Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Today I went to spend time with my grandma. She is bedridden and doesn't leave her house often. She was very happy to see me. We talked about my brother's engagement, my cousins, my current job search and her current frustrations with her caretaker.

I tried my best to do what I could to help her by talking to my dad about her frustrations and by helping her reheat her milk. I haven't seen her for about a month, and it's easy for me to sulk over my own problems and forget about hers. I will make more of an effort to visit her in the future.

Last week, I donated to my friend's bike ride fundraiser. She is technically one of my supervisors at work, but I consider her my friend and mentor. She is biking 250+ miles along the Central Coast of California to raise money for the transportation climate justice nonprofit we work for. She has always been an advocate for me in my career and wanted to make sure I gave back to her in some way.

I recently read The Alchemist, and I feel re-energized about life. As a recent graduate, I along with many of peers are feeling a lot of anxiety about our future and whether we are making the right decisions. After reading, I felt more reassured that my current decisions are taking me on the right path.

When I met up with my friend who was immobilized by her indecision, I reminded her of this book, and we were comforted by the book and its message that the world will conspire to give you what you want and that taking risks may include some setbacks but also includes a greater understanding of people and the world. More importantly, we agreed that the more we feel good about ourselves the more we can spread happiness to those around us and through our jobs.

I moved back in with my parents after graduating, and I have been feeling spoiled and very taken cared of by my parents in both a good way and a bad way. My mom won’t accept my money or rent because I am working part-time, so I contributed in other ways by washing dishes and cleaning the bathroom and doing other chores unexpectedly.

It’s very easy for me to take and not give back. Even though my mom always volunteers to do chores, I know she appreciates it when I help her with small tasks or when people clean up without her having to prompt them to show that we all care.

I am a regular transit rider and a big advocate of cleaner substitutes for driving alone. Where possible, I will use bike share or take transit which takes longer than call a Lyft or ask for a ride from my family but significantly better for the environment.

Last week, I was walking back from a work event when I was approached by a man on the street who was promoting a music album that he and students at this extracurricular program produced. I am always a little skeptical of people selling things to me on the street or a stranger asking me for money.

He explained that this program gives students a place to go to afterschool and that any donation would help the program. I did ask a few more questions about the program to know more, but I decided to trust my gut and I gave him the few dollars I had in my wallet. He hugged me and thanked me and he said I really hope you listen to the CD.

- have yet to do this, but I just signed up to volunteer at a girls’ STEM camp in Oakland the week of July 15. This a group I previously volunteered with during grad school. I care deeply about youth career development, especially among girls of color and in STEM fields. I plan to volunteer a few hours during the week to help set up, clean up as well as support the girls on the research projects.