Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Blind Friend Cleared My Vision

I recently acted as a scribe for blind students, writing during an examination, in one of the less privileged areas.

It was a great experience interacting with my blind friend because I got to learn a lot about my life!

She was happy to have a friendly hand to hold and talk to rather than just a mechanical interaction before and after the exam.  And while I was feeling sad before hand, speaking to my blind friend cleared up my vision too.

Funny, how that works.

Power of Simple Generosity

I used to work in a small department of a company.  Because I use to make everyone smile, I made them feel special on a bad day, celebrated their birthdays, they all felt special and I was often called the "heart" of the department.

When I left after six years, I had the most amazing farewell.  So many people showed up that I was amazed!  BUT most of my friends and collegues were in tears because "no one will be there to listen to their problems or to motivate them anymore."  I had no idea I was even doing that for them.

So since leaving, I have joined this website and I have been sending them inspiring stories from this website and I think they feel better that  "someone" cares. 

I miss being around those people, I miss making them smile ... it was my goal every morning when I woke up -- to make people happy!!!

Pushing Some Snow

Yesterday we had a few inches of snow.  

School was letting out, and I was getting into my  car.

I saw  a teacher just leaving school, and her car was covered with snow.  She was using her bare hands to try and clean off her car.

I had a snow brush in my car, and helped her clean off her car.

:)

Four Sitters and a Baby

I think one of the rarest gifts to be offered is the gift of baby-sitting a child. Recently I had to be alone with my 4 month old baby for a good 18 days. I was weighing different options like taking time-off from work (which was very difficult at that time) and leaving him in a day care system.  I was still undecided when a good friend just jumped in and offered to take care of him while I was at work.  Just like that. What I didn't know was that she herself was flooded with work at that time! And the other thing I didn't know was that by taking care of 'him', she meant 'us'. So we moved lock stok and barrel -- diaper pail and all -- into into her artsy home. And over the next two weeks, she and another good friend cooked and cleaned and ... Read Full Story >>

Ten Dollar Gas For My Cab

I was just starting my duty for the evening shift of driving a cab.  As I pulled into a service station to get gas, I waved at the people, a local musical duet, who were pulling off. When I got ready to gas up, the pump would not work. I went into the store to figure out why and they said that the person ahead of me drove off without paying. "Oh no, I know them, they would not knowingly do that.". The clerk told me that she would reset the pump for me but asked me if I would just give them the names of the people that drove off so she could make a police report. I asked how much was their gas bill, she said it was $10. I gave her a twenty and said that I want $10 in gas for myself and pay the other tab ... Read Full Story >>

Rosie MacKlutz

When working at a retirement  home, I came up with a fun way of celebrating April Fool's Day.

I dressed up as a new admission, and planted myself at the breakfast table with a group of ladies. I misbehaved by flirting, turning up a portable radio, winding up toy false teeth to go across the table and tossing butter to a resident that requested some.I donned a wig, dark sunglasses and put on a thick Irish accent to disguise my voice. No one recognized me.

At the end of my skit, I revealed my identity. The residents had a blast with the whole thing.

You can have fun at no one's expense and in a facility such as the one I worked at, it was important to engage everyone in the fun.

Now 8 years later the skit is still talked about and laughter still  evoked from the residents remaining who still remember that particular April Fool's Day.

Little random acts of kindness

Although the big ones are most memorable, I find little random acts of kindness make me pretty happy as well. Holding doors open for people, listening to a friend when they're having a bad day, providing advice, smiling at someone so that they smile too.  Those are only a few things of a long list we can do everyday. Kindness has no limits! Keep it goin!!

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 >>

All it Takes is Chalk

Today, my friends and I had an early release day at school and got out at about 11:30.

We had decided to try to incorporate random acts of kindness into our lives last Sunday at our meeting for our charity group, Minga.

We brought sidewalk chalk to school and walked for a half hour from school into town writing nice messages on the sidewalk all the way. We came up with quite a few like, "Smile, it's sunny", "Peace", "Have a great day!", Give someone a hug", and "Be happy".

It was so rewarding to see people smile when they saw them and it's thrilling how such a small gesture can really make a difference!

Now, whenever one of us is walking home, we're always going to continue on the tradition!

Sent on a Mission of Kindness

I am in a relationship that has had some hard times.  I don't even know if we will make it.  We both love each other but it seems that everything is going wrong. I tried to have a nice weekend with him only to end up a disaster.  Today we had a big fight and I didn't know what to do.  I know he wanted to get away from me.   Even when he says he didn't.  I was so depressed and sad,  when I looked through my mail.  And there they were -- SMILE CARDS. Reluctantly I took out 5 smile cards and gave them to my man.  I told him go out and use these.  "Do 5 things for 5 people."  He looks at me and asks where I got these from.  "No questions right now.  I know you don't want to be around me right now so go out do 5 ... Read Full Story >>

Just a Routine Grocery Trip

Yesterday evening while at the grocery store I was approached by a young woman. She had the most sincere smile I can remember ever seeing and for some reason she was smiling at me.

I looked behind me just to make sure and yes I was the only other person in the aisle.  As she got close enough,  she said "I was sent to make sure you know God loves you."

I can't lie here.  My first thought was -- 'Oh boy, here comes the pamphlets and preaching'.  But instead she just gave me that amazing smile and said, "Have a blessed night"

That was it.  And she walked away.

I was upset with myself  for automatically assuming the worst "cult" senerio. I didn't even say anything to her. Except a much too late and clumsy ' Ahh.  Thanks'. 

I have been thinking all day what I should have said. I logged on and saw "Because Kindness Is Contagious!"  Thats when I realized it didn't matter what I said if anything as long as I allowed that interaction to change me for the better.

Bridge Toll Bandit Strikes Again

We were on our way to visit my mother-in-law and I paid for the car behind me and left the toll booth attendant with a smile card for him. 

This time, however, the person I paid for actually passed us on the road.  It was a young man (apparantly college student, Saint Mary's) he waved and smiled as he passed. 

It brought joy to my day. 

Gift of a Stone

I work in a very demanding position within the medical community and would absolutely  "crash and burn" without my assistant.  Ellen is an incredible young woman with a very exciting career ahead of her.  She will finish up her thesis this summer and then move to another state to begin her new life.  This will be a very difficult day but none-the-less a day to be celebrated.  In the mean time, I try to let Ellen know just how appreciated she is.  Words are wonderful and meaningful when expressing thoughts so I offer her thanks when I can.  For example, when we are involved in a project and get so busy we forget to take a break I make time to send her a nice little e-mail offering my appreciation. There are other little tokens of kindness provided to Ellen during our time together: the usual lunch, coffee or last ... Read Full Story >>

Difficult Choices Bear Deep Rewards

I think that while some acts of kindness are easy to do or are done in a sort of planned way,  there are other moments that test you. In the face of hunger, suffering and misery, my mind begins to rationalise and justify why I shouldn't be helping.  However, sometimes after the good fight, a sense of compassions wins and I do something.  Otherwise my laziness or fear wins over and I just walk away. Today I faced this kind of choice. I had walked a bit of a distance from my University Campus to my bus stop.  I did not have all that much money to spend and wanted to catch the train which was a cheaper form of transport, after which I would have to change to another train and then a bus.  I also needed to cross two national highways to reach the stop-places with fast cars and huge trucks ... Read Full Story >>

A Beautiful Day

The sun is shinging, birds are singing it feels really good to be alive.

Got a lovely surprize today a box of chocolates and biscuits.

They where from a young couple we know who have a baby  a few months old.

The baby was  quite ill in hospital a few weeks ago and when I visted them they had been sleeping at the hospital and only eating crisps and biscuits.  I gave them £10 to get something to eat and told them to take a few hours break and I would watch the baby.  The hugs and kisses I got when they got back made my day.

Feeling on top of the world I decided to take a housebound neighbour a brighly coloured house plant, I made her a cup and we had a chat.

What a perfect day!

My Manure Angels

We own 15 acres and built a barn and house on it. I have 3 boarders. It's difficult to get good boarders sometimes as a lot of horse people can be quite difficult, but these people are wonderful and kind and very helpful. I had left a note in the feed room (our usual way of communicating since we don't always see each other) that I was thinking of having a "poop picking up party". I like to keep my pasture as free of manure as possible as horses don't like to eat where they potty. I asked if a Sunday would be good. Next morning, they replied yes. Sunday at 10am they said. I responded back, "You don't mean TOMORROW do you?", because I had plans and did not have the money to supply food and drink as I told them I would do. Well, the next morning, I discovered ... Read Full Story >>

The Flower Elves

A couple we know who have fallen on hard times went out of town over the weekend we think to probably regroup and try to re-establish their love for each other so they can weather the adversities they have recently encountered. They are the type of people who will not ask for help and even if it is offered they will not accept it, at least not willingly.

We decided to do something nice for them by doing a quick landscaping job on their entrance walkway. They have a nice paved walkway but on either side it was just bare dirt, not very attractive. We went out and bought some flowers and some red cinders and replanted the walkway and then spread out the cinders for the asthetic look and hopefully to make weeding easier with less weeds able to grow through.

We think it looks great and hope that when they drive in their driveway they wonder if they are at the right house. We feel it is important for them to know that they are special people who have friends who love them.

Who Can I Make Happy Today

March is here, spring just round the corner, crocus are bursting with colour. I visited the charity  table.  All the things I donated last week have gone but instead of just books and records there is a variety of items, tools, garden seeds, even some tins of cat and dog food. This time I donated a pair of gloves, a scarf, a child's toy, a chess set and some paint brushes.  People have a chance to get something they need and get the pleasure of giving. I was so pleased that other people were getting involved I decided to try and do another smiley act. I wandered around - would it be a lone elderly lady or a pleasant shop keeper?  Then I spotted a young man trying to get people to change there gas supply.  People just grunted at him or ignorned him as if he had a cloak of invisibility.  So I ... Read Full Story >>

Insipration From Another Post

I cant seem to find it again but there was a post about a woman who sent her husband out on a date with his mother as a present. He has a great time with his mother and she later died soon after.  It was a special post. I then told my fiance to take his grandmother out for a date. So this past saturday he did. The date wasn't perfect.  They went to one resturant but the line was out the door.  Then went to another but the wait was so long she was getting tired.  It didn't work out exactly as it should have but she was so happy to be out of the house. When I met them in front of the restaurant after my meeting, I made sure to sit in the back seat since she was HIS DATE.  I wasn't going to retire her to the back just because I was ... Read Full Story >>

Pancakes & Praise

Late Saturday morning,  the local IHOP restaurant was a zoo. Our middle-aged waiter stood out in a sea of young co-workers.  He made a passing comment that he had been at it for five hours already - and so I observed him for the rest of the meal.

He was a veritable Whirling Dervish, a blur of motion, carrying heavy, hot platters, stacks and stacks of plates, remembering my request for this or that.

As we were leaving, I went up to him and said, "You know what?  I think you should have a nice day"   and slipped him a tip that exceeded the cost of our meal.  When he unfolded the denomination to see what it was, he smiled and said, "This will help!"

Hats off to all of the minimum-wage wait-staff out there --  hard, hard work for little money - I admire your work ethic!