Smiles
Watching my "baby" who is now a fifth grader take the hand of a kindergartener to walk her to the bathroom during the middle of Sunday mass made me smile. My daughter seems so small to me, but looked so big and confident helping her little friend. I smiled thinking how cute it was that they figured out a way to break up the long mass without getting in trouble too! I love friendships!
- Posted by maryes21
- Mar 30, 2015
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For The Love of Books
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All week I have been sorting through every book we own. Childrens books, recipe books, self help, reference books, novels, them all.
We have so many, too many for one person to enjoy so I've decided to donate the majority of them. Most I will be donating to a book fair that raises money every year by selling used books. But then there are some, some books that touched me deeply and helped me in life in so many ways.
These books I've decided to gift to those that need them. I will leave them along with a note explaining it all in random places such as bus stops and hospitals. Places where people can really use a book. I have also today gone through all our shoes, shoes that we no longer wear but are still wearable to donate and give to those who have no shoes. Books and shoes, such a gift, and something we all have many of yet there are those out there who have none. Giving brings me joy!
- Posted by brindlegirl
- Oct 4, 2015
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Experiment: Success
When I got a random email from his friend in India, I had a realization ... I was in communication with someone on the other side of the planet! The Butterfly Effect proved that a butterfly in California can cause a hurricane in Japan, but this was much more real. I seized the opportunity and told a friend in India: "Hey, can you give $20 to some random person that might need a break. I'll give you the money when we meet next." 'Experiment: Success' was ... well, you find out. Sorry to be so tardy in posting this note about the outcome of your "experiment" in connectedness, action, and compassion. We wound up deviating from the stated ground rules a bit. (In fact, we didn't even recognize that it was your experiment until it was already underway; and if that invalidates it, we'll certainly try again.) But here's the scoop. The folks we stayed with in Ahmedabad were ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by MBJ
- Jan 14, 2006
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A Random Phone Call
I was out late watching a movie with friend in Georgetown. By the time the movie ended it was 2am. We walked to my car which was parked in the lot across the street. When we arrived, I noticed something strange- the doors were unlocked. I took a quick survey of the car's interior and was relieved to find everything intact, except for one thing- my briefcase was gone. After some discussion with my friend over technicalities- "Are you sure you locked the doors?", "Maybe you left it at work," I accepted the bag was gone and that was that. I considered myself incredibly fortunate that nothing valuable was taken or that nothing else in the car was damaged. The next day I got a surprising voicemail from a man that lived in the Georgetown area. He said he had walked his dog in the morning and came across a ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Rav from the East
- Jan 14, 2006
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Comment Collection, May
How did you hear about us? What inspired you? The Fish 95.9 – California --Ariel, in Orange County I recieved the card. I thought it was great way to see people smile. --Dusty, in Missouri Our family dog wandered off this afternoon. We got a phone call from a wonderful woman who lives some distance from us. She had found our Maggie, called her vet - had her vet scan Maggie's back for the chip we had put in her back (she is an ASPCA Rescue) and then called us! Maggie is a pure bred Daushaund and as sweet a dog as there ever was and our three kids would have been lost without her. I told this wonderful woman - and new friend of mine - that she has renewed my faith in the goodness of people. I told her that this random act of kindness would come back to her and tonight ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Hearts Everywhere
- Jan 14, 2006
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Handmade Films
Not a question, just a thought and story about Serendipity: “The gift of finding valuable and agreeable things not sought for.” I fell into something quite beautiful, and completely by accident. I'm not sure why I’m writing you, but I’m practicing being grateful, and I guess I’m grateful that you're out there doing what you do. A friend asked me if I could do anything with hours of home movie footage and pictures she had sitting in a shoe box(I’m an independent filmmaker) so I took it all and made her a little autobiographical sketch of her daughter Fortune. Some other moms saw it, and then I got a paying customer, who wanted me to do one about her two sons. I’ve since done a few more for people. After struggling for years producing and directing my first feature film called awake, I was pretty short for cash. Not only have ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by David
- Jan 25, 2006
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Nine Year Old on a Bus
In order to get to school every morning, I jump on a CTA bus, which drops me off just 5 minutes after I get on. Any one who has ever ridden on a Chicago CTA bus knows the very interesting and unique people a person is able to meet while riding. Today, however, was something quite different. I got on the bus as I normally do. As we approached the next stop, a little girl got on and the bus began to move. With the jump of the bus, the little girl fell forward and I put my arms up to catch her (I was sitting right in the front side of the bus). She got up, smiled at me, said thank you, and proceeded to pay the driver. She was dressed in all pink with a little pink purse to match her ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Anish Parikh
- Jan 26, 2006
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Helping a teacher
Today I was given one of the smile cards by a friend. She said "smile" and ran off. well when I went to class, the teacher became angry with us because we couldn't stop 'disrupting the learning process'. So when he sat at his desk, I went over, and handed him the card and said "you look like you need this right now." As soon as he read it his face lit up and I could tell that he was going to have a better day than the one my class gave him. i'm glad that not all high schoolers are uncaring.
- Posted by Amy
- Jan 29, 2006
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hero work -- give hope
There are so many things out there that people don't understand. Things that are bad and things that are good. One thing that I don't understand is how can a man with millions of dollars stand around in his office while a little child on the same street corner has no place to sleep for the night. Is it really evil, or is it just people? Are people the source of everything good and bad or are there beings out there that control the good and the bad? No one can really know the answer other than knowing that the child might die. Is that it? Are we all just trying to find some way to stop death? Because that is what it all comes down to. But the one thing that can counter any evil is hope. Everyone throws around the word hope as if it were a cliche. ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Arthur
- Feb 6, 2006
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Drive Through Wonder Gal!
Hi, I love your cards and have been thoroughly enjoying "spreading the smile". I frequent the local Hardees on my way to work to pick up breakfast and had gotten to know the girl at the window. One day I pulled up to the drive through to pick up my order and asked how much the persons order was behind me. I explained what I wanted to do, much to her confusion and then delight:-), and we went from there. Ever since, I have begun doing this the morning after every payday or when I have some/any extra cash in my wallet. Sometimes I buy as many breakfasts as I can down the line. The funniest was a police office whom I bought breakfast for. The cashier said he was in shock!!:-) I apologize for writing on such short notice but I am headed to the Peace Corps in 12 days ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Loren Deal
- Feb 14, 2006
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Renew My Faith in Humanity
Next day was Holi, the festival of colors in India. I was sad and wanted to stay in bed, but the boys came downstairs and ambushed us with buckets of water and colored Holi powder. (There are still green and blue handprints on our walls from the struggle). I was even attacked while I was sleeping and woke up with blue dye on my back and my pillowcase. I went to celebrate at MS (I didn't want to bring down everyone else's day) and played with the colors, then water, then mud just like last year. At one point, Anup (who later shamelessly lies and says he had mud in his eyes and didn't know it was me.... ) bodyslams me into the mud while I'm screaming 'Inappropriate!!' ... I forgot about the laptop for a few fun hours. Later that day, when I ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by RS
- Mar 20, 2006
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Surprise Party...
from my friends for my 9th birthday. i could not have a party; so my friends gave me a surprise party. it was so kind of them. they picked the food , friends of ours, place (one of the girls homes); and all chipped in to get me a gift. i thought me and my mom were going to cry. my mom has leukemia
- Posted by Mary Ellen Rush
- Mar 30, 2006
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Dancing with the Seniors
(Not inspired by Dancing with the Stars) A Group activity by the volunteers of BeTheCause.org in Orange County: As I wrapped my arms around this woman of 81 years, I felt right at home. We swayed from side to side, not too fast as the workers of the Center had told me that her bones were fragile. She hadn’t danced for over 20 years, but she remembers that she used to love it. Her skin was soft and warm. She recalls stories to me about how she used to go to all the parties and knew all the latest dance steps. Now, we just move from side to side. Her life is confined to the company of other elders at the senior center, and the workers we pay to take care of our parents. Every now and then they get some entertainment. They play bingo weekly, go for walks, and because of ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Sukh
- Mar 30, 2006
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Church Hats
I was recently at an estate auction. Sometimes in order to get rid of a lot of items quickly, the auctioneer will group a bunch of items together in a lot. There was a box of fancy old church hats in a box with a vintage purse that I wanted. I bid on the lot and won. Even though the hats were interesting and pretty, I didn't really want them. So, I approached another bidder who I had noticed was bidding on boxes of old hats and asked her if she would like the ones that came in my box. She said yes, and I gave them to her. She proceeded to tell me that she was sending all the hats to Tennessee where fancy hats are very popular with the church ladies. She sends them to her sister who sells them at a thrift store so that she is able to buy her cancer medications. I had no idea that was why she was buying the hats, but some one sure knew! I am a nurse and see lots of cancer patients. Her act of kindness really touched my heart.
- Posted by Linda
- Apr 1, 2006
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I Can Help Too?
An aquaintence of mine has been trying to get his 91 year old grand mother to move out of her home, where she lives alone. Both the police and fire department have responded to confused 911 calls, but she doesn't recall making them. She was very reluctant to leave her home of 50 years, and it was difficult to get her to move into a seniors home.
This all changed soon after she moved in.. she helped some lady who was about to fall out of her wheelchair, and it changed her whole perspective, "I could help that old lady!" said the 91 year-old grandmother, and now she is much happier living there.
- Posted by Tom
- Apr 9, 2006
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One A Day
I have 3 little boys and I am going to print out the list of ideas and we are going to pick one thing to do every day of the month ... and then we will start again!
- Posted by Tracy Ellis
- Apr 12, 2006
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Humbled
I am selfish when it comes to my wife Ana. I always seem to want her to dedicate all her spare time to me. A mutual friend, who has coped with severe ulcerative colitis for several years had major surgery last week to remove her large intestine and other affected organs. As I listened to Ana as she talked to our friend on the phone and spoke words of encouragement and hope, I realized how wrong I have been. That Ana's love and caring for others is an answer to their prayers. That Ana is the embodiment and response to prayers of my own: "God Bless so and so and this one or the other..." Ana does while I just prayed. Humbled and thankful for Ana's example of prayer in action. May we all realize that it is thru acts of kindness that we truly do God's bidding.
- Posted by Pedro Romero
- Apr 12, 2006
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Gems of Good Judgment
Dear Smile Cards, First of all, thank you for your continuous efforts to show this materialistic world how to make it a better place - without a great deal of money. I am a Character Education Committee chair at my school, Lufkin Road Middle School in Apex, NC. We got some cards from you a couple of years ago, which helped us improve our climate. As you know teachers are under a lot of stress with the current "No Child Left Behind" and high-stake testing. But, here is an idea I'd like tos hare with you. Every month we celebrate a particular trait, but we know very well that it is a sum of all admirable traits that make a person a good human being. This month students and I have designed a huge treasure chest and gems made of paper, which we found on the Internet and drew ourselves. We put ... Read Full Story >>
- Posted by Mirka Christesen
- Apr 13, 2006
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Smiles & Kleenex
I have to say, before I read any of the stories, I need to get a Kleenex at the ready. Almost every story I read touches me, and tears slip--not the sad tears, but tears of that 'touch'.
I can't wait to get my cards and pass along the smiles. Thank you.
- Posted by Karen
- Apr 29, 2006
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Big Quarters
Whenever I pass by an Elementary schoolyard, I pull any loose coins (especially Quarters) that I have in my pocket and pitch them over the fence, by the swing sets or sliding boards. As a small child it was a thrill to me to find a lost coin laying on the ground, (especially something as BIG as a Quarter!) and I enjoy the idea that I'm passing that excitement on to another small child.
- Posted by Anon
- May 2, 2006
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