you'll think of some way to help take care ... Read Full Story >>

A Helping Hand for a Stranger

Recently  there was a farm accident, about 100km from our town. Being a remote town the patient, a six year od child was flown to the nearest major city over 900km away. She was involved in a motorbike accident ,and sustained horrific head injuries .The father accompanied the child in the air ambulance for the trip ,while the mother stayed at home with the remaining three children. The mother had no one to help. Her mother in law came for a while so that she could travel to the city to be with her injured child as she was undergoing major surgery. The mother in law  had to return back to her home for her own medical treatement ( she lived in another state ). I didn`t know the family but just knew she needed some help so I offered my help and home to them. I just thought if it had of ... Read Full Story >>

The Kindness Touch

My Mom lives in a Retirement Community. While I was visiting her, I noticed that many of the seniors were starving for attention, for companionship and warmth. Some do not get many visitors while others are in poor health or spirits. I made a pledge to try to "touch" each person I met during my 2 week visit. Here are some of the "kindness touches" I made: *I said "Hello", smiled and waved at everyone including the truck drivers, janitors, service personnel and residents. *I engaged as many as possible in conversation, asking questions and showing interest in them and their lives *I gave each resident my undivided attention practicing "active " listening...I did not interupt them and looked in each ones eyes as we spoke. *I hugged, kissed, squeezed hands, patted shoulder , arm or head. I bent down and touched the ones in wheel chairs, with breathing equipment, with Dementia or Alzheimers- they were ... Read Full Story >>

Support For A Local Artist/business Owner

I just wanted to share my story about a fund-raiser that I put together for last Saturday. A local business owner was involved in a very bad motorcycle accident resulting in the loss of his leg and the use of his primary arm. He is not able to work therefore his entire means of surviving are temporarily gone.

This accident really hit home for me so I got my wheels turning and organized a fund-raiser. It went so well and we were able to raise a decent amount of dough. I have another event on the 21st of July and look forward to supporting this cause as long as I can. The power of love is amazing and I am grateful to know it.

A Cell Phone On The Curb

I am visiting my oldest daughter and 2 grandsons in Coconut Grove, Miami Florida, and walking home from a wonderful lunch in the Grove with my 4 year old grandson on my head. Tonight is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish religion, my family is all together - life couldn't be better. I notice a shiny new cellphone lying on the curb, which someone had obviously dropped.  We were a block away from the busy area of the Grove, and I thought for a moment - "If I leave it, someone could pick it up and not return it, or maybe the owner would return and retrace their steps to see where it might have dropped."  On the other hand, I thought, "If I pick it up, for sure they will call and have their phone returned."  So I picked it up, walked the half ... Read Full Story >>

Weeds From A Blind Boy

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you." The weed before me ... Read Full Story >>

Spare Change

A few days ago while I was walking with my husband at the park I noticed a man on a bench along the pond. He was dressed neatly, but he had a shopping cart filled with items. I realized he must be homeless.

Yesterday when we went, I wanted to make conversation with him but he wouldn't even look my way for a SMILE.  He was at the same bench as the day before.

When he left the bench and walked away with his shopping cart, I grabbed whatever spare coins I had in my pocket and scattered them under his bench. I hope he finds them when he returns. If not, some kids might find them and buy a treat.

Alraisi inspired me to do more without hurting his pride...I am going to buy a bag of apples and hand them to him when I walk tomorrow.  Wish me Luck. ~Aurelia

Bubble 911

I will try to write a clear story so that others may find it enjoyable to read. My grandaughter Zoey wil be 11 years old on 9/11. Her favorite word is bubble; that's the reason for my title. Zoey and I live 800 miles apart; Lack of money keeps me from personal visits with her. We talk every week on the phone. Zoey is "personality plus!"  She asks serious, thoughtful questions, such as, "Grandma, what do you think of capital punishment?" At other times and in different moods, she chats about "friend stuff." We share our favorite colors, numbers, names, books, and so on. Zoey and I even give each other spelling and math tests; we have lots of fun! I feel truly privileged to know this young woman who I call my grandaughter. You see, Zoey was an emergency  caesarean section; she was born with her umbilical  cord wrapped around ... Read Full Story >>

The Power of a Smile

We are so busy that we have lost our smile. This is also affecting our children. While going for a morning walk I find children with their parents waiting with a blank face for their school bus.

Since smile  is contagious. I decided to wish them good morning with a smile and sure enough there was a return smile. Now I find these small tiny tots are all the while waiting for me. When they see me from the distance  they start smiling. In fact there is a sort of competition as to who wishes good morning first. This also affects their parents and they also smile and laugh. It is really a very pleasing morning.

It is said that some of your acquantances may be too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours . No body needs a smile so much  as those who have none left to give. Light them up with your smile.

A Carpenter's House

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key ... Read Full Story >>