Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Share Your Magazines

I get several magazines in the mail monthly. 

I hate to just throw they away, so I leave them in the breakroom where I work.

This way I am recycling, and someone gets to read some great magazines for free!

:) :) :)

A Young Man In Need

This past Saturday while I was at work I had a woman come and ask me when our next sale day was because her family invited a young man into their home who needed help and I told her that it would be this next Sunday and she went on her way.

Even with an extra cashier in the front this woman was in my line to be checked out and as she came to my register I informed her that if she was there the next day that I would bring her some gift certificates, I gave the woman my name and told her to ask for me because most of the time I'm in the back, so they could use them for this young man.

Well Sunday came and even though I made it for our store meeting my manager sent me home because I was sick, so I gave a description of the family who were suppose to be there and asked my manager to give these certificates to them, and she assured me that she would keep her eye out for them. I can only hope they were enough.

I wanted to reach out to this family because I can remember when I was at one time in the same boat, and it was the kindness of a stranger that always stayed with me.

O, For Those Who Volunteer!

When I was 16 years old I was in an instution and my future looked bleak.  Very bleak.

O for those who volunteer their time, like a lady who befriended me back then. She got permission for me to go out with her to a picnic.  Boy, was I excited!  That day I met her 2 sons & fell in love with both of them on the same day!

This lady kept seeing something worthwhile and never gave up on me.  She kept praying for me, and O, there's power in prayer.  Today, my life and future are brighter than the noonday sun!

I hold a thankful heart today for that lady who volunteered.

That was 43 years ago and we are still close friends today! One act of loving patient kindness has not only touched and inspired my life but many others.

Just Doing Her Job

A staff member at a local public swimming pool was just doing her job yesterday... *ensuring all swimmers were safe by telling them not to throw people from their shoulders and into the water *checking sauna/spa users had paid *keeping loud music at reasonable volume for all users *checking facilities were safe and clean at all times ...and all I could see were users glancing at her like she was a drag -- as if she was spoiling their fun.  It was sad to see because that is her role.  If she didn't follow through with her role then there would be chaos and danger.  She could sense the negative energy from the users which gave her a very straight face.  No smile - no expression whatsoever. While in the changing room she appeared with the hose and scrubbing brush.  I have been to several public pools around the city and the cleanliness is shocking so I paid ... Read Full Story >>

Adventure of Lost Keys

A British family were on holiday in a rented motor-home in the USA. Traveling through California they visited the Magic Mountain amusement park close by Los Angeles. Mid-afternoon, halfway through what was turning out to be a most enjoyable day at the park, Mum, Dad and the three kids came upon a particularly steep plummeting ride. In the queue, the ride attendants strongly warned everyone about the risks of losing hats, spectacles, coins and keys, etc., and these warnings were echoed by large signs around the ride. During the ride, Dad lost the keys. Due to the fact that the motor-home was a replacement vehicle resulting from a breakdown earlier in the holiday, there were no spare keys. And there were six keys on the lost bunch: ignition, front doors, side door, fuel tank, propane tank, and storage cupboards. The park attendants drove the family back to the motor-home, suggesting the least ... Read Full Story >>

Stories With the KeyMaker

Locksmith story ... from last afternoon. A friend of mine loses her purse and all the keys in it. She didn't have any copies of her key, so her white, 4-door car is idly stranded outside my house. I called up a locksmith, to create another key (apparently they can do it in ten minutes -- so much for the illusion of security). In thirty minutes of my phone call, a young man in his thirties rolls through with "Grant" written on the left side of his shirt and "AA Locks" on the right side. He asked me for proof of registration for the car and I told him it wasn't my car. After some hesitation he called his boss on the cell, to check if that's ok; eventually he said yes, figuring that I wasn't really the type of guy who would car-jack a 1992 Toyota Corolla. :) There's a ... Read Full Story >>

Seaworld Cell Phone

We recently visited Seaworld, in Florida!!!

While in the ladies' room I found a cell phone on the floor in the stall I was in. I quickly picked it up and loudly stated I found the cellphone on the floor and held it out under the stall door.

Someone said  "That's Mine, thank you so much!" 

Right as I was leaving, the women came to me and thanked me for being honest and quickly shouting that I found the phone before she left.  Because the park is very large, families go in different directions and meet up again by using the cellphones to locate one another.

I felt good that she appreciated my efforts of not being shy in the bathroom! :)

Couple Guys Near The BP Garage

Around where I am staying there is a BP garage. Couple of guys normally hang around behind the garage: playing games (dices) and just chat and chat, looking and admiring at passerbys. Some of the guys don’t have places to stay and are unemployed, whereva the night catches them that’s where they lay their heads. Some are bit scary, they are untidy and look more like gangsters. There is one guy among this group whom I met and most of the time we end up having a friendly chat and we greet each other always. Before I bought a car, he would voluntarily pick up my grocer, assist me when I have loads of things to carry, accompany me half way to my place when it’s late, defend me when the guys wana mugg me, make some funny moves and so forth. After all the efforts and help he sometimes refuses ... Read Full Story >>

World of Cellphones and iPods

I was sitting on the bus, waiting for it to start to begin the second half of my two hour commute home. The woman(a stranger) next to me and her daughter seemed to be extremely agitated.  She told me that her daughter had fallen sick and was vomiting continuosly; and in the meantime, she had lost her purse, in the confusion of taking the bus. Although the purse had a significant amount of money, it also had a very important phone number of an official, a person that she travelling 90 kilometeres to meet for discussing a pressing matter. I handed her my cell phone without any hesitation and told her she could make any call that she wanted.  I also gave her the packets of mineral water I had in my bag to relieve her daughter of her sickness. The mother and daughter, after making several calls, turned to me with grateful faces, and ... Read Full Story >>

Everyone Loves Candy!

I was talking on the phone to my friend Naima, and how I need to be more considerate and generous because I want to improve on those areas.

But she said she thought I was very considerate, like when I made sure she got extra candy on the way out of my house. 

So I think even though we want to do really big nice things for people, like go out and raise money for the poor or collect things for local shelters, I think we do a lot of kind things without even realizing it.  :)

Pushing A Cart

A few weeks ago my sister and I went shopping and we were walking behind an elderly lady pushing a trolley full of groceries.

She seemed to be having a tough time pushing it so I decided I would ask her if she wanted help. 

"Oh darling, that would be lovely," she said.

I ended up pushing her trolley for about 15 more minutes as she continued to go about her shopping.  I actually didn't mind at all, and in fact, enjoyed talking to her about her life,  where she was from, and so on.

My sister and I walked with the elderly lady to her car and even helped her pack her groceries into the back of her car.  The woman even offered us money, but we naturally refused.   She then gave us both a little cuddle and told us that we had been sent by the heavens.

Safer For All Children

I had noticed that a park that I take my children to occasionally had been vandalised with broken glass in the area where parents sit.  I decided the next time I visited I would take a plastic bag and fill it up with all the broken glass and rubbish that I could.

It would be very easy to pretend that this is someone elses responsibility but I decided that I could not take the chance that one of my children or some one elses children may fall over and get cut glass in their hands.

Now the area is cleaner, not totally free of glass yet but each time we visit I will make sure I have a plastic bag to collect any rubbish to make it a safer and nicer place for all who visit. 

I Wish You Enough

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough." She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took ... Read Full Story >>

The Egg & Spoon Race

My friend & I were at the school games. Her son Andrew has cerebal palsy but he was insistent that he was going in the races. In the flat race he ran well, but came in last.

In a short pace of time the egg & spoon race was on.

What we saw next brought tears to our eyes.

The school principle handed Andrew his the spoon with the egg glued onto it. Needless to say Andrew came in at the Number 1 and our tears were mixed with laughter and so much joy.

An act of kindness makes us all winners.

The Back-packer Who Stayed For 12 Months

As my husbandTrevor was coming home on the bus one day, he struck up a conversation with a back-packer who was looking for accomodation; Trevor immediately invited his new found friend to stay with us.  And it was such a delight to have him staty with us for 12 months.  This act of kindness was repaid to us in so many beautiful ways. Eamon if you read this, thanks for everything!

Hospitality is a great way to show kindness not only to friends but to strangers who become friends.

The Bus Ride

This morning I waited for the bus as usual and even though it was warm outside I took a light jacket with me because I always get cold. So this morning was the same as always, wait on the bus, catch the bus and listen to my music as I wait to arrive at my stop.

This morning as we went along I've started to watch others that ride the bus with me and we are all pretty much the same.

A young man got on the bus at one of the stops and when he sat down he pulled his arms into his shirt because he was cold. Now this new person looked like he could use some help so as we arrived at my stop I cleaned out the pockets of my jacket and as I got off the bus I handed it to him and told him that it would keep his arms warm.

I then told the bus driver to have a nice day and went to work.

I don't know what happened to this young man but I can only hope that he arrived to where ever he was going and that he used the jacket because I know it always kept me warm when I needed it, the only difference is this time someone else needed it more than I did.

Just A Note...

A couple of days ago, I was feeling down for no reason and I didn't know how to get my spirits up again.

So I decided to write to two of my closest friends a little note. I told each of them how much I valued their friendship and that their mere presence always made my day. I thanked them for always being there to support me.

I saw them today and slipped the notes into their bags when they didn't notice.  Later that day, they both came up to me and gave me big hugs. It felt really nice!! =]

Two little notes that took me 5 minutes to write ended up cheering all 3 of us up! Joy comes in small packages.

A Big Piece Of Humble Pie

I ran out of gas less than one block from the local gas station.   While waiting in line to ask if they had a gas can I could use, I was watching the new cashier trainee.  I was judging his appearance and demeanor:  prison tattoos up his neck and down his arms, not making eye contact with the customers nor thanking anyone, insecure about what he was doing...

When my turn came and I asked if they had a gas can.  The  girl training him (who is familiar with me) said, "No, but we have one you can buy."  I like to think that I live in a small town where everyone is able to help one another ... but sometimes not. 

The new cashier, however, looked up at me and said, "I have one in the back of my truck you can use, if you'll bring it back." 

I thanked him profusely.  I was ashamed of how I had been judging and, at the same time, delighted that, once again, the universe had provided me with another  lesson in kindness!

Words Of Kindness

One of the best ways to make someone smile is to give words of appreciation and gratitude. People seem to gravitate to people who can make others feel good.

Have you ever went to visit with someone and before you left they said, "Thank you for coming, I so enjoy your visits." Doesn't that make you feel better. To thank others for a well done job, is also a way of showing kindness.

I like to talk to others and give them a small compliment of thank you and leave a smile card. It doesn't take any extra time, and it makes the world a better place.

Kindness In Grief

A long time ago, I was a waitress in a pancake house that stayed open til midnight. One evening around 11:30, a couple came in. There was no one else in the restaurant, so I started chatting as I poured the coffee. It turns out that the womans mother was in the hospital and it was only a matter of time before she passed. We talked how hard it was to watch a parent die and how we both hoped that she wouldn't be in pain for too much longer. She asked if the restaurant would be open the following evening and I assured her that it would and I would be waiting for them with a hot pot of coffee. For 5 more evenings, they retured. I wouldn't let the cook turn off the grill until they showed up. He wasn't happy about it, but after I told him the ... Read Full Story >>