Kindness StoriesBelow are some of the kindness stories we've received. If you have a story to share, do send it to us! You might also enjoy our weekly newsletter. Community Events For Low-income Kids--posted by PinkeyB1014, on Mar 10, 2010
comments (3) | email this | print | permalink Just Doing The Right Thing--posted by momov3, on Mar 10, 2010 I was on a walk with a friend yesterday when I found a BlackBerry cell phone in a puddle of melted snow. I picked it up and it still worked! I started scrolling through the contact list and calling numbers to see if I could figure out whose phone it was. Unfortunately, only one person answered and she didn't recognize the number that I was calling from. She made a comment of "It is just so nice that you are trying to find out whose phone it is." Since that lady didn't know whose phone it was, my friend suggested that we ... comments (8) | email this | print | permalink The Simple Joy of Blowing Bubbles--posted by iferlamb, on Mar 9, 2010
comments (6) | email this | print | permalink An Old Way To Bring About New Smiles--posted by enchantedchilde, on Mar 8, 2010
comments (6) | email this | print | permalink Setting The Tone With My New Boss, My Way--posted by wayfarer, on Mar 8, 2010
I work with people across the world via e mail. Recently I was getting to know a new editor in Illinois when he retired (not because of me :D) When I got in touch with the new guy I got a polite but short reply. Okay. Then I sent in some work and he told me briefly he would get to it some time. Later I sent in some more work and got an even shorter reply. Okay, I wondered, this is verging on rude. Should I just forget about this guy? Was I going to let this set the tone of our working relationship? No. I e mailed back again. I said I understood the pressures he must be under. He was filling some big shoes and it would take time to establish his own ways of doing things. I mentioned his predecessor had had huge faith in him and I was sure he would be a good man for the job. Well! The reply I got back was his shortest yet. It was a big, shiny, smiley face! Now, I'm quite happy to let that set the tone of our relationship! comments (7) | email this | print | permalink A Ripple Effect On The Train Home--posted by Tammychi, on Mar 7, 2010
Yesterday was a long, but rewarding day. I got to volunteer in the San Francisco Pride Parade. That meant hours on my feet, under the hot sun and with very little water. By the time I made it on the train to go home, all of the seats were taken and my feet were killing me! I must have been displaying the pain in some way because a very nice gentleman, much older & tired than myself, offered me his seat. I told him I was fine, but he insisted I sit. While I was feeling guilty for enjoying being off my feet, a young man, who had watched all this, offered the seat he was sitting in to the older gentleman who had offered me his seat. I could not help but smile. One act of kindness led to another. The perfect closure to my day. comments (4) | email this | print | permalink How Will You Fill Your Flower Vase?--posted by Jacinda, on Mar 6, 2010
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink Carrying a Suitcase and Making a New Friend in Greece--posted by pat, on Mar 6, 2010
comments (4) | email this | print | permalink Where Does Kindness Start? With Us...--posted by Aurelia, on Mar 5, 2010
comments (7) | email this | print | permalink The Power of 'Thank You'--posted by monkeyinpajamas, on Mar 4, 2010 I am moving out of my university and city, which has led me to look over the last few years, wrapping up my stuff and thanking people. One such is Mr. Rob Holland. He is the graduate housing coordinator. At any time of the week, day or night, you can expect an email from him saying that an apartment has become vacant, typically at least twice or thrice a week. I needed him to remove my name from the mailing list, but I thought it could become a fun kindness exercise. I sent him a little note, thanking him for such an efficient way ... comments (11) | email this | print | permalink Read More Stories >> |
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Just Doing The Right Thing (Mar 10, 2010)An Old Way To Bring About New Smiles (Mar 8, 2010) How Will You Fill Your Flower Vase? (Mar 6, 2010) A Little Girl With A Big Heart (Mar 4, 2010) The Journey of a Kindness Checkbook (Mar 2, 2010) Idea of the Week Corporate Compassion.Read more in our weekly newsletter. Need help with ideas? Ask our kindness experts! |
I live in a small mobile-home community . The people here have very low incomes. The children have nowhere to go and nothing to do.
With the help of others in the community, I put on events for the kids and their families throughout the year. In the summer we have "Kids Safety Day ," where we have food, games and prizes and the local police & fire teams join us to talk to the kids. Everyone has a good day!
At Halloween we do a Haunted Forest. I think the adults organizing it probably have more fun then the kids and families here. At Christmas , we get presents for the ... 
Earlier, Aurelia posted a wonderful little piece entitled "Bubbles" and since I myself LOVE, bubbles I had to read it.
She gave the most wonderful suggestion of giving bubbles to children. I loved the idea. I went to the store on my lunch break and bought an eight pack. I gave one to the cashier there to give to any child she chose, as suggested in Aurelia's post, which made her smile. I also have been giving them out to small children who come in the bank. They are thrilled to receive them. It gives me joy to see how ... 
I recently got a new version of an old camera that I used to adore... Polaroid instant film! This one is a Fuji, which takes credit card sized instant photos. I named my camera "J5", (after Johnny #5 the Robot, from the '80's films "Short Circuit", mainly because it looks like him :) In J5's short career (this past month), he has blasted off about 80 photographs, and 60+ have been given away to complete strangers. Each photograph is unique, simple, imperfect and beautiful, as those captured within the photos had a story to tell. So far, one story stands out ... 
Last night after reading some inspirational posts on HelpOthers I decided it was getting a little late so I decided to go to bed. As I was lying there I was thinking about the stories I had just read. For some reason my mind flashed back to my first day at College (High School). The head girl was standing up on the stage giving us a speech about your life and your life journey being a vase full of flowers. Now that may seem a strange context but that speech has stayed with me for many years.
I would like to ... 
I just spent a wonderful holiday on a little Greek island together with my family. One day, my husband and I left the kids with his parents (who were with us), rented two motorbikes for the day and went to the other side of the island to visit a very old and well-known monastery.
There we happened to see a French lady who was walking by herself with a cane and obviously had difficulties with the 300 steps that led up to the monastery. When I noticed she had a French accent I started speaking French with her, and she ... 
Recently at the gas station...I was walking in to Pre-Pay before being able to pump gas into my car. As I approached the door to go in to pay, there was a woman coming out. I was about 15 feet away and she stood there, waiting and holding the door for me to enter. Usually people are in such a hurry that they dash out and sometimes even to the point of being rude and mowing me down. I smiled and said "Thank You, you didn't have to do that" and her reply was "No problem, take your time."
Next we ...