Stories Matching 'Kindness of Strangers' Tag (206)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 A Flashlight From An Old Man--posted by gcampanella, on Jun 26, 2007
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink Message In A Wallet--posted by Moonshadow, on Aug 1, 2007
comments (95) | email this | print | permalink The Day Star Trek Came Alive--posted by snowflake66, on Aug 20, 2007 When I was about five or so my favorite television show was Star Trek. Dr. Spock was clearly my favorite character and I listened to his advice with great seriousness. When I found out that he was going to be signing autographs at TSS, I begged my mother to take me. To continue this story, you have to understand a little about my chaotic childhood. With rampant abuse, television, movies, and books were my only escape. I delved into them and found places, people, and situations both like my own and not. It gave this little girl hope. It helped to ... comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Unspoken Contract With A Rickshaw Driver--posted by keymaker, on Aug 29, 2007
comments (36) | email this | print | permalink Stormy Night Outside Taco Bell--posted by Keleth, on Sep 2, 2007
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Dare to Care--posted by David Servan-Schreiber, on Sep 7, 2007 Originally posted in Ode Magazine It's Saturday night in the Paris métro. Two friends, Etienne and Sophie, are on their way to dinner. After sitting down in the crowded train, they discover the body of a homeless man curled up at their feet. How did he get there? How long has he been lying there? Is he dead? They look around: Everyone avoids looking at the body. Nobody has any idea how to handle this situation. Etienne and Sophie don’t know what to do either. In a study done in the 1970s, young Christian seminarians were assigned to teach a course on ... comments (19) | email this | print | permalink A Goal of Kindness, Smiles, and a Slurpee.--posted by snowflake66, on Oct 10, 2007 Last week I decided I would choose one thing to be kind about and really focus on achieving that goal. That goal was to allow anyone who wished to, go ahead of me -- putting others' needs first before my own, no matter what. And let me tell you, this was not easy. Especially driving :) But true to my word I let others go before myself. Drivers who needed to merge were, with a smile and a wave, allowed in front of me (much to the distress of the people behind me -- so I guess I didn't really make ... comments (25) | email this | print | permalink A Blind Date And An Eyebrow Wax--posted by Rice, on Oct 11, 2007 I was sitting in the salon with my eyebrows bushy and badly needing a wax. The man tells me it'll be ten minutes. Ok, I'll be back I say. And I'm back in 10 and waiting patiently. Just then a lady walks in requesting the same service - an eyebrow wax. The man asks her if she wants to wait awhile. She laughs and responds, "Do I want to wait? No." She readies herself to turn around and leave. I speak up and ask if it's still 10 minutes for me? No, it will be 20 minutes for the new ... comments (10) | email this | print | permalink Taking Off My Shoes--posted by guin, on Aug 13, 2008
comments (39) | email this | print | permalink A 'Grave' Situation--posted by Swift, on Dec 12, 2007 On my way into the city of Orillia today, the sun was shining bright. It was a very hot, gorgeous day. For me, it wasn't a very easy morning, but everything was falling into place and I felt good. Just then, I noticed some peculiar activity in a small graveyard just off the road. As I got closer, I noticed that an elderly man was attempting to pick something up. With a car parked on the small laneway in the graveyard, he was crouching beside one of the gravestones. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that he was sobbing. After all that ... comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Running On Empty--posted by jacqueline, on Dec 30, 2007
comments (29) | email this | print | permalink It Doesn't Stop With Umbrellas--posted by liztree, on Apr 6, 2008 I have a good friend, Tom, who keeps extra umbrellas in his car. On rainy days he drives by bus stops and hands free umbrellas to anyone who needs one. Yesterday, a young man knocked on my door. He was canvasing the neighborhood setting up appointments for free window replacement estimates. He stood far from my door and spoke carefully. I knew why. Despite much progress, stereotypes are still very real. I knew this young African-American man was not getting a whole lot of doors opened in my neighborhood. I opened my door wide and we chatted for a few ... comments (34) | email this | print | permalink Garden Of Blessings--posted by wayfarer, on Apr 20, 2008
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink An Unforgettable Taxi Stand Encounter--posted by Whoami, on Apr 30, 2008 Recently, when I was waiting at a taxi stand, I noticed a young man engrossed in polishing shoes. I decided to get my shoes polished as well and as I was paying him I noticed on his left-hand some sort of old marking. That took me back to 2001 when I had, at this very taxi stand, consoled a boy who had an injury on his hand. The boy had told me that his step-mother had branded him with a hot iron because he had demanded more food. I had bought a chocolate for him and also two tins of shoe-polish ... comments (18) | email this | print | permalink The Gift of a $1 Car--posted by downeyek, on May 1, 2008
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Unforgettable Hug at Orange County Jail--posted by supune, on May 15, 2008
comments (30) | email this | print | permalink Repaying a Stranger's Generosity--posted by megumi, on May 7, 2008
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink Tears of Joy, Love and Gratitude--posted by mermangel, on Dec 26, 2008
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink Mystery of a Missing Class Ring--posted by joyjoy, on Jul 5, 2008 Many times we write about how we shared our kindness and I wanted to share a brief story about how I received kindness from a stranger. Kristin, my 22 year-old daughter, just graduated from college and also just recently purchased her first new car. In the process she traded in her old car, which by now is 10 years old and was a good and faithful friend that proceeded to overheat 4 times on her way to the dealer to pick up her new car. This transaction was completed in the beginning of November. On Moday of this week, there was a message on my ... comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Measuring Success with a Smile--posted by diane1, on Aug 8, 2008
comments (30) | email this | print | permalink Kindness 2 Miles Away from Home--posted by rachael_babar, on Aug 30, 2008
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink A Smile Knows No Language Barriers--posted by mouse, on Aug 21, 2008
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink The Karma Bus--posted by alieneeeter, on Sep 8, 2008 A few weeks ago I missed my bus (actually the driver wasn't paying attention and drove past me!). It was really cold that day, so I went to this little diner a block from my bus stop while I waited for the next one. There was only one slight problem: besides my bus money I had a whole 35 cents on me and they didn't take credit cards. The waitress was super-nice and offered to buy me a cup of coffee, and we chatted a little while I was waiting. A week later I missed the bus again, but this time I ... comments (20) | email this | print | permalink On the Way to a Job Interview--posted by Molly, on Sep 10, 2008
comments (15) | email this | print | permalink An Unexpected Thank You from 3 Years Ago--posted by jantaigen, on Sep 23, 2008 “You probably don’t remember me,” she began, “but I have come back to file for Graduation with Distinction.” And then she pulled out a piece of paper from her wallet and gave it to me to read. It was my handwriting, but I didn’t remember writing it. As the Assistant Director of the Honors Programs at the university, one of my jobs was to review student transcripts to make sure they met requirements for continuing in Honors. It was not uncommon for freshmen to have a rough start and be notified that they could no longer continue in Honors after ... comments (28) | email this | print | permalink A Pocketful of Hope--posted by cassiemeadows, on Sep 29, 2008
comments (22) | email this | print | permalink Kneeling With a Bouquet of Flowers--posted by eris, on Oct 8, 2008
comments (50) | email this | print | permalink Pay It Forward Coffee (Video!)--posted by Sridevi, on Nov 18, 2008
Just saw this on CNN today: Perhaps all our collective good karma is impacting the world after all! Keep spreading the goodness, friends. comments (10) | email this | print | permalink This I Believe, Robert Heinlein--posted by hopeful, on Dec 23, 2008 This article has been taken offline by the request of Trustee of the Heinlein Prize Trust regarding infringement of a copyright. comments (2) | email this | print | permalink Healing the Hurt in Others--posted by smilingsusan, on Mar 4, 2009
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I recently went to a restaurant to buy a pie for a party. As I walked up the steps and opened the door, I saw a hunched-over old man with a cane walking toward me carrying a handled bag full of things he had just purchased there.
I stepped back and opened the door widely so that he could pass through easily.
As he did so, he stopped and said to me, "Wait!" He set down the bag, reached into one of his pants pockets, and retrieved a tiny plastic keychain flashlight still in its original plastic wrapping. He handed ... 
Many years ago, when I was in high school and working weekends to pay for the extras that my folks couldn't really afford (like a school ring, class trip, etc.), I lost my wallet.
My old car required putting gas in the back (remember that?). I had prepaid and then put my wallet on the bumper, and drove off. I hadn't even had time to miss it when our phone rang and a man asked me if I had lost my wallet. I checked my purse and to my horror, I had. He asked me to tell him how much ... 
"Where to?" the rickshaw driver asks me with his mouth full of tobacco. "Vijay Char Rasta," I say. I'm headed to meet a few friends to talk about the purpose of life and things like that. :)
After some light conversation, the rickshaw driver and I quickly become friends. "Are you from Ahmedabad?" he asks me. "No, I'm just visiting a friend." "Just a visit?" "Yeah, he's opening a restaurant and he wanted my parents to inaugurate it. I'm helping him launch the café."
"Café? You mean, it's like a Barista?" he asks showing his knowledge about the ... 
Today was a rainy day and I was walking down the street feeling blessed. I felt like doing something kind for someone else, almost as if I was trying to spread the abundance of love I was receiving.
I suddenly saw this teenage girl dressed in tattered clothes, getting soaked and without any footwear. She was making her way through the dirty garbage and sewers, trying to pick something that would be of use.
I immediately told her to wait for me there as I ran home to get her something. Spontaneously, I took off my shoes, which I really love, wrapped ... 
The other night I almost ran my car out of petrol so I took the next exit off the highway to pull into the nearest petrol station. I only had $20 cash on me.
As I pulled in, hadn't even turned the car off, there was a young man walking towards the car next to me. He spoke with the driver of the car and the driver shook her head "No" and then he approached my car. Usually I would be cautious and let my "He looks shady and possibly a con" opinions control my actions - but not tonight. ... 
There’s a park that runs through the centre of Edinburgh. Sitting beneath Edinburgh Castle, the Princes Street Gardens are full of families, sunbathers and, of course, ice cream stands on sunny days. The weekend my wife and I spent in Edinburgh was scorching. We had an amazing time, seeing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and being entertained by street performers along the Royal Mile, all rehearsing their acts for the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts.
Well, all good things must come to an end. So, we packed our bags and left the hotel. The gardens were empty at this time of day ... 
I am serving in Americorps VISTA in Cheyenne. Although the work has been challenging, the rewards are immeasurable. The weather in Cheyenne has proved to be adventurous! Although the fact that I walk everywhere has proven to be excellent exercise, for my body as well as my mind, I began to realize that I needed another form of transportation for the winter.
My boyfriend Mike knew of this desire and he researched some local sites for inexpensive vehicles. The second he sent me information about a 1978 Ford Fairmont, I just knew this car was meant to be! I began ... 
This story was brought to my mind after reading some of yours :) It happened several years ago but I have never forgotten it.
My husband and I were going through some bad times financially. We had both lost our jobs and were trying to catch up on bills by cutting grass for extra money on the weekends. We got up one Saturday morning and loaded up the little flat bed trailer that we carried our lawnmower on and headed out.
About 15 miles from the house the trailer started swerving and we realized that it had a flat tire. ... 
This past Christmas is the first one ever that I feared we may not be able to bring Santa to our little ones who are 5 and 3. I tried not to get down or focus too negatively on it; I have a deep knowing that things always work out somehow and I also did not want to perpetuate a feeling of "lack" in our lives.
In late November, a memo came home from my son's school requesting anyone who felt they needed help with Christmas. People who had children under 12 were asked to call the phone number at a local outreach center. So, ... 
While traveling for my documentary project, HEAR US, I pulled up to a busy Phoenix intersection and stopped at a red light. An obviously homeless man began crossing in front of our paused vehicles. I was first in line and was completely preoccupied with the reality that I couldn't find my 1:00 appointment at the nearby (or so I thought) shelter. He turned toward me, pointing to the corners of his mouth, made a universally understood motion to indicate "SMILE" and stood and stared at me.
With a snicker of someone who had been caught being overly pensive, I flashed a smile, ... 
I was visiting my sister a couple of weeks ago and it was snowing hard, in between bursts of icy raindrops. My husband and I dived into a coffee shop for a quick burst of heat. Sitting there watching the rain run down the window and people battle with their umbrellas all I could focus on was the one girl standing outside of the shopping centre selling a homeless magazine. Her approach wasn't pushy, just to ask if anyone wanted to buy it and then avert her gaze to the puddles on the ground. So many people walked past weighed ... 
Here's a quick reminder to all of you when you get stuck in a moment --- that, somewhere out there, someone always comes along with a pocket full of hope.
Today I spent all my coins and dollar bills on little deeds. I had skipped breakfast because the clock was ticking away too quickly. On top of the mad rush, I forgot my lunch. I was going to buy my lunch along the way, but a person in need asked me if I could spare them some cash, so I decided that moment, to put them first.
So, then later, that evening, I was heading home anxiously awaiting dinner, when I got a call from my Mom saying that she was ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |