Search Results for 'popular' (3455 matches)

A Dollar Can Make a Difference

I was in the lobby of my doctor's office waiting for my appointment. As I was sitting there, an elderly couple came in. The gentleman had trouble breathing and looked as if he was in poor health. As they were checking in at the front desk, I overheard the receptionist say that they were on Medicaid and had an outstanding balance of $1.50. The woman only had 50 cents.

The woman and her husband both looked upset and embarassed. The receptionist said that the balance would need to be paid before they could see the doctor. I was sitting far away from the front desk so I walked up and said that I would pay the remaining  $1.00. They were so thankful and gave me many blesssings.

I always thought $1.00 wasn't enough to help anyone, but I was reminded that day that $1.00 really can make a difference!

Visit To The Lake

I finally got to go with my son to the lake . I tried to go a couple times when my son has work days off but the weather never worked out. Until I just gave it to god . I just put it in his hands and it was a beautiful day. We were around a nice family and I overheard the mom say to her boys ok now remember its Emily's birthday today that's why were here . I got a nice new foot able raft to take with us and packed lunch for us. By the time we got there it was more humid which is what we wanted so the water was great not to hot or cold just right. We tried out our new raft but it didn't seem to hold us up only when you put weight in the middle on your stomach worked. I thought ... Read Full Story >>

A Second Chance To Help

Yesterday I was returning from Boston by bus. My wife was planning to leave work to pick me up from the the bus station. I called her to say not to bother, I would just take the local transit bus to her. This was the first time I had ever ridden the local bus system. While I was sitting on the bus a young woman with a dog got on. She was carrying several bags of heavy books. I noticed the dog was an emergency dog, one that is trained to warn the owner of a possible seizure. I heard the young women mention to someone else that she still had two miles to walk with the heavy books after she got off the bus. I thought maybe I should ask if she wanted a ride but I wasn't sure which stop she was getting off at so I hesitated and  didn't ask. The bus dropped ... Read Full Story >>

Inspirational Sweet Pea Seeds

Handing out seed packets with inspirational sayings on them were HUGE hit at my health club, so I bought some more to label and bring in on Wednesday.

A customer behind me in line at the store asked me what I was doing with so many seed packets, wondering if I had a big garden. I told him that I was going to give them away and inquired whether he had a place to garden. He said yes, he enjoyed growing vegetables. I was glad I had bought vegetable as well as flower seeds this time. I gave him a package of sweet pea seeds and wished him well!

I love sowing these seeds of kindness :)

An Unexpected Gift of Spices from Grenada

Our office's cleaning lady went through a lot of difficulties last year.  At one point, she had even been hospitalized two times.  So prior to Christmas, I bought her a box of cookies covered with chocolate, which I left on my desk with a note for her.  The next day, I got a thank you note from her.  A couple weeks later, I left her some specialty candies with a little note, and the next day, I got another thank you note from her.  Afterward, we continued to go through these routines a few times.  Over the past month, she took vacation to go back home to Grenada.  Two weeks ago, I took my own vacation and just returned to work yesterday.  As I was walking up the stairs feeling kind of sleepy and stressed because I knew I was going to be swamped with work, I walked to my desk and ... Read Full Story >>

Two Packets of Buscuits And Two Smiles

I was at the dollar store the other day and saw an elderly lady picking out things to buy. She kept going back to the Animal Crackers and looking at them. She touched the package a few times before walking on.

I saw that she had mainly household items; paper towels, toilet paper, storage bags, juice, biscuit mix and a couple cans of vegetable soup. I was getting a few things and so I picked up the animal crackers. I usually get some for myself too since they're my favourite.

I got two packets this time.

She was behind me  in line and so I paid for my stuff and whispered to the clerk to slip the cookies in her bag in secret. She kindly put them in a bag before she rang up the ladies stuff so she didnt see what was happening.

As I was leaving I told the lady to have a nice day and she smiled. I heard her say to the clerk that she would get some cookies next time but the clerk said, "You can have them today because the lady ahead of you wanted you to have them for your afternoon tea."

She was happy, I was happy and I know it made her day - all for the price of some crackers! 

A Tribute to My Mother

I've been thinking today (with it being mothers day) that it should be a sad day for me. But it isn't. Not at all. Today I haven't felt sad that my mother is no longer with me, instead I've felt so incredibly grateful and blessed that she once was.

With you or not with you, here or somewhere else, your mother is always your mother and everything she has ever given you will always be carried in your heart. She never leaves you. Her impact on your life is imprinted into your very being and you carry it with you and little bits of her wherever you go.

It reminds me of a quote by Joel Osteen I love ... "The best legacy is not what we leave FOR people but what we leave IN people" And my mother, she left a lot in me.

A Little Girl Remembers A Little Smile

Remembering Not To Hold Back

I was new at church and I knew nobody. I felt lonely the first time.  After heading back home I just said to myself that I was never going there again. Another situation came up and I had to go back to that "unfriendly" church again. I was quite disturbed that night, thinking how it was going to be.

Then I thought, ''Why am I complaining now? Why didn't I make a friendly gesture? Why was I holding back?"  

The next day at the church, I smiled at every possible person I met there. To my surprise, I was showered with smiles and blessings. I gave that wonderful smile and got back too many to take home.

Doing That Little Bit Extra To Help

I volunteer at a Thrift Store.  One day, I saw Linda, a woman who sometimes comes in to the store on the sidewalk with only sneakers on during a very cold winter day.  She has battled with breast cancer and mental illness, leaving her to live in a rooming house.    I was in my warm car, having just returned from shopping with 4 grocery bags in my trunk.  I said to myself, "This isn't right.  I was able to go shopping and keep myself warm.  Linda didn't choose to be mentallly ill or choose to have breast cancer.  I cannot go to my nice warm home without helping her."  So, I pulled my car over, said hello to Linda, and asked her if she'd be there in the next 15 minutes.  She said, "Yes."  I went home, grabbed a nice warm pair of boots and drove back to where I said I'd meet her.  She wasn't there.  ... Read Full Story >>

Being Able to Rely on my Community

My mother's coworker relayed a story to us.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances she was left in the snow, far away from her cabin and friends during a trip to the mountains.  She was lucky because a man on his snow plow at 2 AM (!) found her and took her to the hospital. The hospital first pronounced her dead (she had been in the snow for quite a few hours), but miraculously, they were able to revive her. She's been in the hospital since. When she awoke from her coma, the doctor couldn't assure her sister that she would be entirely the same person as before (e.g. personality), but it seems like her sister will be okay and back to normal soon! My mother's coworker was short on money, and she's in a pinch since she needs to pay for her sister's hospital fees. She came by today to ask if my ... Read Full Story >>

Inspired By The Bravery of My Boss

 My boss has cancer. He was diagnosed a few years ago; he went through treatment and chemotherapy. His cancer went into remission but returned recently. He is now currently having chemotherapy 3 times a week and fighting for his life yet a gain. I’m sharing this because never in my life have I ever seen someone so brave. Every day my boss comes to work with a smile on his face. Many times I can look at him and tell he is having a hard time but you could never tell. Every time I see him I make it a point to stop and ask, “How are you doing today?” I don’t ask as a courteous greeting, but rather out of concern. He can hear it in my voice and know what I mean so he looks back at me and tells me how he is doing. Every time I have asked, ... Read Full Story >>

Casual Kindness

Colleague mentioned how she and her husband had recently celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary, which prompted her to research the meaning of "4." In doing so, discovered that "4" was the number associated with perseverance, which of course is indeed needed to be married 44 years!

Brought her this book that I happened to have about that very quality :). Is one of my favorite books and have given many copies away over the years. Happy to revisit it again myself in the giving.

An Opportunity to Give

After many months of illness, the resulting financial troubles and the love and generosity of dear friends, family members and even strangers that helped me and my children through those difficult times, my life regained balance. On a trip to the grocery store I spotted  a young couple hitchhiking with two puppies. They were obviously tired and discouraged and had made a sign, which simply read, "Just Food." Praying that they would stay, I hurried into the grocery store and bought a bag full of  nutritious foods, puppy chow for the dogs along with items I needed. To my relief they were still there when I came out. I drove up beside them and the young man approached at my beckoning him. I handed him the bag full of groceries, saying, "this is for you..." then the bag of chow, "this is for your puppies", and then a ten dollar bill, "And here's ... Read Full Story >>

My Savior Angel

A year ago, I was a mess!    I was going through one of those phases that every teenager goes through in high school. I had made some new friends who were part of the popular gang of our school. Hanging out with them made me overconfident and feel like I could treat other people in whatever way I wanted.   Also, under the influence of these people, I would make up these unbelievably silly lies to cover up for all my mistakes. And, as you probably know, one lie leads to another and then another, and it keeps going on.    Among my new friends there was one girl who was very kind, compassionate and down to earth. She wouldn't judge people on their looks or their crowd. Since we had friends in common and went to the same classes we ended up hanging out a lot.    I remember being extremely surprised at her honesty. And ... Read Full Story >>

On The Subway

Every morning I take the subway to work. Usually I am still tired and would love to sit. No one ever offers their seat, which is okay. I see advertisements for random acts of kindness on the subway and they touch my heart, but on several occasions I have seen pregnant ladies get on and no one offer them their seat.    Today I got on and a seat was available! So, I sat down. At the next stop a gentleman with a walking disability got on and to my surprise no one moved, so I stood up and offered him my seat. He was grateful.    As we approached his station he tried to get off but people would not move, even after he said excuse me. So I pushed my way through the crowd and tried to help him off the train. But people just didn't seem to care and even with my ... Read Full Story >>

A Craving For Ice Cream

This morning I was running errands and had a sudden urge for an ice cream from McDonald's.   I tried talking myself out of it; I hadn't had lunch yet; I really didn't need it; I already passed McDonald's! But I gave into my craving and turned around.   A homeless man was begging for change at the traffic lights. He looked so tired and defeated. I pulled a couple of dollars out of my wallet and gave them to him. I asked him if he was hungry and he said yes, but that the money I had given him would buy something to eat.   I pulled up to the drive-thru to get my ice cream and decided to go ahead and order him a burger, fries and a coke.    When I handed him the bag I told him I had gotten him some lunch and he stared at me in disbelief. He immediately started ... Read Full Story >>

From An Anonymous Well-Wisher

I just finished writing a Thank You card to a group that helps victims of domestic violence. Inside it I put some gift cards, for supermarkets, coffee shops, etc. 

Coffee Shop Kindness - With Extra Ripples

The other day I was in a popular coffee shop. I got my order and looked around the crowded cafe for a table to sit at.  I asked a woman sitting at a large table if the seat in front of her was available. She said, "No. I'm waiting for a few people." 'Okay,' I thought. 'Fair enough.'   I went on to the next person, a young man who had his coat covering the chair opposite him. I asked if the seat was available and he happily lifted his coat from the chair. I sat there, sharing his table, eating my sandwich and drinking my tea. Then I noticed another young lady walk up to the woman I had talked to. I watched her looking around for any other available seats.    Next to me was another young lady on her phone with an available spot but no chair. I looked around some more ... Read Full Story >>

A Little Bit of Kindness Goes a Long Way