Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Small Gesture On The Train

After spending a lovely day in London with a friend, I was on the 40 min train journey home retracing the day I had just had. 

It was rush hour and the train was crowded but across the isle, I saw a lady looking quite flustered and upset.  I felt very concious as I kept looking over at her and she kept catching me looking. 

In the end, I couldn't help myself and ask, "Are you okay?"  Tears fell down her face and she simply replied "Oh thank you for asking! I am alright. Honestly. I've just had a very bad day, but it is so nice that you took the time to ask and have made me feel a little better knowing there are kind people out there in this world."

It wasnt much of a gesture but I felt I had done a little to ease her pain with my little gesture.

Power of Forgiveness

About 3 weeks ago, the husband of the woman my husband has been having an affair with for the past 2 years came to my home to let me know about the affair.  This affairs was not the reason I thought we were divorcing, because it was not known to me until 3 weeks ago.  The most hurtful thing to know was that my husband brought this man's wife to our home to fool around in our bed!  This she confessed to her husband so that he would forgive her. My husband and I are separated and in the process of a contentious and painful divorce (at least it is painful for me) and the jagged knife of betrayal continues to rip at my heart, this man was a messenger of God.  He did God's work by freeing me from any hope my husband would come back.  This man is playing a role ... Read Full Story >>

Go Raibh Maith Agat (thank You In Irish Gaelic)

I recently spent a few days in Dublin. The highlight of this trip was a visit to Marsh's library. I was feeling a bit down and lonely on this day, but the volunteer working at the library soon put a stop to that.

With just a smile and a few kind words, this library volunteer lifted my spirits and gave me the gift of laughter. He even taught me how to say that most important of words "thank you" in gaelic. He then insisted I take a postcard with me, refusing to take the price of 50 euros for it, and told me to make sure I visit him again when next I'm in Dublin.

We must have spoken for no more than 5 to 10 minutes, but that man turned my week around, putting a spring in my step and a smile on my face. He also made me realise that I don't have to do anything "massive" to make my mark on the world, just showing kindness, humour and smiling at strangers is all it takes to make the world a better place.

Three cheers for kindness! 

Make It A Shay Day!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.  After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:  'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection.  Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.  He cannot understand things as other children do.  Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued.  'I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child' Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.  ... Read Full Story >>

Wooden Necklace From A Dollar Store

One day I went to work wearing this wooden necklace and earring set. One of my colleagues commented on the set and asked me if I would get  the same exact set for her.  "Absolutely," I said.

When I went to the store, I thought of another teacher who might like the set too and another who might like a wooden braclet that I saw.  I took the items to work and gave each of them the item, when I saw them individually.

When I presented the item to each of them, they each wanted to know the cost, and I said it was no cost. It was so amazing to see the smile come to each of their faces when I gave them the item. I smiled too, as it made me feel good to see them smile and to have done something good.

I also learned a valuable lesson that value is not always measured  in how expensive or how much or how little you pay for something -- these wooden items were purchased in a super dollar store.

He Played His Best

This is the story of Robby. He was a young boy who lived with his elderly mother. His mother wanted him to learn how to play the piano because she longed to hear her son play for her. She sent her son to a piano teacher who took Robby in under her guidance. However, there was one small problem because Robby was not musically inclined and therefore was very slow in learning. The teacher did not have much faith in the boy because of his weakness. The mother was very enthusiastic and every week she would send Robby to the teacher. One day Robby stopped attending the piano lessons. The teacher thought that he had given up and in fact she was quite pleased since she did not give much hope to Robby. Not long after, the piano teacher was given the task to organize a piano concert in town. ... Read Full Story >>

If

This is not a story but a very inspirational poem which has helped me through my tough times.. If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream--and not make dreams your master, If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one ... Read Full Story >>

Smile Cards Transform Nigerian Kids!

Finally, It was a good wait. After expecting my smile card for a long time and finally got it, the joy I felt overwhelmed me and I guess that openned me to exactly what to use it for. Where I worship I am a lead teacher in the kids kingdom (the way we call them) and those kids are very special to me. It's a quarterly afair and I was in my last quarter. So I thought to myself after taken this little saints for a whole quarter; teaching, correcting, helping, admonishing and putting them through in life as they grow up to mix with the rest of the world, I thought it wise that since am leaving, let me do something simple but special for them. And so I designed a certificate of honour to each kid according to their areas of strenghts, bought them pencils, chocolates and the smile cards. ... Read Full Story >>

Anonymous Kindness: When Even We Don't Know We Are Being Kind

I read a Sufi Parable recently in a book by Robert Fulghum. It went like this:

A good man was once granted one wish by God. The man said he would like to go about doing good without knowing about it. God granted his wish. And then God decided that it was such a good idea,he would grant that wish to all human beings. And so it has been to this day.

Yesterday my class of 4 years of undergraduate study had a big farewell. Among other things, they gave me a special thanks for being a class representative who has always helped others, without hurting anyone or giving preferences to any one clique/gang of students.

I never knew that anyone even felt that way about me earlier. I came away thinking that although we need to keep at our conscious acts of kindness, very often we also do good without knowing it. 

Be A Bone Marrow Donor!

We recently had a bone marrow drive in our community. I have been an organ donor on my driver's license for years but had not given being a bone marrow donor much thought.

When I told some friends, they were apprehensive about getting their fingers poked with something sharp for the blood draw. I thought a little pain would be worth it if it saved someone's life.

To my surprise you do not get poked in the finger rather you take 4 cotton swabs and you swab the inside of your cheek top and bottom left and right side. This is to avoid any cross contamination by having another swab your mouth. It's fast and painless and you can update your information such as a new address or phone number online at any time.

I would encourage all who have not registered to look into doing so!

Smile Cards Are Helping Me Be Compassionate

I would like to Thank each and every person behind the formation of a great site. I read a couple of stories and am deeply touched and motivated to be compassionate towards kindness activities.

This is the only site where only positivity is flowing and one can really do good things in true sense.

I get stressed out in my daily life bcos of my hectic work schedule. But reading the soulful stories i feel calm and poised and somehow more confident about inner instincts to do things for the betterment of everyone around me.

I'm thankful to this sweet person who tagged me with a smile card at a cafe where I went to.

Keep posting buddies.

A Nurse, a Mother, a Friend...

When I was 16 I entered a program to become a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) it was there I met a wonderful woman.  Her name is Mary Anne.  She is an RN with a Masters degree. I think of her mostly in May.  May because...it is the month of Mothers Day and National Nurses Day.  She is the ultimate of both of these.  Mary Anne is the most understanding of mothers.  She guided her two sons in a loving way and she still found it within herself to guide young people like me. Like a mother bird she extended her wings to enfold me too.   Her loving ways taught me to love deeply.  Many times I lived to emulate her.  She was very close to an angel for/to me.  it was thru her I learned  compassion.  Due to her generosity of spirit I am generous.  I thank her for mothering me.  I thank her ... Read Full Story >>

Helping A Stranger Get Home

A few years ago, I was attending a friend's graduation at the University of Oaklahoma.  While she was giving me a tour of the campus, she stopped by the student travel office to pick up her tickets. 

While we were waiting, I listened in on a student from Australia trying to fix a problem with her itinerary.  The agent told her that it would cost an additional $300 over what she had already paid to get an itinerary that did not include a ten hour overnight layover in LA.  She didn't have the money and I heard her say she would just have to sleep in the airport. 

I walked up and told the clerk to give her the straight itinerary and I'd pay the difference.  The student started to decline, probably wondering why a 41 year old man she didn't know was making the offer.  The friend I was with stepped up and told her she should feel free to take it, that I did this sort of thing all the time and it was a genuine goodwill gesture. 

She thanked me and asked fo my email address.  I gave her my business card and I ended up getting thank you cards from her and her mother.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

I work retail, in a general mixed merchandise store.  Today a regular customer came in, an older European woman.  She buys masses of cookies, chocolates and sweets that she hands out to neighborhood kids, keeps on hand for unknown visitors etc.  Well, while I was ringing up her purchases, the man in line behind her caught my attention.  He slyly indicated that I was to ring his t-shirt in with her purchases and then use his credit card to pay the whole lot.  I did this without saying anything to the woman.  But before the man could leave, I asked if he knew the woman and he said no. After he left, I explained to the woman that this gentleman had just paid for her purchases.  She stammered out, "Why?  Why would he do that?"   He simply said, "God Bless you" and left the store and left her in tears.  She ... Read Full Story >>

A Doll Next to My Brother's Hospital Bed

Recently my brother was admitted into the hospital, for just a sort of routine procedure.  While he was in there for a few days, I stayed with him all day and my parents slept there.  Beside him lay a little girl, almost doll-like, in a sea of sheets ... I couldn't place it but something looked so hopeful about her.  She, too, was a bit of a regular (I later found out) so being at the hospital was probably nothing new to her.  She talked like any child, upbeat and giggly, but she just seemed so old for her age. When I saw her, she looked a bit lonely; her mom had stepped out somewhere and we were in the process of moving into the room. Naturally, I smiled and said, "Hi" out of pure social habit.  At first, I think she was confused but then she warmly smiled back.  ... Read Full Story >>

A Stolen Bike and Help from Strangers

It was a typical winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005: While most people were warming up their cars, my husband got up early to ride his bike the four kilometres to his job at Mr. Lube. When my husband arrived at work, he parked his bike outside the back doors as he usually does. After putting in 10 solid hours of labour, he returned to find his bike was gone–stolen. The bike, a purple kona 18 speed, was our only source of transportation. Trevor used that bike to get to both his jobs, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. But the bike was not only used for work. It was also used to get groceries, saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live. I was so upset that someone would steal his bike that I wrote to ... Read Full Story >>

No Glass Ceiling, Just Blue Sky

Kindness, as Mother Teresa so beautifully said, is the only language that we all understand. We’ve all heard the saying, “What goes around comes around,” and the following true story is a wonderful reminder of how simple acts of kindness can come back to us when we least expect it.   His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.   The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the ... Read Full Story >>

The Power Of A Smile

I was in line to get dinner one day, and for some reason, the pasta line was extremely long. 

As I waited I started looking around, I started watching the girl who was making the pasta.  She was doing everything with a lot of skill, but with no enthusiasm.  Looking at her face, I could tell that there was probably a lot on her mind because she looked so sad, so sullen.

When it was my turn, I gave her my order and for some reason she looked up at me, straight in the eyes.  I smiled and even she couldn't even help smiling just a little bit.  I started talking to her while she was preparing my meal and her face brightened up little by little.  When she was done, she handed me my plate and I smiled to her, saying, "Thank you." 

She looked at me and smiled back - a real smile. 

I'm glad that even though my act of kindness was small, it was able to change so much for one person. :)

Can You Spare A Dime?

When I get a snack out of the vending machine at work, I always leave the change in the cup.  It makes the next person feel like it's their lucky day.

The machine is in a common area accessible to kids, and when they find the change they get really excited!

Adds a little bit of unexpected joy to people's lives.

My Second Chance To Be a Parent

On April 28 2001, my youngest sister was killed in a random drive by shooting.  Her 3 youngest sons went to live with my surviving sister but were never happy there; I wanted to gain the gaurdianship options from my sister but didn't want to risk fracturing our family even more. A couple of weekends ago, though, my sister called and said the boys (17 yrs & 15 yrs) could no longer live with her and that their only options was either foster care or living with me.  There is no way I was going to miss this chance.  Still, my nephews were accustomed to living in the big city and I live in a suburb, 45 minutes from the city and I knew that convincing them was going to take some negotiating.  But I did it. Today, they have been with me going on two weeks and they are more relaxed.  ... Read Full Story >>