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Waiting for the Train

Last weekend, I was blessed with an opportunity to serve as a volunteer at a meditation retreat in Maryland.  I don't have a car and the closest Amtrak station is about 30 minutes away from the actual site so I wasn't sure how I would get there....I started thinking that maybe it wouldn't be possible and after a really long week, thought that maybe I shouldn't volunteer at all.  But I went ahead and posted a request for a ride on the ride share board.  A few days later, an individual I had never met replied that he would be able to pick me up and drop me off at the station. He was also planning on serving but said he would wait until my train arrived before driving out there. How kind of this person whom I've never even met, I thought to myself.  My heart warmed and the stress I ... Read Full Story >>

Life Reminders in Traffic

It was a beautiful morning, uncharacteristically warm and sunny for this time of year.  I was in the middle of a hectic day, packed full of activities and errands, with my mind on what I had to do next.  As I drove along a very busy road to my next destination, I noticed a young child wearing a bike helmet walking out from the entrance of an apartment complex on the other side of the street.  The complex was surrounded by woods on both sides and the entrance was obscured by trees and bushes.  I couldn't see beyond the entrance but I hoped that his family was there, just out of sight, about to emerge behind him.  He was young, maybe four years old, and it was a strange sight to see him alone near the busy street, even if just for a little while.  I continued to look behind me but I didn't see anyone else coming out to join him as cars ... Read Full Story >>

The Mumbai Bus Conductor

I use to travel from one crowded part of Mumbai city to another bus in the peak travel hours.  During the forty-five minute journey I couldn't help but notice the conductor doing his job. I saw that he was very diligent and dedicated to his work. After a few days of regular travel on his bus we started sharing smiles. Its very strange to have any interactions with conductors in Mumbai local buses apart from the transaction of buying a travel ticket.  But, something about his way of working always intrigued me.    The more I observed him the more I felt I could learn from him; how he did this seemingly boring job so gracefully. I observed how he controlled annoying passengers on super-crowded buses, young naughty kids traveling on half ticket, and cheats who didn't want to buy tickets.    On the last day of my journeys on this bus I wrote him ... Read Full Story >>

Conversation without Language

My friend Jenny from Germany spent some time traveling in India.  She loved the country so much that she always got pulled to it.   While there, she stayed with Leela, her friend who was Indian.  Aside from the gazes that she got as a foreigner, Jenny always had language problems.  It was so difficult for her to communicate and converse in this new environment and culture that had so many subtle differences from her own country. One day, a strange thing happened.  Along with Leela, she went to visit an orphanage.  All the children there were tiny; each one fell somewhere between the ages of fifteen days to one-and-a-half years old.   After some initial hesitation, Jenny slowly went to the kids and sat beside them.  After some time, one of the kids smiled at her. Her mind relaxed a little, and she immediately was drawn towards that child.  She slowly held ... Read Full Story >>

Airport Security Go The Extra Mile

I keep a pocket knife in my handbag and it comes in handy for all sorts of things. I have always carried it with me since I discovered it on a boat we bought and lived on twenty years ago. It has been through many adventures with us. I recently took an internal flight and was pulled up at the departure gate when my bag went through the x-ray machine and my knife was discovered. I had forgotten it was in there and as I rarely fly it hadn't crossed my mind that it would be discovered and confiscated.    As we had gone through the gate and the plane was boarding there wasn't time for me to go back and post it to myself.   The security lady at the gate saw that I was distressed at losing one of my treasured possessions (they just throw away things that get confiscated) and she offered ... Read Full Story >>

Not Even Heart Surgery Could Stop This Elder's Kind Ambitions

I was so inspired by the very first email I opened this morning. It was from my kind elder friend.  My 80-something-year-old friend, who lives in Florida. We worked together in the late 70's/early 80's (before she moved to Florida.) and have stayed in touch over the years. This is what blew me away: "Hope that you are doing well. I have been very busy but things are dwindling down gradually. I don't think I ever will be able to "take it easy" as hey say. I have to be doing something. I am thinking seriously of starting a nice residence for homeless people, with people to help them find work or lodging of their own. It breaks my heart to see so many families with children on the street at night, or here, mostly older people in the parks, etc. Even the Salvation Army had to close their refuge for lack of funds. ... Read Full Story >>

On A Rainy Day with Bus #82

When I was very new to US, I needed to get a new passport. It had only been two weeks since I landed here with my husband, but I needed a new one because I had gotten an emergency passport to come in the first place. At the time, we lived in Houston,Texas. We only had one car, so my husband dropped me off at the passport office and told me to take Bus #82 to get back home. I finished my work at the passport office and boarded Bus #82. I sat in it for an hour or so, but it didn't go anywhere near my house. I even told the driver where I lived, but the street was so small that even he didn't recognize it. So he simply brought me back to the starting point again. When I got off the bus, it started raining heavily. I tried asking the ... Read Full Story >>

The Shivering Man's Prayer

So many people today know how it feels to be on limited funds. I do my best to help others. Whether paying bills or at the grocery store, I am always looking out for those who need help. And today I was blessed to be able to help a homeless man.

Salvation Army Snail Mail

I recently got some smile cards and was looking forward to doing something great for someone, but I wasn't quite sure what to do.

Then, the other day, I received a random letter in the mail. It was from the Salvation Army.

Inside, there was a blank card. Attached was an invitation to write a note for a homeless or lonely person inside the card. There was a free post envelope to mail it back, as well, and this could all be done anonymously!

It was the perfect opportunity-- I absolutely jumped at the chance to do this! As I wrote the card, I smiled at the thought of its future recipient--whoever he or she is. I thought about how that person might feel when they receive it. I hope they know that someone out there cares about him or her!

I also included a Smile Card before mailing it off! :)

Art with heart...

Last week, I arrived back home to our flat in London from my trip to visit my family in California to find a "mystery package", which someone had left with the porter in our building some time while my husband and I were both away. It was a large envelope with a wooden backing, and a small note on top reading "Deep and Trishna, Enjoy!" As soon as I opened the flap, I discovered a Smile Card attached, and I knew instantly that someone had anonymously reached out to us with an act of kindness. As I reached into the envelope, MUCH to my surprise, I pulled out a sketch by Manohar Devadoss. My heart instantly melted by the idea that someone reached out to us with such a beautiful drawing by a person, whose life has touched mine from the minute I read Pavi's piece on him and his wife. ... Read Full Story >>

Making Sure to Thank the Referees

I spent my Saturday at the basketball court watching all three of our kids play their games.  My older two had playoffs as they worked to be in the championship game.  During the third game of the day I commented to my husband that these playoff games were getting a little overly rough and competitive and it was making me nervous. As my son's game continued, the fans around us starting making light-hearted comments about the refs' calls - or lack of.  These were the same ref's my son's team has had all season and I think they are a GREAT pair - which I said often during the game.  The refs had a sense of humor and grinned and nodded as the comments continued to come. It was an intense and physical game and I was cheering loudly!  It was a tight game to the end, but my son's team did end ... Read Full Story >>

Top Ten Kindness Stories of 2012, Story #10 - 8 Things To Do Every Day That Will Make You Happier

1) Thank someone First thing in the morning, send an email thanking or praising someone. Research shows this can brighten your day.   2) Spend money — on someone else Harvard professor Michael Norton, author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, explains how spending money on other people can generate more happiness than spending on yourself: 3) Give 5 hugs People assigned to give or receive hugs 5 times a day ended up happier than the control group. From Sonja Lyubomirsky’s very interesting book, The How of Happiness: In a one-of-a-kind study, students at Pennsylvania State University were assigned to two groups. The first group was instructed to give or receive a minimum of five hugs per day over the course of four weeks and to record the details. The hugs had to be front-to-front (nonsexual) hugs, using both arms of both participants; however, the length and strength of hug, as well as the placement of hands, were left ... Read Full Story >>

Patience is a virtue

Over the Christmas holidays my young boys were driving everyone in the house bonkers with their fighting, usually it's worst just before bedtime. Yesterday, at separate times of the day, I sat with each of my sons and told him "I love you".  A few hours later, I realised those words had been missing from my regular vocalbulary since the holidays started. I felt guilty.

With so much time to do things together, it's inevitable that friction happens.  It was kind of like coming up for air, when I said "I love you". My sons are more affectionate and calmer when they are around me now.  I know it won't last, but if I keep positive, patient and loving, then life will be a lot more peaceful.

Kindness Ideas For Kids?

My aunt just asked me for some kindness ideas, so I tossed together this list ... Free Car Wash: I saw this story for a 10th birthday and it seems like a grand time! Miles of Smiles: stand on busy street intersections with "smile" posters.  Non-stop fun. :) Clean-up Public Places: help clean a beach or a local park, adopt a highway.  Extra credit if you can take some of that waste and create a public art piece (see garden-art from trash). Balloon stand: hand out free balloons with smiley-art on the balloons and perhaps even on your faces. :) Plant trees: visit Arbor Day Foundation -- "We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees" -- to find local organizations that can help you plant.  You could also volunteer ... Read Full Story >>

While Yet There Is Time

Many years ago when I was in college, I came across this very inspirational poem: While Yet There is Time   The hours slip past, Our moments melt into the eternity behind us Time sweeps us onto a destination from which there is no return. While yet there is time, Look out upon the world, Devour it with your eyes, And if your spirit demands more Add at least one stone to the edifice being built Fill your lungs with the smell of flowers, Let the first cool breath of dawn blow through your hair While yet there is time Let us greet the dawn together, While yet there is time, Love and be loved, Let your thoughts throw light in dark places, Let your lips blossom in a smile. While yet there is time, Let the hand of a friend feel the warmth of your hand, How much we have to do, to create, to express. While yet there is time Graft a slender bough to a mighty tree Do not say I love to ... Read Full Story >>

March To Your Own Drummer

A few days ago I was about to begin teaching a class when one of my students came up to me and said she had to talk to me---she seemed quite upset and close to tears so I took her out in the hallway to find out what was wrong.  She started sobbing uncontrollably and told me that she'd been feeling so stressed out and depressed because her mom was pressuring her to go to medical school and she didn't want to--- she felt like she'd be letting her mom down if she went against her wishes and she felt very helpless. I asked her what she wanted to do and she said she wanted to work in the biotechnology industry.  I told her that she would be really good at that (since I have her for a lab class, I know that she's really good)  and that she should try ... Read Full Story >>

Quotes Celebrating Fathers

Father’s Day Quotes (Don’t Forget Father’s Day on Sunday, June 14th!) He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence B. Kelland My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.  Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass."  "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply.  "We're raising boys."  ~Harmon Killebrew When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.  ~Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi" Atlantic Monthly, 1874 One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters.  ~George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640 Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.  ~Bill Cosby A father carries pictures where his money used to be.  ~Author Unknown The greatest gift I ... Read Full Story >>

The tiny, mud-free space that meant a lot!

I'm in Boulder, Colorado, and am one of the fortunate ones without much flood impact on my home. Today, I went over to a friend's house to help with the cleanup there. The house is less than a block from one of the creeks, and the flash flood broke a basement window, filled the basement up to eight feet, rushed up the stairs to the ground floor, and flooded that floor as well.  A crew of her friends had been pulling up carpet and moving furniture all morning when I arrived. She asked me to help move damaged items out of a back room where carpet was already pulled out, and start getting the layer of chocolaty mud out. With one other helper, I got busy shoveling and scraping; once we got the heavy layer off, I started running the wet vac. There was a three-foot square of tiled floor in front ... Read Full Story >>

The Patient Patient

I had been waiting in the doctor's reception area for more than an hour and was getting little restless! 

I saw this frail lady trying to open the door to leave. I got up right away, opened the door, and took her out to the bus stop. As I was helping her climb the steps onto the bus the driver asked for a dollar. She was ready with the money in her hand but, before he could take it, I handed him a dollar of mine! 

The lady looked puzzled at first but then her eyes showed her gratitude. She thanked me several times. I just gave her a big hug and big smile! 

The driver just looked at me - and then smiled too. 

I returned to my seat in the reception area, smiling, and waited for my turn like a good patient ... patiently!

The Insight of Children

I took my children into the city last night to meet up with my husband to celebrate my daughter's 6th birthday.  We walked through the downtown area while we waited for him to get out of owrk.  In front of one of the subway stops was a woman sitting with a can.  As we walked by, my daughter asked what she was doing and I told her that she was probably homeless and was trying to get some money.  My daughter  looked back and asked if on the way back she could give the woman some money.  I told her that she absolutely could do that, and we continued exploring.   Later on during our walk, we  found a bed of cardboard and blankets.  My daughter knew what it was and wanted to know who it belonged to so she could give them a dollar or two.  We moved on, and she played ... Read Full Story >>