Stories Matching 'Courage' Tag (42)Environment Research New Ideas Public Transportation Children Inspiration Teachers Seniors OnThe Road Grocery Store Money Workplace Animals At Home Anonymous Friendship Kindness Kindness of Strangers Courage Small Acts of Kindness Health and Wellness Generosity Sharing Family Respect Neighbors Reconciliation Smile Cards Advice Good Samaritan Giving Money Giving Ability School Church Youth Collective Arts Creative Kindness Random Act of Kindness Homeless Travel/Vacation College/University Holidays Internet Birthday Sharing Food Emergency/Disaster Community Relationships Paying-It-Forward Coffee Shop/Restaurants $100 Kindness Idea Smile Decks Thank You Serendipity Fight Club and the Passerby--posted by guin, on Dec 23, 2006
Recently, my dad was walking along from the office to the high court (being a lawyer). There he saw a young man being beaten up by 5 others. My dad is really thin and puny and not in the least bit tough-looking or athletic. But something prompted him to just go onto the scene and protect the guy. He hugged the young man and began acting as if he knew him from a long time. Soon, the other 5 rough guys recognized him for being a lawyer and left the youth alone. He thanked my dad and said he could not express how he felt. comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Be kind - nothing in the world will harm you!--posted by Ari1969, on Jan 3, 2007
comments (7) | email this | print | permalink The gift that continues to give--posted by myturn, on Mar 2, 2007
I have always believed that people come into your life for a reason. With this in mind I met a man at work who had a drug problem. I knew because I used to. Over the next 2 years we became closer and had long talks about his addiction. I knew I was supposed to help him, but I didn't know how. I had talked him into rehab and even took him to the center but every time he got out he would relapse. I thought long and hard until "IT" came to me. I had to give more of myself, go on a leap of faith. I convinced him to try rehab one more time and when he got out I moved him into to my apartment, against the advice of those around me. Getting him out of his earlier environment was the key. He never relapsed again. We just celebrated his 2 year clean date in January, after 23 years of abuse. He is still my roommate and has since helped me more than any friend I have ever had. comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Helping A Child In Need--posted by heather619008, on Jul 3, 2007
comments (32) | email this | print | permalink One of a Thousand Stories to Tell--posted by David G. Nadeau, on Sep 10, 2007
comments (30) | email this | print | permalink Daily Homework--posted by jeri, on Apr 5, 2008
comments (28) | email this | print | permalink The Long Life of a Short Friendship--posted by JackieHall, on May 10, 2008
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Growing Seeds in Silence--posted by gipsysoul, on Oct 8, 2008 Sometimes you read a story that just takes root in your heart. Many stories on the helpothers.org website have been like that for me: "I Wish You Enough" by BrightEyes and "An Unforgettable Fishing Experience" by Mike Delyria to name just two. Well this story I'm about to share with you has been growing in the heart of many people on Cape Ann, where I live. It is the story of Jude, a young deaf man with green thumbs and a big heart who recently opened a plant store in our community called The Silent Seed. I first heard about him ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink A Lesson In Receiving Graciously--posted by Namaste, on Apr 17, 2010 I often walk from work (near Pier 39 in San Francisco) to the Embarcadero BART station, where I catch a train back to the East Bay. Several times, I passed a gentleman who I presumed was homeless. He had a lot of his possessions tied down to his bike and held a cardboard sign that said he was a vet who doesn't drink or do drugs, but would appreciate anything that could be given. He usually has headphones on and is listening to the radio. He is always minding his own business, often reading as well. I've never seen him actively "panhandling." Several times, ... comments (9) | email this | print | permalink A $100 Note For Doing The Right Thing--posted by lynzall, on Jul 14, 2009 When I was in South Africa in February this year visiting, my mum and I used to do our shopping together. One day we went to this big shopping centre and I decided to stay with the car while she ran in to get some stuff. I noticed there are a lot of guys who help people find car spots and help guide them in. They also watch your car to make sure it doesn't get broken into while you're shopping in order to make some money for their families. When we got there this gentlemen came up and asked ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink A Little Boy's Selfless Love--posted by Clueless, on Aug 5, 2009 Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a lovely little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare life threatening disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had somehow survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath ... comments (36) | email this | print | permalink Sterling Performance For Your Eyes Only--posted by sethi, on Oct 28, 2009
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink The Crocodile Whisperer--posted by Nik, on Oct 20, 2009
comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Receiving a Call From My Step-Son's Lost Cell Phone--posted by wayfarer, on Jan 7, 2010
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink The Bus Ride That Changed My Life--posted by maxx, on Feb 3, 2010 A few years ago I was an employee of an international company that sold computer devices. I had to travel a lot as part of my work. I remember that I was at a stage of my life where I only cared about how to make more money and how to solve technical problems. I was locked in my own world living as a robot that only worked in a mechanical way. On one of my work trips, I came to the airport to take a bus to downtown, as usual. It was the same routine: get into the city, take the bus ... comments (57) | email this | print | permalink Smile, It Can't Be That Bad--posted by AsianWoman, on Feb 6, 2010 Six Words That Changed a Life Six words - "Smile...it can't be that bad." - changed Judy's life. Judy is a young woman I worked with some years ago. She was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, more than a little overweight, and not the most stylish dresser. What was most striking about her appearance was her smile; it was always there. Anyone ... comments (13) | email this | print | permalink Offering More Love, Less Fear--posted by DoNothing, on Feb 16, 2010 I'm sort of new to this small acts of kindness game, so I'm not sure how people feel about picking up hitchhikers. I've always felt that as long as you don't put your self in a completely unsafe position, it is an OK thing to do. But I'd never done it before until this week. It was about 9pm and I was walking in my school's campus from my office to my car. On the way, I ran into an fellow who was obviously lost. He asked me for directions, saying he needed to get to East Palo Alto. But the ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Turning Fear Into True Compassion--posted by sathsath, on Mar 18, 2010 This is a true story that happened to my friend Rekha... Rekha maintains an exercise regime that includes a brisk walk every morning around some gardens in our neighbourhood. One morning, she was walking earlier then usual, daybreak was only just beginning to set in and it was still relatively dark. As she was walking, a cyclist came up to her, snatched her handbag (containing her keys, phone and credit cards) and sped off with it! She ran after him shouting "thief - thief". A man further ahead must have heard her, or seen what had happened. He was washing a car and had a ... comments (32) | email this | print | permalink A Simple Yet Unforgettable Lesson In Helping Others--posted by nirvjennymj, on Mar 24, 2010
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink Are You a Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean?--posted by iferlamb, on Mar 22, 2010 A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. The mother filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots. In the second she placed eggs. And the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. About twenty ... comments (27) | email this | print | permalink Quiet Acts Of Kindness In Her Hour of Sorrow--posted by writingmomma, on Apr 1, 2010 I work at a Care Center where most of the people are elderly. About a year and a half ago a 59 year-old lady came to us who had cancer. She had to have her right leg amputated and she didn't have a family to take care of her after the operation. This lady was a quiet lady who mostly stayed to herself. But in the afternoons, when she was feeling well, she would go visit the other residents in the home. She would visit a lady who was blind and read to her. She would go into the room of a young ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink Taken By Surprise By A Course In Miracles--posted by monkeyinpajamas, on May 15, 2010 Arriving in a new city last Thursday, I had the strangest first week of graduate school. I fell and broke my leg within 48 hours of arriving there! I was really amazed by the kindness shown by my new roommmate, someone who I had only just met. "We are family now", she said when she found me lying in my room with a swollen leg, unable to move, in a strange city with no family except across three oceans. She took me to the student health center by cab to get my leg examined. The cab driver was so nice and said to me how lucky I was to have ... comments (20) | email this | print | permalink My Experiment with Free Hug Friday--posted by MakeSomeoneSmile, on Aug 31, 2010
comments (29) | email this | print | permalink All It Takes Is A 10 Second Thought--posted by PS, on Sep 7, 2010 I've been so inspired by everyone's thoughts and reflections that I thought I'd take the plunge and continue a recent practice of stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing this story. Last Friday, I was coming home late after spending time with friends andthought I'd go down to the $.99 cent pizza place. On the way, I saw a man sitting on a random stoop. I'd seen him before, panhandling on the stairs I walk up every day as I leave the subway running late to work, but this time I had no place to rush off to. There was something about ... comments (13) | email this | print | permalink An Opportunity to Connect, to Love--posted by A & P, on Sep 30, 2010 It's 5:15am at the local Starbucks. I'm standing in line and the person ahead of me in line is putting together what seems to be a large order. "Can I have some bagels, donuts, oh and some brownies too, along with this coffee order." My curiosity is peaked, and she chimes to the counter person, "Thank you, the order is for the nurses at Sloan-Kettering Cancer society because they've been doing a great job taking care of my Dad." I tend to believe that people share things in order to be self expressed, and to be heard, to have their expression ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Someone Will Help--posted by ishtie, on Dec 9, 2010 Opportunity knocked on my door last January when I was given a chance to work in an other country. It's really such a blessing! At first, it was really scary living life on my own. But, I soon met .lots of new people. Some were good and some were bad. It was a true challenge! I met a group of friends, six boys and one girl. They were really nice. I loved their company and they were so funny! We hung out most weekends. We cooked, watched movies, chatted and shared jokes! It was amazing - until something unexpected happened! One of our group was diagnosed with kidney ... comments (26) | email this | print | permalink On a Kindness Mission with my Smile Cards--posted by insanestar, on Dec 14, 2010
comments (27) | email this | print | permalink Love Is Stronger Than Fear--posted by glorioski, on Jan 4, 2011 My Daughter and I recently encountered, as we often do, in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, a Homeless man, who was hunkered down for the night, under a few sleeping bags with his book and all of his belongings. We encountered him as we were walking home after dinner. We had been so hungry at dinner, after a day of touring colleges, that our eyes were too big for our stomachs and we ordered too much. The appetizer ended up being enormous, and ravenous as we were, we ate it hungrily. There was still some to spare. When our meals arrived, we picked ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink A Bus-Load of Appreciation--posted by churchofthePIF, on Feb 19, 2011 The shuttle bus service I take to the airport is famously bad at customer service, but they are the only option for lots of travelers. I was sitting on the bus one day feeling disappointed by their shoddy service when a young soldier got on. He was in full uniform with his duffle bag across his shoulder and a ticket in his hand. But, guess what? The driver wouldn't accept his ticket! Apparently it was "the wrong format." It was probably a military issue travel pass but because the driver didn't recognise it or it hadn't been made out properly he was ... comments (17) | email this | print | permalink Paying-It-Forward In "The Chain Of Life"--posted by h.c.preston, on Feb 24, 2011 In June 2009 the New Jersey Star-Ledger ran a series called "The Chain of Life" about kidney donation chains. These are enabled by one non-related donor giving a kidney to a recipient whose donor (usually a relative) was not compatible. That non-compatible donor then donates to someone else in the same position and thus four or six people could receive new kidneys. I decided I could do that. I contacted the National Kidney Registry and started a six month process that ended with my donating a kidney to a doctor who had been on home dialysis for two years. I didn't ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink
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My niece was away from home for a student camp, which was part of preparation for our country's Republic Day celebration. The camp was conducted at a local school and children were put together to stay in groups of 10 in each room for their stay until the completion of the camp.
It was the rainy season, which brought a lot of infections and health ailments. Some children suffered from fever due to the chillness, some got throat infections and just one had the most odd infection - an eye infection. While fever, cough and cold were not too contagious, the eye infection was. ... 
About a week ago, my 4 year old cousin and I were playing basketball at our local park. The weather was warm, and many other children were outside as well. As we played, I noticed a small group of boys picking on a smaller, skinnier--and possibly younger--boy. They were calling him names and even pushed him to the ground and kicked dirt in his face. When I saw that, I grabbed my cousin by the hand and walked over to the group.
I stepped between them and the smaller boy, and asked them politely what this boy had done to deserve ... 
I am a recovering alcoholic. Years ago I went into a hospital because of depression. My life was a mess, my husband wanted a divorce. My daughter was doing drugs. Everything in my life was coming apart including me.
My girlfriend's father came to see me. He was a big, barrel chested Irishman, who loved wearing Nike sweatshirts that said "JUST DO IT".
Upon my release from the hospital, he began to take me to AA meetings, and we would meet for coffee, or go to his house where he and his Alcoholics Anonymous member wife slowly helped me back to ... 
My son's day care provider experienced a tragic sudden death of a friend. She had just met this fellow and had sensed a deep connection before dropping him off at his car. He had a car accident that night, and was killed.
Deeply moved by the sadness that my friend was experiencing, I was compelled to write her some comforting words about being able to see the positives of how her friend had influenced her life and suggested that he possibly came to her as an angel of change for her life.
This trajedy, impacted her deeply and encouraged her ... 
There was once a skinny young boy who loved football. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, all his heart and effort couldn't make up for his physical shortcomings. At every game, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever got to play.
However, the determined young man decided to hang in there. He hoped that maybe his body would grow to match his heart and dedication. All through high school, he never missed a practice nor game, but he remined a bench a bench warmer all four ... 
Whether a person likes animals, reptiles or not, this really is amazing, just goes to show what some human kindness can achieve.
Rather than trying to tame wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho -- a deadly 17ft crocodile.
The 52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy -- and giving him an affectionate hug.
Crazy Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but we have a good relationship.
He will look ... 
As I sat down to dinner yesterday the phone rang.
It was a child's voice on the other end that I didn't recognise. He explained that they had found the phone he was calling me on. They had looked up "Home" in the contacts file and so they were phoning the number that turned out to be me. From their description I recognised my step-son's phone. He'd left it at the football pitch where he'd been playing.
I asked them to wait a few minutes, put my dinner in the oven, and headed over to the location they had given me.
When I arrived ... 
It's the middle of the night and I find writing this blog nothing short of imperative. As I've been sitting on the floor in my disheveled room, I began to recall such an important moment in my life. Some might pass it off as "dumb" or "unimportant", but for me, it has held a great magnitude of power over my mind and how I live my life. Something so simple, yet so precious has lingered inside my mind for years now.
It was a very cold winter evening when a friend of mine had attempted suicide and was rushed to Westchester Medical Center ... 
My scheduled day of kindness this week is tomorrow (yes, I’m still doing it each week, just haven’t written about them all!) but I was not sure what I would do. While catching up on some of the stories here today, I decided I will make it Free Hug Friday! My catch phrase tomorrow any time I see someone a little down or frustrated is to say to them “Looks like someone could use a hug!” and then let them have it!
I’ll certainly have to be a little careful so I don’t scare some of the people inmy office. Most ... 
My second lot of Smile Cards arrived last week, and I have been trying to think of uses for them. Today, before I headed into town for a job interview, I decided to grab a handful and try to use as many as I could throughout the day.
The weather was awful, it was pouring with rain, and I would've loved to buy umbrellas for people. But being unemployed, I didn't have the money to spare. So instead, I decided to think of free or really cheap ways to make people smile -- after all, even the little things count. I knew I'd also ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |