Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A circle of kindness

This weekend I was reminded about how  the workings of the Universe really connect us all!  On Saturday in the late afternoon, I realized I lost my wallet. I returned back to the mall thinking I must have dropped it in the parking lot, so I retraced my steps to look for it.  When I didn't find it there, I started gettting very nervous and went inside to the lost and found to see if someone turned it in.  One of the security officers spent an hour trying to help me figure out where I could have lost it!  We went back to the parking lot and I saw the woman that had parked her car right after mine the first time I was there.  I ran up to her with a smile thinking maybe she had found my wallet.  As I approached her, I saw a smile on her face and then ... Read Full Story >>

1851 Reads

Soldier's Dinner

My mom just got back from a teacher's convention in Nashville Tennessee, and they went to a restaurant where there was this soldier eating dinner all alone. She decided to pay for his meal but when they went to do it, someone had already done it! The waiter said he couldn't believe how many people were willing to pay for a complete stranger's dinner.

Then, on her plane ride home, there was another soldier on the plane and he was headed home to see his family. The flight attendent was talking to him and said that they would like to offer him a free seat in first class!

So it looks like the random acts of kindness are kicking off!!!

1881 Reads

An Open Space

I'm rather new to this and I have yet to officially tag someone with a card :) Yet I'm working up to it. Since joining a week ago, I've noticed a distinct shift in my actions towards others. Last week on the subway, I went out of my way to offer an elderly woman my seat, and the look she gave me was so intense, it made me smile. I've been holding more doors since, and letting more people in front of me.

Dirty dishes have been another glorious opportunity to produce smiles and good vibes.

So just yesterday I was walking by my car which is parked outside of my apartment. While walking by I noticed that my car had some extra space in front of it. Then I saw a car slowly creeping down the street in desperate search of a space and an opportunity to give presented itself :) I grabbed my keys, motioned to the woman in the car and created just enough space for us both to park. Her face lit up and it was clear how grateful she was.

So I realize I'm starting small, yet I just thought I would share these few moments with you all. I hope to add more moments soon.

Talk soon, buddies!

Turtle

1562 Reads

Good deeds = good life

I always want to inspire people to smile, breath, and be happy. Think positive and remember how good it feels to help others.

1349 Reads

Lessons from an old woman on the bus

Last night on my way back from work, I was caught again in a crowded bus where you don't even have space to put your legs on the floor at times. Every person's attention is to the next seat which gets vacant.

It is a like a tight musical chair situation. An old lady with heavy luggage got in this bus. And after some time, somebody offered her a seat. A generous act.

What I saw after this was a display of an unconditional love. This lady kept offering to share her seat with whoever was standing next to her. The seat is meant for 2 people.

An old lady was showing me how easy it is to be kind and generous and what unconditional love is. She was passing her kindness to everyone of us without a smile card in her hand. I felt fortunate to be witnessing this standing behind her. She didn't even knew that she was doing a random act of kindness.

God bless her!

2340 Reads

U2 Tickets

I work in media and often get some pretty great perks in my job. I wanted to share one of them with you - probably one of the hardest acts of kindness I have done yet!!! But it was worth it!!! I was at work yesterday and was about to leave when my supervisor walked into my office and handed me an envelope. She had two tickets to the U2 concert that was playing that night in her hand and said they were mine if I wanted them. I LOVE U2, they are my favourite band, and I quickly said yes very excited about the night ahead of me! Then I wondered who to take with me. My boyfriend is a big fan and would have loved to go, but 2 of my sisters are massive fans and I know they had been trying to get tickets (with no luck). So... ... Read Full Story >>

4461 Reads

The Next Generation of Smiles

I am a teacher and am dedicated to inspiring my students to explore the joys of participating in community and of random acts of kindness. I'd like the children to use the cards in an act of kindness and come back to the classroom to describe that act and the results of the act.

1572 Reads

Kindness Not Just for Humans: Kindness for our Doggy Neighbor

I was just thinking that kindness doesn't need to be restricted to human beings, and maybe can even extend to all of God's creatures. The other day, I was playing soccer with our two puppies and my baby boy in the backyard. And all of the sudden I saw two sad little eyes peering through the neighbor's fence. There was this great, big, golden retriever girl "puppy" who was crying because she was tied up to a chain and usually left by herself in a concrete backyard. It broke my heart. I know the neighbor's are nice people, just a little out of touch with dogs. And then, two ladies on the hill behind us started calling out to the puppy. Hey little puppy. (They could have said hey big puppy, if any of you know how large golden retrievers get in a year). I let them ... Read Full Story >>

1765 Reads

Tagging the Homeschoolers

We homeschool and I think it will be a good lesson for both the kids and the grownups in the house to find a way to make other homeschoolers we meet smile. I think it would be a welcomed ripple to start through the homeschool community.

Homeschoolers often are one income families and with the holidays coming, I think surprise donations to some who are struggling a bit would be a good start:) But I don't want it to be just about money- so some annonymous admiration notes would also be a good ripple to spread. Thanks so much- I love this!! I can't wait to get started!!!

1338 Reads
  • Posted by Susan Jones
  • Nov 12, 2006
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Kindness at a Challenging Time

All of us have co-workers who have trouble being kind. They can be hard to deal with and can make work a nightmare. But do we know why they are like this? Do we know the story behind their actions? I have a coworker who has done all she can to make life hard for those around her. We had a particulary hard week at work this week and she was taking it out on the rest of us. At the beginning I was mad and hurt and was letting her bring me down. Then I stopped and thought to myself. Do I know why she is acting this way? Do I know what goes on behind closed doors or why she does the things she does? I remember my mother telling me that the best way to feel better when you have been hurt is to be kind towards ... Read Full Story >>

1541 Reads

An Inspiring Comment

I want to use smile cards to secretly touch the lives of those I know and of strangers too, in an inconspicuous way.

1199 Reads

Seek and you shall find

I am a religious sister and newly assigned in Hong Kong. I have been talking to the students about being kind to others and this morning I received a chocolate from a student. I write a note of thanks but I wished I had a card to give along with my note. It has been on my mind for a long time to have a smiley card so I searched the internet to download a smiley picture and I found your website. Thanks be to God! I congratulate you for this simple and yet noble work of kindness. You are surely making a difference in the world.

I am planning to put your smiley poster in my room for the students to see and I might use your stories of kindness in my sessions with them. God bless you all! Sr. Maricris, mnda

1234 Reads
  • Posted by Maricris
  • Nov 11, 2006
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Stress Relief

Someone I work for has two sons I've gotten to know. The oldest is becoming more and more uncommunicative since his parents have split up. I offered to play with the younger son for a few hours on my time so the dad could get some quality time with his older brother.

His busy dad has been highly stressed during this transistion. He agrees that his son could really use an ally right now is so-o-o-o-o grateful for this outreach. I can't seem to get enough time with kids, so everyone is looking forward to this time of relief for everyone.

1189 Reads

Love "Drive-Bys"

I am giving them as part of a birthday gift to a friend. We had discussed doing "love drive-bys", and this is perfect.

1398 Reads

Actions of Love

I have done quite a few acts of love, but I struggle to share them. First because I don't want my ego to take credit for it, and second, English is my second language and I am very aware of my inability to express myself correctly most of the time.
I suffer from chronic back pain due to a bone disease that makes sitting in front of the computer very difficult, but I will try to do this more often.
Last week, I lent my mountain cabin to a young couple to celebrate their anniversary, it was a huge step for me because that place is my sacred land, where I go for peace and quiet. I never had done that before.
At the same time, I took care of my four-month old first grandson so my son and his wife could take a trip away to celebrate.
Those are the things I like to do, to provide others with things that can make their life happier and fuller.

1440 Reads

Niceties in the Nursing Home

I will use these cards to anonymously brighten other's day by random acts of kindness.

I will leave some cards at the nurses station where my Mother is in the nursing home.

1630 Reads

Colours of Light

It's Diwali or the Festival of Lights. During the five days, women draw beautiful images outside their homes with coloured sand, rice and grains (called rangolis) to decorate their homes and welcome the new year and visitors. This year, I took inspiration from a wonderful person I work with who is absolutely amazing at making rangolis. His work is beautiful. I decided after seeing him make so many that I was going to try my hand at rangolis. So I did. Off I went, practicing first outside my home. Loaded with tons of coloured sand, I thought of whose homes I should make rangolis at. Good family friends of ours live in the same city as I. They treat me like a daughter and are my family here. My uncle and aunt as I call them have two sons, no daughters ... Read Full Story >>

1533 Reads

When A Rose Is A Rose Is- More Than A Rose.

A woman on a pavement with an armful of roses-to-sell and a tired expression in her eyes. She is surrounded by people who are very not buying roses tonight. We walk past her, and then walk back. I love flowers, but roses are far from being my favorite flowers. They are too-written about. Too poeticized. Too perfect. But this was not about the roses. We buy ten buds, some tightly wrapped up in themselves, others just starting to open. Give her one, he says, just loud enough so I can hear and she can't. I pull one-long stemmed beauty out of the bunch and give it to her for the pricelessness of a sudden smile. We walk on newly-burdened, one down, nine roses to go. Do we hand them out to random strangers? Or wait to stumble across someone sad-faced and in-need-of-exactly-ten-minus-one roses? No- we decide instead to let the ... Read Full Story >>

4120 Reads

Flowers of Appreciation

I am the advisor for our high schools Fellowship of Christian Athletes and will give one to each student along with a flower and have them pass both out ramdomly to someone they appreciate at our school. I was inspired by the story in this news letter.

1646 Reads

Stress Relief

Someone I work for has two sons I've gotten to know. The oldest is becoming more and more uncommunicative since his parents have split up. I offered to play with the younger son for a few hours on my time so the dad could get some quality time with his older brother. His busy dad has been highly stressed during this transistion. He agrees that his son could really use an ally right now and is extremely grateful for this outreach. I can't seem to get enough time with kids, so everyone is looking forward to this time of relief for everyone.

1423 Reads




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