Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Healing Effects of Crocheting

I gave envelopes with smile stones twice this week; For the first, I asked a cashier to pass it to the person after me in line after I left. I gave the second one at the drive-thru window for the guy working there who seemed stressed.

This morning I finished a 'Healing Shawl' that I made for a friend who lost her mom among other tough luck this fall.  That won't be anonymous but it's still a beautiful thing.  I learned to crochet by making this shawl.  It's enormous, LOL  Each stitch has love and prayers for healing sewn in, it just has a lovely energy.  And I learned so much (not just crochet) and received so much by making it.  I recommend it to every one.

1459 Reads

A Reflection of Hope

On Thursday, I was in the town when I met a young homless guy. He looked so cold and ill - he was begging for money. I said I would not give him money but I would take him for food. He asked, "Will you come with me?" I said "Yes." We went to a local coffee shop where he had hot food and we talked. He told me his name was Steven. He had had a bad drug habit and was trying to get his life back. He dropped out of school and moved from his home town because of peer pressure. He knew if he stayed he would be back on drugs. I said I will help him find somwhere to stay and we set off but before that I took him to the charity shop and bought him a warm jacket. I wanted to take him to a ... Read Full Story >>

1760 Reads

Ripples of Light

I have been going through a difficult patch recently and a friend told me this story when we spoke one evening. I am sharing the story with you because it gave me a little bit of hope when I was in need of a positive perspective. I hope that the ripples of this lovely story give you some hope if you need it too. He said that he was standing at the entrance of his building that evening, on his way home from work. He was talking to the building porter, when an old couple entered to go towards their flat. They stopped to talk to the porter and since my friend was standing there too, he overheard their conversation. Earlier in the day, the old couple was trying to stop a taxi to take them somewhere. The old man was severely handicapped and could barely walk without any assistance. A taxi ... Read Full Story >>

5895 Reads

Spreading the Love

I sent one of my friends the link to our helpothers website and asked her to join it. And guess what she wrote in return.

"Hi darling, I joined! It is strange I have just had a cortisone injection in my hip... and boy oh boy was it painful. But this morning after doing my prayers I decided to find something good in everything and be happy and smile. Life is too short to be sad, and you send me this site that's God showing me I was correct in my prayers, thoughts, and hopes."

A simple thing like forwarding this website link can be so lovely. I am going to send more to few of my online friends.

1677 Reads

Some Small But Nice Things

I'm wondering about the little things. Big things, too, but I also hope that the little things aren't overlooked. In this case I'm wondering about examples of people being helpful or nice. What are some recent things that people have done for you that were nice or helpful, without any prompting on your part? What are some recent things you've gone out of your way to do to be nice or helpful to someone? For example, yesterday my friend John Carnahan dropped by and. knowing that Lise and I like history, gave us a booklet from the 1800's that describes Brattleboro and businesses located here at the time. (It's great and I'll be quoting from it soon, I'm sure). That was both nice and helpful. Others have done similar things. Have I been nice or helpful lately? Let's see... I'm about to help someone move, that probably counts for something. I volunteer a lot of ... Read Full Story >>

1470 Reads
  • Posted by cgrotke
  • Oct 31, 2006
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Kindness Chain-Gifting Experiment #2

"J" is a brilliant musician who fell from his rising star as a world famous rockstar when he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.  Now a mute quadriplegic on a respirator with only the movement of his eyes and thumb left, he's far outlived the 3 years of life they gave him more than a dozen years ago.  Releasing 4 albums since being disabled, his musical genius has been amply revealed as he composes Mozart-like symphonies and other pieces (replayed in premiere venues by other famous musicians), painstakingly, one note at a time. "D" is long-time friend of "J" and has bought 200 copies of "J"'s last CD to support him and his work. "D" believes its "J"'s deep spirituality, and his love of music that keeps him alive.  I invite "D" over for a homemade lunch of gourmet tostadas, and purchase 2 copies of "J"'s CD from him, hoping to have done something small for both ... Read Full Story >>

1785 Reads

Call Centers Hear the Call

I work in a call center and we listen to customer complaints all day long. In order to promote team morale and just brighten someone's day we recently started a simliar program. We have put little envelopes on each other's desks and are leaving little anonymous messages for each other. These cards go right along with it and I would love to be able to pass the cards around.

1277 Reads

Kindness at Work

A few weeks ago I delivered several stuffed 'happy' flowers to several women at work (Toys R Us). I also attached Smile cards to each and every one. I know some people have taken it to heart, as I've heard about 2 other kind acts snowballing off that one.

Of course, I got accused of doing it, but I denied it completely. I wanted them to always wonder who it was, and hopefully they'll pay it forward.

1600 Reads

Simple acts of kindness

I work at a school, and one of the teachers volunteered to paint the playground early in the morning. She didn't expect to be out there all by herself. I took a cold soda and walked it outside over to her and gave her the drink with one of the smile cards. She told me later that it made her day.

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Sorority Sistas Bringin' in the Smiles

I would like to encourage my sorority to participate in a week of spreading random acts of kindness.

1630 Reads

A school full of smiles

Student Coucil members of my 5th/6th grade class came back from a regional conference excited about this game. They presented it to the class and the class voted overwhelmingly to do this game. Each of my students will carry one of these cards and give it to someone they wish to cheer up and see smile. They will explain it to the new person. We are anxious to see how long it take before it permiates throughout the school and begins comming back to us.

1367 Reads

Supporting a Collegue-#2

In my last story, I spoke about a colleague who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I decided to continue focusing on her -- she is an amazing yoga teacher and while I was at the Elephant Pharmacy I saw a yoga shirt which states "all life is an endless journey for all the right angles."  I gave it to her this week and she loved it!

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Kindness is Everywhere!

Since one week of having had Smile Cards perpetually in my wallet, I've found that I realized something about doing random acts of kindness: it's everywhere.

These days, as I walk around, I look for the random things I can do to make someone else's day; the opportunity to put down a Smile Card in hopes it perpetuates. So many things happen that aren't necessarily Smile Card opportunities, but rather just a chance to be nice.

Yesterday I helped someone with a large cart behind them enter one of the classroom buildings and picked up some papers an elderly man had dropped and was having trouble getting. These may be small acts, but now that I see them and recognize them as those acts of kindness, it comes to mind that I'm sure the person with the cart was wondering how they'd get inside and the elderly man would have gone through a lot of pain trying to retrieve those papers. Yet a few minutes out of my day helped them, and now I walk around with a bigger smile. It's a win-win situation.

1708 Reads

Kindness Chain-Gifting Experiment #1

"A" is a struggling, but brilliant, cookbook author in rural Washington.  "M" is his friend in Brooklyn, New York, who financed the cost of publishing the first edition "A's" cookbook. I secretly purchased 10 copies of "A's" book --  my gift to "A" as well as to "M". "L" is a former personal chef now working for a natural foods start-up in Austin, Texas.  The kind of gal who not only would enjoy "A's" cookbook, but whose active use of it at dinner parties and events would effectively sell many more cookbooks as the guests inquired about these innovative and refreshing recipes.  Both "A" and "L" benefit tremendously by "L" getting "A's" book, sooo... ...I drop one copy off (and some mail-money!) with "P", a retired software engineer and budding artist, in Seattle, WA.  "P"'s assignment is to send "A's" book to "L" along with a smile card and anonymous note encouraging her to pay-it-forward. As part of the chain, "P" gets ... Read Full Story >>

2176 Reads

Small Things to Make Someone's Day

My very close friend is pregnant and right now she has taken off from work and has been at home for the past week.

So I decided to make her day by buying 4 roses for her which is her Favorite flower, an ayurvedic health drink, and few other things. Most importantly, I gave her a photo of her spiritual teacher. She was thinking of him very much that morning. I spent some quality time with her talking and chit-chatting.

I gave one of my dresses to the girl who helps her out at home with household chores. She was very happy too. Sometimes we take people who are very close to us for granted. But small things like these can make their day.

Let's not forget everyone is waiting to be loved.

1289 Reads

Small Act in Big City

I was in Chicago visiting my brother. We were on the train and it was starting to get crowded. A young mother came on with her young child. Almost immediatly, the guy I was standing next too, stood up and made sure that she got his seat. When he looked at me, I smiled and I could tell that he felt good about his act and that it was noticed.

1495 Reads

Serendipity With a Camera Woman

Recently my wife and I were in Maui, and we went to enjoy one of its gorgeous sunsets by the beach. While sitting there a nice lady saw us and asked, "Do you have a camera?". I replied, "Yeah", and then she offered to take a picture of us. So we stood up, got into our 'standard' arm around each other pose. Then she asked us to lie down on the ground to make the shot more interesting, and asked how to set the manual flash on my camera. My wife asked her if she was a photographer, and she replied, "Yes, but I don't have any jobs tonight."

She took some great photos of us, far better than the cheesy ones that we normally take. We thanked her, and she then walked off and asked the next group nearby if they had a camera. What a nice thing to do!

3345 Reads

Divine Dancing

During our weekly spiritual get together, the instructor surprised us with a wonderful game this time.

Music was played and everyone had to chose a partner for them and then help them dance to the tune of the music. If they didn't know how to dance, you had to teach them to dance. And at the end of it we had to praise our partner genuinely for whatever she or he did.

It was such a beautiful exercise to dance with someone holding hands and then see the divinity in them and praise them for it. Praising someone brings out the divine quality in not just them but in us too.

Few steps of dancing and everyone was smiling bright.

1362 Reads

Happy Kids

My husband always puts his extra change in the candy and toy machines, as we are leaving a department store. It's always a joy to see the little ones eyes light up when they walk over to the machines and see that it's already been paid for.

1309 Reads
  • Posted by buddhagirl
  • Oct 23, 2006
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An Inspiring Comment

With a mentorship program for children impacted by domestic violence -- part of our program is designed to inspire them to serve others in their own lives!

1494 Reads