The Challenges Of Travelling With Children
or my birthday, Julie booked a coach trip to Liverpool. It's where I went to college thirty years ago and I hadn't been back since. We had a great time! Watching the passengers embark on the coach as we got ready to head to Liverpool, I was a little dismayed to see a couple get on with two boys, both under five. We were gonna be on the coach for four hours. Would they act up? Or be sick? Or would it just be too boring for them? It turned out they were great! No doubt about it. Travelling like that with two lively little boys would take both parents full attention. And they did seem to work well together. In the hotel (a hotel that was once the pride of the city, now a bit dowdy, but still spectacular!) the parents got through the meals by work
- Posted by wayfarer
- Apr 13, 2009
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A Little Boy's Box Of Savings
their help. They donated money or dresses or rice or medicine or anything which has a longer expiry date. A small boy who was on the way to his school came running to us and asked us to wait there for some time. After 5 minutes he came running to us and handed his small savings box. It was a plastic box in which there were many coins inside. He said he got that little box from his granny as a birthday gift for saving coins. And he wanted it to be donated for the fund. Vow! What a big heart! It was the real greatest offering collected by us. Thank you sweet heart!
- Posted by malli
- Jun 11, 2009
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A Man We Will Never Know
need, so she can take her daughter home." She looked down at her hand with tears in her eyes. As she looked back up to thank him, he was gone. They searched all over the hospital and he was no where to be found. Thanks to the guy that I will never know, me and my mother got to take home that beautiful baby girl that was only given 14 days to live, to celebrate her 12th birthday yesterday. I am grateful to this man and feel that his act of kindness should be shared with everyone.
- Posted by ArmyGrl
- Jun 19, 2009
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Awakening To Kindness
long, hard day for me. I was going back home from work by bus. The stress from work weighed heavily on my mind. A girl was sitting next to me, who I didn't know. She asked me some questions casually and we had a short conversation. She was just a stranger/passer-by I thought to myself and didn't take much interest. After a while, she suddenly handed me some chocolates and said that it was her birthday. I instantly responded with a smile and my heart felt free of the stress that I had been carrying. In a single moment I felt the heaviness of the day transform into lightness of a feather. Her simple act gave me joy even I though I don't particularly enjoy sweets as much. I wished her a long life. I realized that even small acts can make a person feel happy. I can't remember
- Posted by malli
- Aug 2, 2009
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Fourth In Line At The Grocery Store
sudden the lines are long? I saw one that wasn't too long and quickly jumped into it. I started loading up my things onto the belt. I had a ton of groceries. As I was loading, I happened to look behind me and saw an elderly couple with a few toys. I told them that they could go ahead of me. They couldn't thank me enough because they were on their way to their great grandchild's birthday party. As I continued to unload my groceries onto the belt I heard someone ask, "Miss, would you mind if I went ahead of you also?" I took a deep breath and said "Sure, you can go ahead of me". I smiled and thought to myself "if he asked he must have to be getting home for some reason." I'd almost unloaded all of my groceries onto the bel
- Posted by AURELIA
- Aug 29, 2009
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When A Hug Is Just What's Needed
was on a flight to New York with my two sons. Having been through many hard years as a single parent, I had promised us a trip to NY on my 40th birthday and my eldest son's 21st & my younger son's 18th!! There we were on our way. As I came out of the restroom on the plane, I noticed a woman (probably in her mid-30s) standing and sobbing. People, including the flight attendents, were just walking past her. I got up, walked back to her and said, "I don't know what's wrong, but can I give you a hug?" The woman held on to me like a long lost relative and cried for at least 5 minutes. She just sobbed and sobbed. I did nothing but hold her and gently stroke her back. After she had calmed down, she said thanks
- Posted by Sands
- Oct 23, 2009
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Beyond The Call Of Duty
have learnt in my work and travels: often the people with the least to give are the most generous. Whether writing about efforts to help flood victims in the US Midwest or the homeless in Washington DC, I have marvelled at how the spirit the maid exhibited comes out in the worst of situations. A few months after the alarm clock generosity, I returned to my hotel room to find a hand-made birthday card signed by Agnes. I wondered for a few minutes how she knew, but then guessed (correctly, as it turned out) that she had come across my passport while cleaning and made note of when I was born. A cynic would say that she was doing this just to get another tip. I prefer to believe she was simply being kind – one human being connecting with another. When I think ba
- Posted by RP
- Nov 7, 2009
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Finding Any Opportunity To Be Helpful
oday at work I was in the kitchen preparing some food for the 'Birthday Luncheon'. I had a busy morning running around but once everything was in the oven I had a few spare moments whilst it was baking. I decided to go to the administration office and see if I could help them with anything while I was waiting – I know they had been very busy. Sure enough, they needed help folding letters and stuffing them into envelopes. I sat down and starting folding away. I was quite amazed at how many letters I had folded and stuffed before the oven timer rang telling me the food was ready. The ladies were very appreciative to me for helping them get their boring job done more quickly. It didn’t feel like a boring job to me, it felt gr
- Posted by Aurelia
- Jan 22, 2010
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80 Rupees Of Kindness Goes A Long Way
talk to his girlfriend standing right in front of him. As I approached, I thought that certainly this guy wouldn't take the ice cream or smile. He did, and so did his girlfriend, though neither accepted the cone. The theater attendant got one of my cones, and so did the street kid loitering around the posh shoppers. A fat man surprisingly rejected the cone and wished me happy birthday when I told him I just got married :-) In less than 10 minutes, we burned through 100 rupees. Turns out my enthusiastic cousin ate two cones himself, spending only Rs. 30 on strangers. The lukewarm cousin never got up the nerve to try himself. A random older uncle off the street walks up smiling. "Why were you giving out these ice creams only," he ask
- Posted by twocents
- Feb 1, 2010
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Paying Forward A Bunch Of Flowers To Make An Old Lady's
was in line at the grocery store. There was a cute little old lady in front of me. She showed me the birthday card she was buying for a friend. She was so thrilled with it because it could light up. As we moved up in the line, she saw the bouqet of flowers I had put on the counter. She went on and on about my flowers. She kept smiling and was so sweet. She paid for her card and walked out of the store slowly. I told the register lady I would be right back. The buckets of flowers were right by my register line. I grabbed a bunch and paid for them. I caught the lady before she was out of the door. She couldn't believe it. She was so thankful. I finished paying and was walking out to my car and the s
- Posted by debbiemarwitz
- Mar 28, 2010
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A Street Party That Brings A Community Closer
walking through the nieghbouring streets to join us. Everyone brought food, drink, chairs and tables to share and the weather although forecast as rain and wind was the hottest day this year. All day the BBC was broadcasting party music from the big party being held in Trafalgar Square which we listened and danced to in gusto. All day cars were stopping and asking me'Whats going on? Who is having a birthday?' I explained that it was a street party, to celebrate friendship and community, and invited everyone I saw to join us. Quite a few people parked their cars and came along to join in the fun! I cannot describe the impact that it has had on the nieghbourhood, we now see people from almost five streets away popping over to say hello and a Close around the corner has organised a
- Posted by EnglishRose
- Apr 4, 2010
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Flip Flop Kindness For A Colleague
hings at my work are really good these days which is much better than they were last month. One of my co-workers was giving me the silent treatment but that's all forgotten and forgiven now. This weekend my fiancé took me shopping for my birthday. We went to several stores. At one store I found the cutest little flip flop bird house. The coworker who I have forgiven for the silent treatment (previously mentioned) LOVES flip flops. I think of her every time I see them. I just had to pick it up for her. I wasn't sure when I was going to give it to her (I was flipping back and forth) but in the end I decided to. "What are you waiting for?" I asked myself, so I gave them to her today. (This
- Posted by iferlamb
- Apr 23, 2010
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A Chocolate Treat For Grocery Store Patience
those monster tantrums a young child throws in the middle of the grocery store - in this case it was happening in the checkout aisle next to me. A harried mom was trying to buy her groceries whilst one of daughters was grabbing at her legs/ankles and howling. She resembled a sprawling blob rather than a beautiful little girl she was. In fact, it was the little girl's birthday (and apparently it was all too much for her at the end of this long day!). The store clerks offered balloons and stickers, but it was all on deaf ears --- this little girl was having none of it. I felt bad for the mom, I offered a sympathetic smile and tried to engage with the child to no avail. After they left the store the checkout clerk commented "poor woman!&
- Posted by cabbage
- Jun 11, 2010
- 3 Comments
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Joy From A Gift Card
previously signed up with my local mall to fill out email surveys. Recently, the mall sent me an email saying it would give me a free gift card if I printed the email and brought it to the mall at a certain date and time. When I arrived, a young girl ahead of me was attempting to obtain her gift card, but they realized she had to be 18 years old, and her birthday wasn't for two more weeks. I felt really bad for her, but she was polite, though obviously disappointed. I took note of the direction she headed, and after receiving my card, I headed that way. I saw her entering a store, so I walked up to her and handed her my card. At first she turned down my gift, saying that I did not need to do that…but I just smiled and said "happy holidays&
- Posted by myfbil
- Jun 24, 2010
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When You Don't Need A "Thank You"
his past Saturday I was with my family at an indoor arcade/play place for a child's birthday party. My six year old son and a boy he didn't know were playing an arcade game where they shoot water at a target. At the end of the game the machine is supposed to spit out paper tickets which the kids can then redeem for prizes. After they had finished playing, for some reason the other boy didn't get any tickets at the end of the game. Maybe the machine was out of paper? My son instinctively took his and gave half of them to the other boy. I was a little disappointed the other boy didn't even say "thank you", but I knew my son didn't need to hear it. He was just doing what he thought was the right thing, and I am so proud of him!
- Posted by mizzzim
- Sep 20, 2010
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Facebook Kindness Saves A Family
ou join Facebook and " friend" your old classmates. You might not ever talk about anything serious with them but they are there. You read their status, laugh at their jokes, groan at the corny quotes, or wish them a happy birthday. Until last week, that is.... A classmate from twenty years ago was one of my Facebook friends. A few random comments he made gave me the impression that something was wrong so I prodded him to call me. He did call and I found out that that he, his wife and eight children had just moved into a cheap motel room. He had used the very last of their money to pay for a week's stay there. He had no job and they had lost their home. What do you do in a situation like that? I am just me, with my own family, my own worries,
- Posted by heavensblessing
- Sep 28, 2010
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30 For 30: A Birthday Wish
heck out the video below, from a HelpOthers member ... If you're so moved to support Hywy's 30th b'day by doing a kind act in your community, please leave a comment below about your intention, and it will be sent directly to her -- and wil make her day/year. :) Much love to all of you who make this world a better place, one kind act at a time!
- Posted by HyWy
- Nov 6, 2010
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Paying It Forward With Flowers And Dessert
around. I picked up the bills feeling like this was a universal sign and went home with my flowers knowing that the money had to be used for spreading kindness. After I gave my wife the flowers, I told her I had another surprise and showed her the money. My wife definitely felt like this was a calling since just the other day she mentioned how she wanted to tag a few people for her birthday (30 tags for the big 30). We each took a $20 bill and decided to spread some kindness. The possibilities were endless… excited and ready to start we rushed out the door to go find some folks to tag! First, we headed to a local grocery store to buy flowers and chocolate bars. We bought two bouquets. My wife decided to separate her bouquet and plac
- Posted by Popsicle80
- Feb 1, 2011
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A Snack That Turned Into Balloons
Smile Card tied to each one. (I would have given them out around the parking lot myself, but didn’t quite have the courage to hold 14 smiley faced helium balloons and approach strangers, not with over a hundred colleagues nearby!!) I gave the first one to one of the ladies already shopping in the store to take one. It turned out she had a children’s birthday party to attend the next day which was perfect! The balloon fest did not end there. I found some more Smile Cards and returned to the store when our conference ended. They were also attached to ten more balloons and the lady behind the counter promised to randomly hand out to people buying things in her shop! So that’s my story! A quick insight
- Posted by Spoonerism
- Feb 12, 2011
- 8 Comments
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Gratitude For This Community
concept of the movie and had ideas themselves. It is a breath of fresh air to come here, and read such great stories and ideas of ways to demonstrate kindness. It is also sooo nice to see that there are only positive, encouraging comments afterwards. One of my friends joined here today. I shared two stories I read here: "I wish you Enough" and "10th Birthday, Car Washes, and $62.82" She loved them, so I told her if she loved those stories to come here, that I knew she would love it. And she does =-)
- Posted by erinvictoria
- May 11, 2011
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Teaching My Daughter To Give And Receive With Grace
n the UK in recent years there is a fashion of giving children party bags at birthday parties to thank them for coming. I always found it a waste of money for those who have to buy them and a nightmare for those who receive them because it usually is just a small bag filled with sweets and tiny toys that end up in the vacum cleaner. Four years ago I decided to use the money that would have been spent on party bags on something more useful. I donated teddy bears to children in need. And this year, I donated money to a charity that provides clean water for people in Malawi. It makes me smile to think that 15 people are going to have clean water for 1 year, that wouldn't otherwise have had access. I also sent a package w
- Posted by Bluebell
- May 29, 2011
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Finding My First Smile (Card) This Week
t was a Wednesday night, four days after my grandfathers birthday which he was not able to celebrate since he had died five days before. I was struggling with his death and was acting like he wasn't even gone. In addition to that, I was having a hard time because I was missing my sister who had been living with me until a month ago, before she decided to move in with her father. At first I was okay with the decision because she was a pain but soon after I missed her. This wednesday happened to be the Wednesday when I started a new job and I had been texting my sister about it. She called me a little bit before work and sounded really upset, she said she had gotten off the phone with our grandma and that I needed to call her. I had been avoiding it. I hadn't call
- Posted by misschievious
- Jun 15, 2011
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Good Luck Stones
n New year's day in China, I went to town to book my daughter's birthday party and stopped at the council (they have a lovely coffee shop) for a coffee. The view was lovely and the weather was just perfect a cold winter day but with a lovely blue sky and the sun shining that was warm and almost a promise of Spring. On my way out I left 2 stones with the words "good luck" written on them and some smile cards for people to find. I hope they will put a smile on the face of the person who finds them.
- Posted by Bluebell
- Oct 23, 2011
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Remembering Richard
in to the God-damned trash. I do not want one single ash to remain on this earth that I ever existed. When they asked me if I wanted an obituary, I said 'No, no no!'. I don't want any memory of me left on this earth. Of all my children, I am concerned that one has not ever wanted to contact me or have anything to do with me until now. They have never reached out to me on my birthday or holidays and could give a damn about me. Their sister on the other hand, never forgets; she sent me those flowers over there. I shall call the one when I am able to sit up in a chair and be comfortable. I do not want to lie in this bed and talk to them. Now I don't worry about the boys as much but my oldest, well, he had it the hardest. See, you ha
- Posted by reachnout
- Oct 21, 2011
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When My Daughter Was Born
who kept me company from 16.30 in to 23.00 at night. Due to the shortage of personel, I had to stay with my baby daughter in the corridor of the hospital just outside the bunch of the rooms where women give birth. I can't forget the endless patience and efforts of my friends and family to keep me in good spirits for all those hours. To me, this day is a celebration of my daughter's birthday and a celebration of the most beautiful friendship in times of need. They must have done a fantastic job because I don't remember being bored or annoyed while we waited all those hours! This year I am going to write a thank you letter to each of them for being there for me.
- Posted by Bluebell
- Dec 19, 2011
- 6 Comments
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A Secret Handshake Puts It Right
Yesterday was my step-mom’s birthday. I haven’t been home in a long time so I wanted to stop by the house to see her on this special day. I have been struggling financially so I was dreading the long trip. Gas is so expensive nowadays! Anyway, I filled my tank with gas and set off. I stopped at the shopping mall and found a present. It was the perfect gift and I knew she would love it. But when I got to the cashier my card was declined! I did not have enough money in my account to pay for the gift! So I pondered the issue for a few minutes. I could put it back and get something cheaper, but I knew there was nothing else in the store she would have liked as much. So, I got on my smart-phone and transferred s
- Posted by hasifa
- Feb 7, 2012
- 20 Comments
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Moments Of Pure Joy From My Weekend -
package to my friend's son. He has just started college. I didn't tell his mum I was doing it! Finding exactly what kind of bread someone wanted in the soup kitchen. We give away a lot of donated food items and I remembered that this one lady liked a particular kind of bread. I saved it for her this time and she was touched that I remembered! Throwing a big neighborhood birthday bash for our dear neighbor who just turned 100! Organizing this was so much fun and I loved seeing more than sixty people from our neighborhood come together in our front yard. The adults shared food, good wishes, and memories. Then the kids made their own future memories, playing cricket in our driveway and hockey in the street. It was awesome. Then taking food and cake to s
- Posted by cabbage
- Mar 29, 2012
- 4 Comments
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Kindness As Easy As Apple Pie
At work we have a luncheon each month to celebrate the birthdays of the people who were born that month. We take turns supplying the lunch and desserts. It was not my turn to supply anything for August, but I wanted to contribute. I have a new boss and she is allergic to chocolate. (I know, I wonder how can she live without chocolate in her life?) Anyway, I wanted to make sure that she was able to eat dessert because August was her birthday month and she was new. I stopped at the store and bought an apple pie to add to the dessert menu! Little things mean a lot! I'd say that act of kindness was as easy as pie...
- Posted by Aurelia
- May 8, 2012
- 9 Comments
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Birthday Acts Of Kindness
read a post by Bluebell saying she was going to do some extra random acts of kindness during September, her birth-month. I’m in too! On Saturday I volunteered at a rest home for a few hours. Every Saturday a group of my friends and I go around to the rest home and sit and talk with all the people there. It is amazing at what a difference you can make to someone’s day just by taking the time to sit with someone who is sick and listen to them and talk with them. They love you talking to them and as youth taking a real interest in them. During September, I'm going to go around to the rest home and spend time with the old people every Saturday. I also left a bright and happy thank you card and smile card for the cleaner who comes to clean my room every few day
- Posted by Jacinda
- May 8, 2012
- 6 Comments
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A Cake A Day
I have just realized that this month, on average, I must have baked a cake a day! I love cooking and baking for family, friends and colleagues. There is some kind of magic about cooking for others and it makes my heart smile. Tonight I went to a friend's home to deliver more cakes because it was their birthday. On the way back I was feeling so happy for seeing my friend's face when I gave the cakes. The phrase that just filled my mind was, "How can I serve more?" I had to buy some juice for my husband so I went to the local supermarket. When I was paying I realized the young man in front of me was short of cash for his shopping. So I asked how much he needed and I paid the difference. It felt great to be of assistance!
- Posted by Bluebell
- Sep 10, 2012
- 7 Comments
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