Search Results for 'popular' (3485 matches)

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

En Route to Ubud

I have been living in Ubud in Bali for the last 9 months, and am really loving it. One of the many things I enjoy about it is that I get to travel without going anywhere, because friends regularly fly in from different parts of the world to visit. When I happen to be the one traveling places, I love being welcomed at the airport, and so I try to do the same for friends whenever I can.   Two days ago, I headed to the airport to pick up a friend who was flying in from Paris to visit for three weeks.  I don't own a car so I hired the services of my friend, Wayan Yoga, a really sweet Balinese driver. Wayan is also my informal Indonesian tutor, so I always look forward to riding with him.  We had a wonderful chat on our way to the airport about what ... Read Full Story >>

More than Money at the Bus Stop

A story a friend shared with me: While going to the office, I found an old man lying by the side of the bus stop. He seemed very sick and poor. Instinctively, I gave him some money. After a few minutes, I realized that he was probably too sick to get up and buy something with that money. I was thinking about how to help him when my bus arrived, halting my brainstorm. I quickly got on and rode off. However, that night I couldn't sleep. I felt very angry at my own heartless and selfish behavior. How could I just walk away from that man without a thought for his suffering? I felt restless and very upset.  The next morning, while waiting at the bus stop, I hoped to run into him again. But he wasn't there. I thought he may have gone to the sidewalk to sleep for the night. I ... Read Full Story >>

A Ride Home In A New Town

  I just moved to a new state and started a new job at a retail store. After the store closes the staff all walk to the car park together for safety purposes.   Yesterday, as we headed for our cars a young woman was waiting on the sidewalk. When asked if she had a ride, she replied, "Yes, I called a taxi."    Everyone started saying things like, "No Way. Cancel that Taxi. One of us can give you a ride," and so on.   We waited as a group and she called to cancel her taxi, then we started to walk to our cars. Nobody said, "Come with Me" and so, finally, she said, "So, I cancelled my taxi. Who's taking me home?"    Being new to the area and it being pitch dark out I was hesitant to offer. So, I waited about ten seconds and then said, "I'll take you."   Funny how everyone was happy to ... Read Full Story >>

Waiting for the Train

Last weekend, I was blessed with an opportunity to serve as a volunteer at a meditation retreat in Maryland.  I don't have a car and the closest Amtrak station is about 30 minutes away from the actual site so I wasn't sure how I would get there....I started thinking that maybe it wouldn't be possible and after a really long week, thought that maybe I shouldn't volunteer at all.  But I went ahead and posted a request for a ride on the ride share board.  A few days later, an individual I had never met replied that he would be able to pick me up and drop me off at the station. He was also planning on serving but said he would wait until my train arrived before driving out there. How kind of this person whom I've never even met, I thought to myself.  My heart warmed and the stress I ... Read Full Story >>

Life Reminders in Traffic

It was a beautiful morning, uncharacteristically warm and sunny for this time of year.  I was in the middle of a hectic day, packed full of activities and errands, with my mind on what I had to do next.  As I drove along a very busy road to my next destination, I noticed a young child wearing a bike helmet walking out from the entrance of an apartment complex on the other side of the street.  The complex was surrounded by woods on both sides and the entrance was obscured by trees and bushes.  I couldn't see beyond the entrance but I hoped that his family was there, just out of sight, about to emerge behind him.  He was young, maybe four years old, and it was a strange sight to see him alone near the busy street, even if just for a little while.  I continued to look behind me but I didn't see anyone else coming out to join him as cars ... Read Full Story >>

Lost Ring Comes Full Circle

I feel that I was blessed by an Angel not long ago. I was out in town with my husband. We live in a small town. Because of the cold, my finger shrunk, causing my anniversary ring to fall off. I didn't notice this until we got home. I became physically ill. I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack. Yes, it is a material item but it is also a very sentimental item. He went out and retraced our steps. I called the stores we were in and no one turned it in. I thought it was gone for sure. Well, at around midnight last night, our dogs went nuts. We have a sunroom that attaches to our home. The door to that is usually locked. Apparently, we left it unlocked. My all-terrain mobility scooter is parked out there. In its basket was a ring box...holding my ring! Along ... Read Full Story >>

The Mumbai Bus Conductor

I use to travel from one crowded part of Mumbai city to another bus in the peak travel hours.  During the forty-five minute journey I couldn't help but notice the conductor doing his job. I saw that he was very diligent and dedicated to his work. After a few days of regular travel on his bus we started sharing smiles. Its very strange to have any interactions with conductors in Mumbai local buses apart from the transaction of buying a travel ticket.  But, something about his way of working always intrigued me.    The more I observed him the more I felt I could learn from him; how he did this seemingly boring job so gracefully. I observed how he controlled annoying passengers on super-crowded buses, young naughty kids traveling on half ticket, and cheats who didn't want to buy tickets.    On the last day of my journeys on this bus I wrote him ... Read Full Story >>

Gems of Support

I belong to a women's group, and I am very grateful for the love, support, laughter and inspiration it provides for me.



Feeling overwhelmed for the women in this group and the space of care that we carve out for each other, I took my jewelry making skills and supplies, and made something special for each woman in my group.

During our group today, a special, anonymous gift will go out to each member, along with a smile card. I'm glad to have the opportunity to let each woman know that they are loved and appreciated, just for being who they are. :)

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 >>

Top Ten Kindness Stories of 2012, Story #10 - 8 Things To Do Every Day That Will Make You Happier

1) Thank someone First thing in the morning, send an email thanking or praising someone. Research shows this can brighten your day.   2) Spend money — on someone else Harvard professor Michael Norton, author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, explains how spending money on other people can generate more happiness than spending on yourself: 3) Give 5 hugs People assigned to give or receive hugs 5 times a day ended up happier than the control group. From Sonja Lyubomirsky’s very interesting book, The How of Happiness: In a one-of-a-kind study, students at Pennsylvania State University were assigned to two groups. The first group was instructed to give or receive a minimum of five hugs per day over the course of four weeks and to record the details. The hugs had to be front-to-front (nonsexual) hugs, using both arms of both participants; however, the length and strength of hug, as well as the placement of hands, were left ... Read Full Story >>

Art with heart...

Last week, I arrived back home to our flat in London from my trip to visit my family in California to find a "mystery package", which someone had left with the porter in our building some time while my husband and I were both away. It was a large envelope with a wooden backing, and a small note on top reading "Deep and Trishna, Enjoy!" As soon as I opened the flap, I discovered a Smile Card attached, and I knew instantly that someone had anonymously reached out to us with an act of kindness. As I reached into the envelope, MUCH to my surprise, I pulled out a sketch by Manohar Devadoss. My heart instantly melted by the idea that someone reached out to us with such a beautiful drawing by a person, whose life has touched mine from the minute I read Pavi's piece on him and his wife. ... Read Full Story >>

Patience is a virtue

Over the Christmas holidays my young boys were driving everyone in the house bonkers with their fighting, usually it's worst just before bedtime. Yesterday, at separate times of the day, I sat with each of my sons and told him "I love you".  A few hours later, I realised those words had been missing from my regular vocalbulary since the holidays started. I felt guilty.

With so much time to do things together, it's inevitable that friction happens.  It was kind of like coming up for air, when I said "I love you". My sons are more affectionate and calmer when they are around me now.  I know it won't last, but if I keep positive, patient and loving, then life will be a lot more peaceful.

Kindness Grows: A Company Experiment

I work for a wonderful company that promotes and encourages civic pride and community involvement.  Recently I suggested an idea to our Division President that he liked and has put the wheels in motion.  We are calling it Kindness Grows and what we did was draw 8 names of employees at an all employee meeting recently.  Those eight people were each given an envelope that contained $150 and a letter instructing them that they had been chosen for a very special assignment.  They were to use all the money to perform an act of kindness for a person or people they have never met before.  They could team up with another team member and combine their money, they could recruit help from co-workers or family members to help come up with ideas and perform and document their acts of kindness to strangers.  They have about a month and a half ... Read Full Story >>

Just A Note...

A couple of days ago, I was feeling down for no reason and I didn't know how to get my spirits up again.

So I decided to write to two of my closest friends a little note. I told each of them how much I valued their friendship and that their mere presence always made my day. I thanked them for always being there to support me.

I saw them today and slipped the notes into their bags when they didn't notice.  Later that day, they both came up to me and gave me big hugs. It felt really nice!! =]

Two little notes that took me 5 minutes to write ended up cheering all 3 of us up! Joy comes in small packages.

While Yet There Is Time

Many years ago when I was in college, I came across this very inspirational poem: While Yet There is Time   The hours slip past, Our moments melt into the eternity behind us Time sweeps us onto a destination from which there is no return. While yet there is time, Look out upon the world, Devour it with your eyes, And if your spirit demands more Add at least one stone to the edifice being built Fill your lungs with the smell of flowers, Let the first cool breath of dawn blow through your hair While yet there is time Let us greet the dawn together, While yet there is time, Love and be loved, Let your thoughts throw light in dark places, Let your lips blossom in a smile. While yet there is time, Let the hand of a friend feel the warmth of your hand, How much we have to do, to create, to express. While yet there is time Graft a slender bough to a mighty tree Do not say I love to ... Read Full Story >>

Making Sure to Thank the Referees

I spent my Saturday at the basketball court watching all three of our kids play their games.  My older two had playoffs as they worked to be in the championship game.  During the third game of the day I commented to my husband that these playoff games were getting a little overly rough and competitive and it was making me nervous. As my son's game continued, the fans around us starting making light-hearted comments about the refs' calls - or lack of.  These were the same ref's my son's team has had all season and I think they are a GREAT pair - which I said often during the game.  The refs had a sense of humor and grinned and nodded as the comments continued to come. It was an intense and physical game and I was cheering loudly!  It was a tight game to the end, but my son's team did end ... Read Full Story >>

The tiny, mud-free space that meant a lot!

I'm in Boulder, Colorado, and am one of the fortunate ones without much flood impact on my home. Today, I went over to a friend's house to help with the cleanup there. The house is less than a block from one of the creeks, and the flash flood broke a basement window, filled the basement up to eight feet, rushed up the stairs to the ground floor, and flooded that floor as well.  A crew of her friends had been pulling up carpet and moving furniture all morning when I arrived. She asked me to help move damaged items out of a back room where carpet was already pulled out, and start getting the layer of chocolaty mud out. With one other helper, I got busy shoveling and scraping; once we got the heavy layer off, I started running the wet vac. There was a three-foot square of tiled floor in front ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Inspired By A Car

As I was parking last weekend in the Los Angeles area, I experienced one of those "I know I'm in the right place at the right time" moments.  I happened to find a space next to a car which had the most inspirational back window I've ever seen.

It said "The fruit of the Spirit is" and then listed all these qualities (but not as a bullet point list; it was quite artistic and fun!)

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

The best part of it was that they were not promoting a business or any particular religion -- it was just the message.

I just happened to have a SmileDeck on me, so I wrote a note saying how inspired I was and then put the note and the SmileDeck under their windshield wiper.