Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Grandma's Ice-Cream

My mother and grandmother were incredibly generous, giving, and loving people.  I think that love and giving go hand in hand.

I remember when I was a little girl there were children over playing at my house. We were out in the yard and there used to be ice cream trucks and their bell would be ringing, calling in the children everywhere, the ice cream man is here! I went running back in the house. I guess ice cream was probably about a nickel, and there were fifteen children on my front porch. There were always a lot of children around there.

My grandmother would give everybody a nickel to go buy ice cream, and if she did not have enough nickels for all the children, then I didn’t get an ice cream either.

Warmth of a 30 days old baby!!!!

One month back, my very close friend was delighted to deliver a girl and boy TWINS. She was a little worried before her delivery as to how things were going to turn up at the end.  How was she going to manage twins?  But after all, she is a mother. After the first look at her newborn babies, all her worry went down the drain.  Last night, I happened to visit my friend. And the best gift of the evening was to hold the boy in my arms for more than 60 minutes. He was completely wrapped in a warm cloth and his tiny hands and legs were tucked inside the woolen piece of cloth. I kept looking at him. Slowly he went to sleep. But the most amazing thing was to watch him. He had a beautiful smile on his face. I could only look at the baby when I held him. We all have been ... Read Full Story >>

Best Looking Yard in Town

My husband and I own a lawn care company and so many times we would pass this house that was very unkept as far as the lawn was concerned. Last week, we decided to stop in and see if we could help.  Nobody would come to the door for the longest time.  Finally, a little old lady came to the door, very reluctant to open the door.  We explained to her that we did not want to harm her in anyway.  After a few minutes of talking we asked her if we could cut her grass for her?  She was quick to answer, "I cannot pay for my grass to be cut, my sister is living with me dying of cancer and it takes everything we make combined to pay for her medicines etc."  We had indicated to her that we would just like to do this for her and her ... Read Full Story >>

It takes a second to make someone's day

Everyday I have to pass through a security barrier and the guard stands in the road by the barrier in all types of weather. He waves everyone through, deals with inquiries - all in a days work.

I realised that he doesnt actually "talk" to anyone.  So I slowed my car and rolled down the window had a lovely chat with a special thank you to him and went on my way.   The beaming smile I got made my day.  Each succesive day this last week I have done the same when I have seen a new guard and each and every day the reaction is priceless.  A little thing which took little time and no cost but each day I felt I had made a difference.

Sheila  

Greeting Valuable Teachers

One of my teachers in college recently opted out of teaching. She was a brilliant spark and inspiration in an otherwise mediocre system. She was just recovering from a  severe depression that set in when, in her stint for the telecom department in a wartorn region, her van was bombed leaving several people injured.

I decided to brighten up her day and phoned her telling her how well I did in her course and what a positive influence she was on me and all my friends. She sounded really overjoyed and surprised.

I don't know how but after that call, I met three of my old high-school teachers in random ways who I hadn't met in close to four years who felt really touched and happy to see me and to be remembered.

Tickets

I took my son to a game place to play his favorite games, ride the train and carousel, and drive the cars. While playing the games, he kept winning quite a few tickets that are used to "buy" prizes. He wanted to play the games and didn't care much about the tickets. We had left some on a machine and a little boy grabbed them and brought them to us.

We thanked him and then give him the hundreds of tickets we had since he was so honest. He was overjoyed and ran to the counter to see what he could get.

It was something simple for us, reinforced his honesty and helped the little boy smile a little wider that day! 

Surprise Lottery Tickets

I wanted to do something that would really surprise people so I made up the smile cards your site offers and I had them laminated. I buy $2 lottery scratch offs all the time for my self and for friends and family for their birthdays. Everyone enjoys getting them and the chance to maybe win some money. I work two jobs and my part-time job is working at a Funeral home during calling hours. Seeing it is winter here , folks have to hang up their coats which is located right near the front entrance where I stand to open and close the door and greet folks, so it was very easy for me to sneak in a card with the lottery into a complete stanger's coat.  I couldn't wait to see who the coat belonged to and I was happy to see it belonged to a fairly young girl with a baby. It ... Read Full Story >>

Surprise Performance

Last Tuesday evening, I surprised a friend by giving him a ticket to a performance of his favourite artist. It was a very beautiful evening!

Good Deed on a Bad Day

I was having a rough morning and had to go in to work, it was one of those days where everything seems to go wrong.  I was waiting in a long line up for my coffee and I wondered how many other people were having rough mornings like mine. 

I decided to try and do something nice to help change my mood so I paid for the order for the car behind me.  It was the best $5 I have ever spent.  I have no idea how the people behind me reacted but it made me feel great.  I hope I was able to put a smile on someone else's face because this simple act sure did put a smile on mine.  I finished my day by dropping off two bags full of toys and clothes at the womens shelter in my area.  My day went from bad to great.  Thank you for your website and all its great tips!!

Brazillian Ballads

A very good friend of mine likes very much to listen to piano music. She even plays well on the piano. There is cd with beautiful piano brazillian ballads that she likes but she cannot buy it because she is unemployed and she doesn't have the money. So I  bought the cd for her and as soon as possible I will surprise her by giving it to her as a gift! 

She is a very special person and she deserves that. Thanks for reading my story.

Guide those with less knowledge

Always give a guiding hand to those with less knowledge or resources than you. At school, I always just got by. With friends, I was always among my peers and my own group types. I remember cruising through my early 20s without a direction and clear idea of what to do. Through family, I got my first job in my field of study. The problem was, I was not ready. I never had the practical experience or the interest to learn a hands-on approach that could have prepared me for the job I was taking. Yet, I knew it would be a disappointment to my family if I did not perform well. On my first day, I was taken under the wing of a senior member of the staff. This guy knew all the people there, had years of experience, skills and was extremely well-liked. In less than an hour, he ... Read Full Story >>

An Idea For a Rainy Day

We have many people in my area who walk everywhere.  Today it was raining, and I had a thought.  I would go to the dollar store, and buy a bunch of umbrellas. If I see someone walking in the rain, I could stop and give them an umbrella to use.

Water

I live in an apartment.  While downstairs waiting for my boyfriend, I saw an elderly women with a shopping cart.  I then looked away and was in my own thoughts. I could hear her walking up the stairs stopping and  trying to catch her breath.   I looked and saw her cart was packed with 1 gallon  water jugs.  I jumped up and grabbed two and carried them upstairs.   She wanted to come down and help me but I told her no. 

I must have carried 20 gallons up and down the stairs.  She kept on thanking me, but it was my pleasure.  I truly believe that what goes around comes around and if my parents or grandparents ever need help.  Somebody will be there to help with a smile on there face.

Giving someone a chance to recharge

Good day, I was recently traveling and bad weather had surrounded the airport, causing many flights to get canceled or delayed.  I was sitting by the gate, having changed my flight to another one already and was watching the unfortunate airline rep at the gate counter.  She was being bombarded by a number of people who seemed to assume that the poor weather, flight cancellations and everything else causing them grief was her fault and each one in turn laid all of their grief on her and I could see she was being pushed to the brink. A little ah-ha light bulb flashed in my mind and since I am apt to follow my instinct, I stood up and took my place in the line of people intent on sharing their bad day with her.  I patiently waited my turn and when I was finally standing in front of her, her weary ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Someone in Need

A few weeks ago, I was driving with my family when we stopped at a gas station. I noticed a man walking around asking for money to get to a city about an hour away. My Mom began driving away when I asked her to stop the car. I got out and gave the man some money. He wished upon me God's blessings, and I told him to have a Happy New Year.

I got back in the car and was greeted with, "How much did you give him?" and "You didn't need to do that!" Although my family didn't seem to understand where my generosity came from, I knew that the man must have needed the money more than I did. Even if he didn't, I just have faith that God sees all good works and blesses us in return.

Walking Kindness

I was pretty inspired after reading this story here : http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=6023 For the past one week,I have been going on "service walks" every day.I just walk around for a couple of kilometres, looking out for ways to help people. So far I have handed out warm lunches to two old homeless men on the sidewalk, a loaf of bread to another, shared cake with a bunch of little kids at a fishing village, given fruits to a group of about 16 people who were homeless and afflicted by leprosy, and boxes of peanut candy for two kids of the juice vendor who I'm friendly with.  I feel that in a poor country like India the tradition of anna-daanam or sharing food is one of the best ways to help others. Although at one level it may seem like a quick fix solution, I have tried to be thoughtful and careful on these walks, especially since a lot of ... Read Full Story >>

Breaking Bread

At lunch, I noticed that someone was sitting alone without a lunch. I went over and offered them half of my sandwich. Gratefully, they accepted and beyond just making someone feel nourished, I was able to speak to someone new and fun.  Not what you would call creative, but I feel good for what I have done.

Trolley in the rain

In the UK, we have workers in the supermarket car park to collect and return the supermarket trollies to the trolley bays . They work in all types of  weather and are "invisible" except when people moan and complain etc. 

It was pouring with rain last week just after christmas when I went to the supermarket and I really wanted to make a difference. So I made a point of walking right up to one of the trolley boys and thanking him for the great job he does in all types of weather and especially that day as I guessed his family were still all tucked up at home having their christmas rest time while he was dripping wet and cold. 

His face was a picture, he wasn't sure if I was really being genuine so I took the time to talk to him. I think he was confused at first but I feel I touched his day and gave him something to think about.  

Priceless

On Saturday, I went to the grocery store with my mother-in-law while visiting her. 

We were being a bit silly at the checkout as I was insisting on paying for her groceries and kept taking her groceries and putting them with mine.  I don't think the check-out girl quite knew how to take us but just as we were leaving I pulled out a little bag of lollies I had wrapped and keep in my handbag and a smile card and left it with her.

Her look was priceless, mouth wide opened she was in shock and finally said  "Are these for me?"

I just smiled, said "Yes" and dragged my mother-in-law out the door, who was equally shocked.  It makes me smile now thinking about it - two for the price of one!!

Living on the Street

I was headed to the UMW womens basketball game yesterday, and I saw an older man, maybe 65, sitting next to a stop sign on William Street at the intersection of Route One and William Street. He was sitting down wearing tattered clothes, and an oversized jacket. A homeless man holding a sign that said: "Hold care in your hearts Thanks very much And God Bless!" I parked my car in the Goolrick Gymnasium parking lot and walked up to the old man and asked "How are you doing?" He looked at me suprised, like I was going to injure him, kind of caught up in words he just said "I am fine, just making a living." Embarrassed, he said "I live on the streets." The one thing that suprised me was that he never asked me for anything, no money or food, seeing that he was homeless was given he even told me so. Even his sign didn't ask for ... Read Full Story >>