Stories Matching 'New Ideas' Tag (73)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 Christmas Gift For A Six Year Old--posted by Brendan Moran, on Nov 29, 2007
comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Miles of Smiles--posted by JZ, on Apr 24, 2006
comments (58) | email this | print | permalink Wear Smiles--posted by JZ, on Jan 26, 2008
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink 40 'Left Over' Carnations From Graduation--posted by Kat Callaway, on Jun 21, 2007 Recently I graduated from high school, and as a gift I recieved a huge bouquet of carnations; 40 to be exact! I had so many that I didn't know what to do with them. The next weekend my niece and nephew came (ages 4 and 5) and we took every single carnation and tied a smile card to it's stem. We then went to our local Dillions Store and I gave each of them one flower at a time. I explained that these flowers would make other people smile, and then they could take the cards and do something nice ... comments (34) | email this | print | permalink The Dusting Lady In My Hospital Room--posted by Maureen Flanagan, on Jul 20, 2006
comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Do I Have Enough?--posted by Sharon Palmer, on Aug 10, 2006
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink The Japanese Man, Frank, and Michael--posted by keymaker, on Oct 6, 2006
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Giving someone a chance to recharge--posted by KingHartuc, on Jan 20, 2007
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink An Idea For a Rainy Day--posted by preciv95, on Jan 22, 2007
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.
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink An Experiment in Teaching Children Philanthropy--posted by Author Unknown, on Jan 30, 2007
comments (13) | email this | print | permalink Stones and Flowers--posted by Author Unknown, on Jan 29, 2007 One afternoon, he discovered that if he tossed stones over his neighbor’s fence, he could create a crashing sound, the sound of breaking glass. So he would heave a stone and wait for the crash. Heave, crash. It was great fun and felt a little dangerous. He might get caught, after all, but that, to a small boy, was part of the excitement. As it happened, he did get caught. The man who lived next door came to his house and told his parents about the boy and the stones. ‘I would like Juan to come to my home so I can ... comments (9) | email this | print | permalink Love Endures All--posted by jennieG, on Mar 30, 2010 When one of my colleagues was diagnosed with cancer, he decided to take a leave of absence. He decided to take leave not only because he was undergoing treatment, but also because his wife was going through treatment for a brain tumor. Given that they were both in bad shape, he decided to take the leave so that they could enjoy each other's company while they still had the chance. Before he went on his leave, he purposely came to his office after hours to gather his personal belongings - just in case. At the office, we all felt very bad but didn't know how ... comments (13) | email this | print | permalink The Man Who Planted Trees--posted by Jean Giono, on Dec 18, 2007 In order for the character of a human being to reveal truly exceptional qualities, we must have the good fortune to observe its action over a long period of years. If this action is devoid of all selfishness, if the idea that directs it is one of unqualified generosity, if it is absolutely certain that it has not sought recompense anywhere, and if moreover it has left visible marks on the world, then we are unquestionably dealing with an unforgettable character. About forty years ago I went on a long hike, through hills absolutely unknown to tourists, in that very old ... comments (14) | email this | print | permalink Why Do You Share?--posted by warmth, on Dec 19, 2007
comments (29) | email this | print | permalink Mother’s Last Laugh--posted by vishalsalian, on Jan 11, 2008 Consumed by my loss, I didn’t notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend - my mother. She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense; I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me when my father died, encouraged me in college, and prayed for me my entire life. When Mother’s illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently ... comments (47) | email this | print | permalink The Law of Garbage Trucks--posted by nickgrand, on Jan 28, 2008 [ Original story, by David J. Pollay ] Sixteen years ago I learned an important life lesson, in the back of a New York City taxi cab. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by mere inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and started yelling bad ... comments (88) | email this | print | permalink Requesting A Comment For Sara--posted by gipsysoul, on Feb 11, 2008
comments (63) | email this | print | permalink How A Bookstore Can Change Your Life--posted by JZ, on Mar 4, 2008 [by Jeremy Mercer, Ode, Nov 2007] One of the more romantic literary notions is that a book can change a person’s life. Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Ford, for instance, claims Walker Percy’s novel The Moviegoer made Ford the author he is today. Or a book can have more immediate consequences for people, such as my grade-school friend who read My Side of the Mountain and promptly ran away from home with nothing but a penknife and a ball of twine. If a book can change your life, a bookstore can utterly transform it. In my case, I found one, or perhaps ... comments (28) | email this | print | permalink The Slow-Down Culture--posted by Manju, on Jun 3, 2008
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink A New Attitude Makes All the Difference--posted by lmil1954, on Jun 20, 2008
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Uncovering the Naked Beauty of My Soul--posted by pulse, on Feb 15, 2009
comments (33) | email this | print | permalink The Shop That Stayed Open on Christmas--posted by UrbanAshram, on Feb 19, 2009 Shopkeeper Tom Algie faced a dilemma over Christmas -- how to give himself and his three staff time off but without letting down his customers. So he came up with a solution to suit everyone: leaving the hardware store open with an honesty box. He left a note telling shoppers who came in on Boxing Day to serve themselves and then leave their payment in the box he had rigged up. Perhaps astonishingly, his plan worked. Trusting shopkeeper Tom Algie wanted a day off and left his DIY store open with a note and honesty box - and returned ... comments (10) | email this | print | permalink The Woman Whose Life I Wanted To Transform--posted by marjincharge, on Mar 8, 2009
comments (10) | email this | print | permalink A Box of Smiles With A Letter--posted by MakeSomeoneSmile, on Mar 19, 2009
comments (25) | email this | print | permalink My Daughter's Noble Sacrifice--posted by Kiran, on Apr 2, 2009 My wife called,"How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?" I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age.She has just turned eight. She particularly detested curd rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of curd rice! I cleared my throat, and picked ... comments (119) | email this | print | permalink A Flourishing "Free" Market--posted by ChakaRuna, on Apr 26, 2009 We are a small town of less than 4,000 people in the mountains of Ecuador . Recently our new organic farmers cooperative started hosting one afternoon a week to exchange our produce and seeds among ourselves...no money changes hands. As of this past week we started to lay our stuff on wooden tables set in a portal on the main square, we hold hands around the table to give thanks to our ancestors who used to do this in ancient times in this country, and we pray in thanks, either out loud or silently according to each one's own spiritual beliefs. ... comments (18) | email this | print | permalink An Impromptu Wedding Present in Action--posted by WorldCitizen, on May 5, 2009
comments (6) | email this | print | permalink Would You Help A Little Lost Robot?--posted by hiteshee, on May 17, 2009
comments (11) | email this | print | permalink A California Town Turns Strangers Into Friends--posted by Susan Herendeen, on May 20, 2009 California town decides to put kindness on the agenda By Susan Herendeen Wednesday, April 22, 2009 WATERFORD, Calif. — This little town in eastern Stanislaus County may be known for the orchards and dairies that dot its rolling hills, but this week city officials are reminding the 8,100 residents to pass on some good cheer by doing something thoughtful for a stranger, mentoring a youngster or simply being a good neighbor. Thanks to a push from the Waterford Ministerial Association, the city has declared "Random Acts of Kindness" week, which began Sunday and ends Saturday, at the close of a community clean-up day. City ... comments (2) | email this | print | permalink Choosing to Live Fully--posted by Modestobob, on May 31, 2009
comments (41) | email this | print | permalink
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When I was 21 yrs old, I was dating a girl whose parent's friends were going through a divorce. They had a 6 year old daughter and unfortunately their separation was just before Christmas and we both knew how upset the little girl was. Her dad was not living in the house and wasn't planning on spending Christmas with them.
So my girlfriend and I wrote little notes like, "On the first day of Christmas, my secret Santa gave to me...." and put a gift each night on their porch for the little girl. We started this about 2 weeks ... 
"Right on. This is my kind of protest," he says while going past me. I hadn't thought of it way before. But perhaps it is a protest for lack of smiles in the world.
About 15 of us gathered earlier today to create poster boards that we would proudly hold up on busy street intersections of San Francisco. The posters would say simple things like "smile" or "smile anyways" or "spare a smile?" or "smile, it's free". We weren't doing this as a part of any organization but rather as friends and well-meaning citizens of the ... 
When I was in hospital and just given birth to my first child a lady use to come in and dust and sweep. I would say 'Hello' and she would never answer. 
I was doing some last-minute shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces.
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 ... 
Once a year, I give my two children money. The only hitch is, they have to give it away. I give them each $100. They know it is a lot of money, so they are careful how they use it. It is their job to find out who in our community is doing things that they feel good about, and then decide who will get the money, and why.
Giving away money, even if it is only ten or twenty dollars, is a tremendous way to learn about the positive work people are doing right in your own neighborhood. It makes ... 
A reporter once asked a farmer to divulge the secret behind his corn, which won the state fair contest year after year. The farmer confessed it was all because he shared his seed with his neighbors.
"Why do you share your best seed corn with your neighbors when you're entering the same contest each year?" asked the reporter.
"Why sir," said the farmer, "Didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grew inferior corn, cross-pollination would steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow ... 
There is a story that I want to share with you. It may not change your life, nor may it move you to tears. But there is a chance that it may touch that space in you from where the fountain of life springs from, in all of us. The place from where it all began. Where the entire history of mankind, of the universe, we can all feel inside of us - in the content of our souls.
This was a few years back when I had left for the United States from India to study at a prominent ... 
I'm an American who has lived in France for nearly 20 years. I've whined and complained with other Americans about how the French are unfriendly, cold, reserved, unavailable for friendship. I've had a hard time making a living here as a psychotherapist and healer and periodically blamed this also on the French.
I live in Versailles and for the past 4 years the city has sponsored events for International Women's Day. Three years ago, I moved to a new neighborhood and felt an intense need to meet people so I went to the cinema night for women's day featuring the film ... 
Two of my dear friends got married last Saturday, May 2nd -- a special date for the wonderful souls. But what it was even more special was their intention: "We would like our wedding, and in fact our entire marriage to be about creating more good in the world."
When I got their *personalized* wedding invitation exuding love, creativity and inspiration, my heart was instantaneously filled with gratitude and joy.
Circumstances didn't allow me to attend their wedding in person, but I tried to celebrate their union in a unique way.
Ever since I received their invitation, two and half months ago, ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |