Stories Matching 'Respect' Tag (54)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 School Children Play The 'Appreciation' Game--posted by sydskies, on Oct 28, 2010
comments (13) | email this | print | permalink School Friends Step-Up The Generosity--posted by trueblue07, on Oct 12, 2010 My friend and I had an assignment for one of our classes to do a random act of kindness and write and essay about the experience. We were inspired to take the assignment even farther and turned it in to a kindness project to recognise people who serve our community. We scoped out a number of places where people serve the community in our town. Then we baked (and baked) for 6 hours: cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pies, and brownies. When we were done baking, we began dropping them off. We went to two fire-stations, a hospital, the post office, the police department, and we even chased down ... comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Just Decide, Friend--posted by rashu, on Nov 30, 2010
comments (29) | email this | print | permalink Small Change Can Make A Big Change--posted by Nesquick86, on Dec 18, 2010 I was in the line at Dunkin Donuts. The couple in front of me had ordered their food and stepped to the side. I proceeded to order mine. Quick and simple. Then I noticed a young man. I could tell was not having the best of luck and it showed on his face. He walked in carrying his belongings in a torn plastic bag. The couple ahead of me turned, looked, then turned away. The lady grabbed her purse tighter and her husband quickly stood in front of her. I moved over so he could order. He looked at the board, checked his ... comments (31) | email this | print | permalink Sometimes It Just Takes A Penny--posted by keymaker, on Dec 28, 2010 On the street, outside a restaurant door, my wife and I are chatting with friend about some good news in her life. Right then, a woman comes up to me and asks, "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I'm really hungry and I'm wondering if you could spare some money?" In our city, there are many pan-handlers, so I typically would just share a kind word and move on. But somehow I feel moved to do something this time. Perhaps it was because we were just conversing about some good events happening in our friend's life and I had a sublte sense ... comments (25) | email this | print | permalink Even A Simple Act Can Take Your Breath Away--posted by prettypita, on Dec 25, 2010 A little over a year ago, a good friend of my mom's passed away, and it was only when I tried to reach her to let her know of my mom's passing that I was told this sad news. My mom's friend was a big part of my childhood and I remember her fondly. I hadn't spoken with her in many years, but I knew I was still her "Sunshine." My mom's friend had a sister, whom I only met as a child, but to whom I felt an instant connection. I knew immediately that I wanted to reach out to ... comments (21) | email this | print | permalink Kindness Returned After 35 Years--posted by sweetpulp2004, on Jan 11, 2011 My grandfather was the head of his village for nearly 20 years until we moved to a different city. About a month back, my grandfather was out for his usual evening walk to a nearby garden and didn't return. We were worried and searched for him everywhere but we could not find him. Later in the morning, we got a call from a hospital from an unknown person who had remembered my grandfather. All he remembered was his childhood nickname. We rushed to hospital to find that my grandfather had been hit by a vehicle and it was this person from 35 years ago who helped my grandfather reach the hospital. This good ... comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Decorating A Heart With Honesty And Kindness--posted by ramya, on Feb 5, 2011
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink The Kindness I See In The World--posted by LindaBurhans, on Feb 15, 2011 Kindness is a simple answer in a sometimes difficult and challenging world. I know that to be true. For a long time now it has been my mission to acknowledge and appreciate all people and to encourage others to do the same. When my 7 year old grand-daughter, Skylar, and I go out, we have a contest called “Who can make the most people smile. “ It makes for a wonderful glorious day. We will be walking in the supermarket and someone will be walking down the aisle with her head down. Skylar walks up to her and gives her a big smile. I watch her walk ... comments (28) | email this | print | permalink A Spontaneous Christmas Gift - From Everyone--posted by PomonaPoet, on Mar 22, 2011
comments (4) | email this | print | permalink Human Spirit Rises To Meet Japan's Tsunami--posted by Yuka, on Mar 24, 2011
comments (10) | email this | print | permalink My Mother's Simple Lesson in Kindness--posted by Cecilia, on Apr 8, 2011
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink Dinner With An Unexpected Friend Changed My Life--posted by WingingHope, on Apr 14, 2011
comments (32) | email this | print | permalink It's Not Too Late To Talk--posted by crosby2126, on May 5, 2011
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink Helping One Person At A Time--posted by ramyanags, on May 14, 2011 I live in Singapore where there are thousands of migrant workers from countries like India, Bangladesh and China. They work very hard, usually in construction sites, and are often away from their families for years in order to save money. Whenever I meet such a worker shopping in my neighborhood store, perhaps buying a snack or a drink, I try to pay for their purchases. What often means more to them than the few dollars I spend is the fact that someone has actually noticed them and wants to do a simple act of kindness for them. I have known times where they put something back on the shelf so they don't make me spend too much! My touching experiences with them has helped me understand that one need not spend thousands of dollars on donations to make a difference. Just pay attention to a less fortunate human being in your neighborhood and tell them know that they matter too. comments (21) | email this | print | permalink Helping A Friend Dance With The Stars--posted by crosby2126, on May 28, 2011 I wrote an earlier story about a friend who was put on hospice care. I would visit her on Tuesday nights and we would talk and have some "girl time". I would do her hair on those visits. I couldn't heal her but for a night she felt beautiful! We would talk and laugh. And after her hair was done on one of my last visits I put lipstick on her lips and some color on her cheeks. When I held up the mirror for her to see how she looked she smiled at me and told me she was ... comments (26) | email this | print | permalink A Beautiful Act of Pay-It-Forward--posted by Smiley70, on Jun 9, 2011
comments (28) | email this | print | permalink Four Special Sentences For My Grandson--posted by jab15, on Jun 25, 2011
comments (26) | email this | print | permalink Changing a Tire and Teaching a Son--posted by MakeSomeoneSmile, on Aug 10, 2011
comments (17) | email this | print | permalink Taking Grandmother To The Temple--posted by Janupd, on Oct 11, 2011 As you probably know Nepal a small country full of diverse religions and populations. As the daughter of a Hindu family there are many aspects of my religion that I have to bear in mind. But, even while keeping such strictures in mind, I want to be ale to live a life of kindness to others. When I was sixteen my friends and I were going to watch a movie. We sat waiting for the bus but it was very late. While we were waiting another bus came by and a old lady of about seventy got off. She had bags full ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink Practicing a Little Patience--posted by Aurelia, on Nov 17, 2011 I work at night in a department store. Yesterday I had a customer come to my register to order socks from our catalog. It seemed pretty clear and easy to me, but she was struggling to figure out how many 3packs she needed to order. She apologized for being so confused and told me she had a head trauma and it was taking time for her to think. I told her not to worry and we would figure it out together. She pulled out paper and wrote down 3 and then put numbers in groups....it was really something how she worked hard to figure out 3 x 4 = 12. That she needed 12 pairs, which was 4 packs...which I could have just told her, but I could see she needed to figure it out and feel good about it. In the meantime, her husband showed up and she lost her train of thought. It took about 10 minutes to place her order, but she left feeling really good about herself and her husband thanked me profusely. Sometimes it's hard to show patience, but it really pays off. comments (34) | email this | print | permalink Fierce Love--posted by Sajha, on Dec 10, 2011
comments (18) | email this | print | permalink The Traffic Warden's Toes--posted by sethi, on Jun 12, 2012
comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Vulnerability Brings New Appreciation for Kindness--posted by cf, on Sep 25, 2012
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink
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My favorite teacher plays a game with us at least once a week called "Appreciations". In this game, one person throws a ball to another person in the class who he would like to appreciate. Usually, we thank other kids for saying "hi" in the halls or hanging out on the weekend.
Today, however, the first appreciation was very deep, and the receiver began to cry. Afterward, we continued to go deeper and deeper, and our teacher decided to hold off on the lesson we were supposed to learn today. Instead, she had us all make envelopes to put on our desk ... 
I was waiting to pick up a friend at the airport when I had one of those life changing experiences, the kind that you sometimes hear other people talk about, the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.
As I was straining to locate my friend amongst the line of passengers exiting the airport, I noticed a man coming towards me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe 6 years old) as he laid down his bags. He crouched down and ... 
Yesterday I was asked to deposit some cash in the bank. I went out with the money to deposit and some extra money which was to be used to pay for renovations going on at my house.
The bank was busy when I arrived so I took a token and waited. While I was waiting I noticed an old lady struggling to get a cash-in payee slip. I went over and got the slip for her and then asked her what she needed done so I could help her. I filled in her slip and got a queue token for her.
When my turn came up, I deposited the money and ... 
[Amidst the tragedy of the quake, tsunami and the subsequent nuclear plant explosions, the narrative of hope can often get lost. Below is an excerpt of some truly heart warming moments of oneness that unfolded in the aftermath of the tragic Tsunami.]
You can see my full note here.
Below are the some of the heart warming anecdotes that I have witnessed and heard from others ...
Someone overseas called me on my cell. She said she wanted to connect to anyone who is in Japan, and so she called the country code and their own mobile number, which happened to be the same as ... 
It's easy to see how to help some people, but what about those whose needs are not so obvious? This story may have happened a while back - but it was a lesson which has stayed with me and helped me ever since.
It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a shelter for the needy. We stood behind the counter dishing out hot food to whoever came in. Most of our diners looked like they had been having hard times, their clothes were threadbare, they were dirty. In short, they looked needy!
Then, a man came in, who looked anything ... 
I am writing this story because it is not too late for me to talk to my parents. I realized this last night when visiting their house while they were away. I went to freshen it up for their return, and being at their house without them home made me sad.
As I went into their bedroom, I saw little reminders of them -- some Christmas gifts still in boxes and family photos that must have a special meaning to them. What took my breath away was seeing my dad's tags from his military service to our country.
My father never talked ... 
My now 7 year old grandson, who lives 100 miles away, has had my mobile phone number memorized since he was 4. Since then, he has called me every night before he goes to bed to tell me about his day or just to say "Good Night Gramma".
He also frequently calls me at other times during the day just to share a happy or sad moment. Many times he's dribbling a basketball with one hand, or laughing with a friend about something that I never quite catch on about, or crying about something he may or may not want to ... 
Last week as I pulled into the parking lot with my son for his baseball game, I saw a woman trying to change her flat tire. I told my son I would get him over to his practice field and then I was going back to help the woman change her tire.
When I got back to the parking lot, nobody had stopped to help her. I went over and offered. She tried to be nice and said that she was fine, but I could see otherwise so I insisted. Besides, my mother as she watches me from above would have ... 
Sometimes kindness has a ferocious beginning.
My dear friend Michael stood in line at a grocery store. In the next line a mother had lost her temper with her screaming three year old sitting in the cart seat. To everyone's shock the woman began slapping the little boy's face. Michael (a therapist) turned to her and commanded, "Stop!" The woman jerked, as if from a trance and buried her face in her hands as she began to sob. Michael took her in his arms and held her as she cried. Then he comforted the little boy. The woman thanked him and ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |