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Random Acts Of Kindness Day - Feb 17th

A Track Meet Encounter That Inspired An Idea

While attending my 16 year old's high school track meet, I noticed that one of his teammates was running the events in regular sneakers.  So, I asked my son about it later on and he told me that the kid couldn't afford "spikes".  I'm a single mom and being able to afford equipment for sports has been tough at times.  My son and I are very fortunate to have a very supportive family that always pulls together when one of the kids needs something.  It was obvious my son's teammate needed the help of some extended family.  So, my son and I came up with a plan that would allow us to help the kid without embarrassing him.  The next day my son approached his teammate and told the boy that his uncle bought him a pair of spikes that were the wrong size.  My son asked his teammate his size and when he told him it was size eleven, my son said coincidentally ... Read Full Story >>

One Person Stops to Help Out

We had some guests visit us from East Africa -- a 65-year plus father and his 40-year-old daughter were in Mumbai for the father's heart check up.  When they were returning home from the suburbs, their cab got in an accident that caused the father to hit his forehead on the metal dashboard.  Profuse bleeding ensued, and the daughter, in a state of panic, had no idea what to do.  She gave her father a cloth bag to hold against the bleeding and went hunting for another vehicle to take them to a hospital.  Sadly, the people passing by were busy with their lives and did not come to the aid of our guests. Suddenly, an angel seemed to appear out of no where.  Cassandra, a guest relations co-coordinator at a top hotel in Mumbai, helped them not only find another vehicle to get them to the hospital, but also went with them even though she ... Read Full Story >>

Teaching My Daughter Kindness Towards Her Teacher

One year my daughter had a teacher that many children in the school didn't like very much.  I was also in the school and knew both that children did not like her, but I knew she was a good teacher, although demanding.  My daughter came to me asking that I have her placed in another class saying, "All the kids in school hate her, mom. You've got to get me out of there."  I issued a challenge instead and asked her to find out what would happen if she said something nice to the teacher every day.  I told her she find one compliment even if she might have to stretch it and say, "My you have pretty fingernails today. Or what a lovely belt you have."  She was soon laughing as we came up with more ridiculous things she could say.  She really did take my advice seriously and did give her a ... Read Full Story >>

A $5 Kindness Journey from the Harbor Tunnel to Walmart

The other day I was driving through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.  I was about 2 minutes away from the toll, and somehow I managed to get myself in the E-Z pass only lane, and of course I didn’t have an E-Z pass.  I was trying to switch lanes and no-one was letting me through, so I did something very unlike me - I cut the car behind me off, to spare me the E-Z pass ticket that I seemed almost destined to receive. I noticed that the driver of the car I cut off was a maybe late 30s male, who just looked like the world was on his shoulders. As I approached the toll booth, I handed the lady $5, and told her I was paying for the car behind me as well as mine. So the guy gets to the toll booth, and next thing I know, he’s speeding ... Read Full Story >>

A Simple Christmas Gift

Here's a way I stretched a dollar on gift giving at work. I thought it might come in handy for some of you I went to Marshall's (a discount dept. store) and bought a gourmet bag of flavored coffee for $5. Then I went to the dollar store for small velvet bows and also decorative goody bags for $2. I found bags shaped like a snowman that you need to close with a twistie tie....I used the velvet ribbon instead.  I measured out the freshly ground coffee into the snowman bags...enough for an 8 cup coffee pot. I had fancy cut out shaped gift tags and I wrote on them who the coffee was for and also  "White Christmas Coffee - makes 8 cups".  I punched a hole in a Smile Card and slipped it on the gift tag string. They look so cute and I can't wait to hand them ... Read Full Story >>

A Bundle of Used Clothes Put To Good Use

Today I received a large bundle of used clothes, most of them women's, from a friend who collects them from various well-to-do people in his community. Initially I did not know what I was going to with the clothes.

Suddenly I remembered my friend Devi, a  poor widow, and her teenage daughter. They live in  a slum and so I knew they could also share the clothes if the sizes did not fit them.  So I called the daughter as she was leaving her work and arranged to hand the clothes over to her.  She took them home on the bus after work.

It was satisfying to do something useful and I am sure they were happy to receive the free gifts. I hope to continue helping people this way by spending my time and using my contacts. 

It's the small things that matter.

Taxi Cab Compassion

After a somewhat late night on the town celebrating with two friends who had just finished grad school I decided it was time to head on home. So I walked towards the bus stop a little worried that I might already have missed the last bus. It was a Sunday and the buses were few and far between. When I arrived there were still a few people waiting, so I thought perhaps there might be one last bus. After waiting a while I called a friend and asked her to look up a schedule online. Sure enough we had all missed the last bus by about ten minutes. One person insisted another bus was to come so we waited. An hour and a half after arriving at the stop I had had enough. Some people were getting distraught  as it seemed the only way home at that point was to call a cab ... Read Full Story >>

Teaching My Nephew About Smile Cards

I took my nephew Braden out tobogganing and afterwards he asked me to help him shovel the walk, so I agreed and followed him out. I had showed the kids my "Smile Cards" and explained that the idea was to do an anonymous good deed and then leave behind a "Smile Card.” So when Braden and I reached the end of his house I suggested we keep going so he agreed and I explained it to him like this: "Imagine if someone had a bad day at work and there coming home feeling upset, but then they pull into the freshly shovelled drive and walk way. How do you think that would make them feel? And not only that, you get to get some good exercise as an immediate reward." We shovelled for the two driveways north of his house and then left Smile Cards behind and headed back to his house. He said, "Uncle B that was ... Read Full Story >>

Smile Cards And Music On The High Street

It has been raining a lot in my little town, and that can make you feel as if you are carrying a cloud on your head. Today I went to town to get a few bits and pieces and I was surprised by a trio of man playing beautifully trumpets. I have heard all sorst of instruments being played in the high street  but never these ones, and the music was happy and contrasting with the rain. As I walked by, I noticed that they didn't have much money in their box. Something inside of me wanted to give them something more than my change. So I decided to go to the card shop. I bought a thank you card and wrote a few lines saying "thank you for being a ray of sunshine in such a grey morning", in the envelope I also included some change and of course some Smiel ... Read Full Story >>

Buying Ice Cream and Making a Difference

The other day, I decided to come home early because it was such a beautiful day. The kids were outside playing in my apartment complex and the ice cream truck was whistling its tune. As I drove slowly to avoid an accident, I noticed a little boy looking at the ice cream truck. He didn’t get anything and he walked away with a disappointed look on his face. I asked the ice cream guy what happened and he said the little boy had no money. I had no cash on me so I drove to my building and went upstairs to look for some cash. When I found it the ice cream guy was still waiting but the little boy was not.   I went in the direction I thought he might have gone and I saw a woman getting out of her vehicle. I asked her if she had a little boy ... Read Full Story >>

Conduct Your Blooming

"Conduct Your Blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind." Strange message in a stranger place.   I don’t know who said it, but this pronouncement suddenly appeared on a huge wall of the 59th St. subway tunnel connecting the Lexington Avenue trains to the N and R lines. For many months I’d passed the area, which was roped off and covered over with heavy paper - reconstruction in progress. What else is new in NYC! Then one fine day the plastic barrier was cut and the brown paper pulled down.  There, gleaming in vivid colors, was a giant mosaic mural with a great scroll of a message running through it in a waving line that ran up and down from ceiling to floor and back. You probably don’t think of the subway as a provider of uplifting impressions, but those of us who use it every day have got used to ... Read Full Story >>

Found on the NYC Subway

Pay It Forward Day has come and gone, but one New York City metro rider is keeping its spirit alive. The anonymous do-gooder left a sweet note along with a prepaid unlimited metro card for another rider to find, use and pass on. New Yorker Michelle Attardo spotted the card on 2nd Avenue between 88th and 89th and took a photo, which she shared on Instagram. The note reads: Unlimited - good 'til midnight. Use, if you can; leave for someone else when you're done. We love everything about this note, right down to its impeccable semicolon and apostrophe usage. Whoever you are, thanks for making our day -- and someone's night! ... Read Full Story >>

The Shirt Off My Back

Today I had the thrill of giving someone the shirt off my back!  For the past four days I have been participating in a disability arts festival as a member of a choir set up specifically to perform at this festival. Yesterday, after our performance, I was feeling a bit sad thinking that this might be the last time I would sing with this amazing group of people.  I was putting on an oversize, custom-made, raw silk shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons that I have been enjoying wearing when it occurred to me to give the shirt to the first person who said they liked it.  After our performance, as choir members were winding down and changing, the director of the procession said she loved my shirt. So, I happily took if off and gave it to her. She immediately put it on, saying, "Can I give you some money for it?" and "Why ... Read Full Story >>

Nothing Like That Had Happened To Him Before!

I went along with the Kindness Suggestion today and gave someone a surprise treat! 

I stopped at Starbucks, bought a $5 gift card and asked the barista to use it on whoever came in next. 

I was still waiting for my drink when the next customer arrived. The gentleman thanked me so much for the card and said nothing like that had ever happened to him before. He was so thankful! 

He thanked me again as I left, and said, "God bless."

Fruit For A Hungry Man

Walking to the elevated railway I passed a man in a doorway holding a sign asking for money for food. I smiled at him and wished him a good day. 

As I got closer to the train station I saw a man selling fruit. So I bought a bag and walked it back to the hungry man in the doorway. 

I didn't know about this website then. It's just the way I operate. I am deeply grateful for the love, joy, and happiness in my life and I give it back every chance I get. 

Sometimes it's a smile or a compliment but I am always trying to put it out there in return. It's the best!

Cool Water On A Sunny Day

I found myself in the city for work today. On my lunch break I decided to walk around the public gardens.  It was one of those unusually warm September days, 90+ degrees and humid, but it felt good after being in the air-conditioning all morning. That is until I walked past two individuals, sweaty and asleep, on a park bench together. What appeared to be all their belongings were in a few bags scattered around them.  I continued walking but kept thinking about the pair on the bench. So, I went to Starbucks and purchased five bottles of cold water. Then I returned to the park. First stop was the couple on the bench. I woke the gentleman up and asked if they were ok. Sleepily, he assured me they were fine, but he gratefully accepted two bottles of water. The third bottle went to a man playing his violin by the remembrance garden. ... Read Full Story >>

Consciousness And Kindness Pay Off

One day I worked a difficult 8 our shift behind the customer service counter at a high-end retailer.  I had decided to make a conscious effort to improve the day of everyone I engaged with. Putting all my problems aside and focusing on spreading joy really alleviated my stress and worry.  Having numerous people tell me they really appreciated me felt good. One of my bosses told me it's always good to have my energy around.: )  Consciousness and kindness really do pay off.

Thanks For The Footprint

I went to University in Canada (from UK) for one term and made a really good friend who was from Burkina Faso.

I would otherwise not really have had the chance to meet someone like her. We stayed in touch for a while but as we haven't met since, our contact has fizzled.

So I emailed her today to tell her how glad I was that we met, and to thank her for the footprint she left on my heart.

Thank you, KindSpring for giving me ideas such as these, it's already spreading beautiful moments within, and to others.

21 Day Challenge: A Different Dinner Date

There is a crew of street children I'm friends with, and they hang out [read: routinely beg] right outside the McDonald's across my school. I pass them all the time, but I've never given them food or money, just company. Today, on a whim, I withdrew more money than usual with my scholar's cash card [I just got transportation allowance from the school this September]. Incidentally, the crew was complete when I passed by McDonald's. I wasn't even thinking of Day 1's Challenge, but there you go. God works in mysterious ways!  The kids were indeed surprised and delighted to know that I was actually treating them to a legitimate meal this time. They enjoyed being able to step inside the restaurant [when the security guard would come close, I made it clear that they were with me] and order for themselves. I bought each of them 1-piece Chicken Mcdo, a regular ... Read Full Story >>