Search Results for 'popular' (3614 matches)

Heart Pillows For Open Heart Patients

This is something that affected me while I was in the hospital for open heart surgery and  made my decision to make things right. Just before my surgery, my doctor's office gave me a video to watch. In that video there were patients and each one had a heart pillow they were using, so of course I figured that I would get one. Right after my surgery, I asked about the heart pillow, and I was told that they took it out of the budget but one could be purchased at the hospital gift shop. My daughter purchased one for me. It was wonderful- it did so much more than for coughing, sneezing or moving wrong. It eventually became my "security blanket" and still is. I even bought and gave out 2 to heart patients I knew- they found it as comforting as I did. Okay, moving ahead- I was upset that ... Read Full Story >>

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.

Inspired To Kindness

I was looking through the "wanted" section of an online advertising website hoping to find someone I could help or send a Smile Card to. 

I found a single mom with five children asking if someone could drop off some firewood so she could keep her children warm through the snow storms we have been having. 

I couldn't drop off firewood but I e-mailed and asked for her mailing address.  I mailed her a gift card to a supermarket in our area and of course enclosed a Smile Card.  I hope it helps!

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 >>

Conversation without Language

My friend Jenny from Germany spent some time traveling in India.  She loved the country so much that she always got pulled to it.   While there, she stayed with Leela, her friend who was Indian.  Aside from the gazes that she got as a foreigner, Jenny always had language problems.  It was so difficult for her to communicate and converse in this new environment and culture that had so many subtle differences from her own country. One day, a strange thing happened.  Along with Leela, she went to visit an orphanage.  All the children there were tiny; each one fell somewhere between the ages of fifteen days to one-and-a-half years old.   After some initial hesitation, Jenny slowly went to the kids and sat beside them.  After some time, one of the kids smiled at her. Her mind relaxed a little, and she immediately was drawn towards that child.  She slowly held ... Read Full Story >>

Thai Community Kindness Saves the Day in a Remote Village!

My husband and I were serving in Peace Corps in a remote village in northern Thailand. There were many challenges and difficulties, particularly around our housing. We moved into our house this past June. Shortly thereafter, while we were away at a Peace Corps training, the owner ripped out all the surrounding banana groves and the lush undergrowth in order to raise the ground level--she had planned on tearing down our house and building a new one after we left.   She brought in literally tons of dirt. This left our house in a kind of moat, and when the heavy rains came, our house flooded. This, needless to say, was upsetting, but it turned into a blessing, because when he became aware of it, the principal at my school got my eighth-grade class to come help clean up. The boys dug into the moat to drain the water, and built a concrete path ... Read Full Story >>

Weekly Groceries With An Extra Portion of Kindness

I did my monthly shopping today.  I went in to a cool room to buy my meat where they sometimes have specials on.  I picked up as much as I thought I could afford.  We have been going through tough times lately and I had saved up $60 for meat.   When the checkout lady rang it all up, the total came to $71.85.

I begun to explain that I would need to put some of the meat back.  She stopped me from reaching into the pile and told me not to worry about the extra amount.  I had taken out the dog bones but she put them back in to some carry bags and just wished me a good day...WOW!

I was so happy and moved by this gesture.  I thanked her before I left. I wish I had had a smile card to give to her.  As soon as I get some more, I will definitely head over and hand her one or two cards with a big thank you smile on my face.  The extra meat will definitely be welcomed. 

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 >>

Just A Little Bit Of Butterscotch

My friend A was dying of breast cancer. We knew it, but we didn't know she would descend so rapidly. Her husband, H, called to tell me she was in the hospital. I spent as much time with them as I could in the next couple of weeks. I held her hand and read her Rumi's poetry until she fell asleep. I swabbed out her mouth with a wet sponge and helped where I could, but my most important contribution was supporting H. This was the second wife H was losing to this horrible disease. He was valiant and selfless, but I could see that he was troubled. H is a very quiet man and isn't prone to complain. I gently probed. Near tears, finally he said, "Well, I just feel so badly that I didn't have the house ready so she could die at home. I didn't expect her to fail ... Read Full Story >>

Trusting in our heart's deeper message

I was away but it did me good to have no internet for a little while. I realized that even if I don't log in to this site, the kindness stories read here keep having an impact on my life. Kindness was always part of my heart, I think it rests inside us from the moment we are conceived. Depending on what we live, kindness takes different forms in every one of us. Some later time in our lives we might learn or realize that If we could read our first thoughts when we meet somebody most people would rather live alone in the heart of a mountain, in a cave. But if we could read our second thoughts we would all look for people's hands, hold them and feel our hearts warm. In second thoughts most usually, kindness is the queen and king. All we need is to allow them a voice. ... Read Full Story >>

Can I Help You?

The other day, I was in line at the grocery store. As I waited, I turned around and found an elderly man in line behind me. I smiled and said "Hi, How ya doing?" He smiled right back at me and politely said he was fine.

I noticed that he had some heavy water jugs and kitty litter in his basket. I asked him if he wanted me to the water jugs up onto the belt so that the cashier could scan them. He said he thought he'd be ok because he didn't think he had to take them out to be scanned and winked at me.

I asked the cashier and she said her scanner most likely would reach into his basket where the items where. The elderly man thanked me for trying to help and said not many people would care about him like I did.

So be on the look out for those in need. No matter how small the good deed may seem...it means alot to those in need.

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 >>

Valerie From Home Depot and My Son's Police Car in His Wheelchair

Submitted on LoveWhatMatters website by Aimee Boyle Mcilroy I’d like to send a huge shout out to Valerie, a manager at Home Depot. I came in tonight to pick up a refrigerator box that she was holding for me. We’re using the box to make my son’s wheelchair into a police car for Halloween. I first knew Valerie was awesome when she got down on the floor to cut the box down for me. She had beautiful nails and I told her that they weren’t meant for a box cutter, and she said that her vest meant that she was made for whatever I needed! After getting the box loaded, Valerie helped us brainstorm and find the other items we would need. We trekked all over that store with our Creative Genius. Then, she took us to the checkout and PAID FOR EVERYTHING HERSELF! I tried to refuse, but she just said that it ... 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.

💧 Offer Water On A Hot Day

🥵 Hot and very humid day here in NYC today….offered cold drink of water to gal who delivered our mail 💧 ….I saw her a few doors down when I happened to look out &.called out to her….she came back to our door 👍

Told her how her new hairdo was so pretty & how good she looked too ….I’m not shy about letting someone know 😉

She walked away with a smile on her face 😊

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.