Stories Matching 'Seniors' Tag (100)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 Simple Act--posted by Anonymous, on Feb 11, 2006 My mother recently wrote a thank you letter to Medicare to express appreciation for their patience in guiding her through the new prescription card process. They were totally shocked, and someone called to thank her. Many people everywhere provide services for us. We complain about the buraucracy, but forget that these are people like us who are just trying to make a living. comments (2) | email this | print | permalink A Tattoo Named Lost--posted by singlestep, on Apr 17, 2008
comments (56) | email this | print | permalink A Neighbor's Blessings--posted by Agnes Haddaway, on Apr 10, 2006
comments (9) | email this | print | permalink An Old Friendship--posted by ram mohan, on Apr 15, 2006
This is about an incident which took place couple of years back. comments (11) | email this | print | permalink Sunflower and a Frog--posted by JZ, on Feb 23, 2008 He took it out from around his neck and leaned down a bit, his eyes looking straight into mine. "Would you mind?" he asks. Looking at him through his eye glasses, I smile and say, "Of course not, Lee. It would be an honor." And with that, I was garlanded -- probably for the first time in my life -- with a simple necklace. Lee is the epitome of a happy-go-lucky guy. He used to be a trucker, I think. If there were one word to describe him, it would be happy. Or joyous. And what a pure heart. In one ... comments (24) | email this | print | permalink Remembering the Elderly--posted by Enid, on May 23, 2006
comments (5) | email this | print | permalink My Grandma's Breakfast at IHOP--posted by Kat Callaway, on Jul 26, 2006
I have been using the smile cards for quite a while, and I try to get my family members to do it with me. It is a lot of fun. comments (1) | email this | print | permalink The Almond Paw--posted by twocents, on Aug 11, 2006
I had to come on to UC Irvine's campus to accompany a friend to a meeting. In the parking lot, I enlisted him in my scheme with a Smile card and short explanation. We were each supposed to make 1 person smile, pass on the card, and meet up to share the story of what happened. comments (6) | email this | print | permalink A Little Time On The Elevator--posted by Star, on Aug 26, 2006
I was at a business meeting, and I had to run downstairs to pick up some documents. As I was hurrying to catch the elevator back upstairs to my meeting, an elderly woman stopped me and asked me to go on the elevator downstairs with her. comments (7) | email this | print | permalink 300 Rupees and a Blind Man--posted by Raghu, on Oct 11, 2006
At Manav Sadhna, a non-profit organization in India, it’s a common site to see people come in asking to see Jayeshbhai (one of the Founders). One day, I was milling around when I saw an elderly man come in using a walking stick. It was obvious that the man was blind and as I went to him to offer my assistance, I found out that he was blind in both eyes. comments (6) | email this | print | permalink Learning Morality from a Begger--posted by Raghu, on Sep 22, 2006
comments (3) | email this | print | permalink The Japanese Man, Frank, and Michael--posted by keymaker, on Oct 6, 2006 The Japanese man points to my airplane seat, right as I head to the bathroom. He didn't speak much English, so I just signal that I'll be back in couple minutes. When I return, we play charades to see if he wants to swap his aisle seat with my window seat. "Yes, yes," he says with a child-like glee. I am more than happy to oblige. My window shutter has been down for couple hours of the flight already and I am hardly planning on making any further use of it. Right before he changes seats, he folds his hands and bows ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink Ripples of Light--posted by alchemist, on Oct 31, 2006
comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Kindness for a Cancer Patient--posted by allexie, on Nov 25, 2006 I'm having chemo at the moment and got on the bus feeling rather weak and sick. A little old lady got up to let me sit down saying "I know what it's like." She was glancing at my headscarf which covers my baldy head. Full marks to her for consideration and KINDNESS XXX comments (7) | email this | print | permalink Best Looking Yard in Town--posted by lazyonsundays, on Jan 26, 2007 My husband and I own a lawn care company and so many times we would pass this house that was very unkept as far as the lawn was concerned. Last week, we decided to stop in and see if we could help. Nobody would come to the door for the longest time. Finally, a little old lady came to the door, very reluctant to open the door. We explained to her that we did not want to harm her in anyway. After a few minutes of talking we asked her if we could cut her grass for her? She was quick ... comments (26) | email this | print | permalink Grandma's Ice-Cream--posted by Patricia, on Jan 28, 2007
My mother and grandmother were incredibly generous, giving, and loving people. I think that love and giving go hand in hand. comments (1) | email this | print | permalink Planting Date Palms--posted by James Fadiman, on Jan 16, 2008
[A Sufi Story] comments (10) | email this | print | permalink An Unforgettable Dinner Date--posted by Satish, on Feb 28, 2007
comments (34) | email this | print | permalink Giving Grapes For Bottled Water--posted by guin, on Mar 2, 2007 Where I live, it is highly unsafe to drink water from taps; so most people buy packaged water when they run out of their own. The other day I did a really tiny kind act: this lady who seemed kind of poor (she wasn't wearing shoes) sat next to me on the bus home. She mumbled something to herself in a cross way about not having water, how the bus fare has been increased, and about how she needs to buy water now. Generally passengers never interact with each other, but I thought I could make an exception. I reached into my bag and gave her a packet of mineral water I had bought. After receiving this unexpected gift, she looked quite happy. We chatted for a while and before I left, she gave me some grapes that she was carrying with her. She wouldn't let me leave the bus until I took the grapes! It reminded me that sometimes those who have less are so much more generous than those who have a lot. :) comments (12) | email this | print | permalink Difficult Choices Bear Deep Rewards--posted by guin, on Mar 17, 2007
comments (21) | email this | print | permalink A Chance Encounter And a Priceless Lesson--posted by afriendlysmile, on Apr 5, 2007 Last weekend, I was walking across the village green when I saw an elderly gentleman on the bench, just overlooking the duck pond. I thought he looked abit forlorn so I went over and sat next to him. After a few comments about how nice the weather was and how there were alot of ducks in the pond today , he told me how he used to come with his wife and watch the children feed the ducks with their mums. They didn't have any children of their own. He explained he had been married for 54 years when his wife died ... comments (15) | email this | print | permalink 87 Year Old Woman Named Rose--posted by Monsieur, on Apr 10, 2007 The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly ... comments (138) | email this | print | permalink I Wish You Enough--posted by brighteyes, on May 10, 2007
comments (123) | email this | print | permalink A Wallet of an Old Man--posted by SmileHiClub, on Jun 8, 2007 There I was, a sole-parent, walking down the street. The week had been hard and today was full with bill paying and running errangs. As I walked the street, with my head down deep in thought, I noticed something unusual in the gutter. Moving towards the object, I realised it was a wallet. I picked it up and immediately looked up and around for the first time that day. The street was bare with only one shop -- Guidedogs for the Blind. Standing there, my first thought was that perhaps someone would return to claim the wallet. But after a ... comments (25) | email this | print | permalink Advice From An Old Man--posted by brighteyes, on Jun 16, 2007 A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and face shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," ... comments (16) | email this | print | permalink 5 Love Notes To My Grand-mother--posted by tesa, on Jun 19, 2007
comments (73) | email this | print | permalink An Unforgettable Fishing Experience--posted by Mike Delyria, on Dec 12, 2008 Several years ago, I worked for a trucking outfit as a driver. It was my habit to go in on Saturday and spend a couple hours maintaining my truck. As I was under the truck greasing it, I noticed the owner's elderly father making his way over to his grandson's truck next to mine. The old man was in his high eighties, had been an avid fisherman all his life, and had come out to ask the kid to take him fishing after work. The grandson told him all about how much he would love to do that, but, he ... comments (30) | email this | print | permalink Mystery Muffin Giver--posted by brighteyes, on Jun 22, 2007
comments (54) | email this | print | permalink A Flashlight From An Old Man--posted by gcampanella, on Jun 26, 2007
comments (20) | email this | print | permalink Happy Birthday And A Gold Coin--posted by Rice, on Jul 5, 2007
comments (19) | email this | print | permalink
|
Find Stories More Stories LOADING
Meredith's Letter From the Post Office (May 18, 2013)One Candle at a Time (May 14, 2013) Found on the NYC Subway (May 11, 2013) My Smile Deck Week (May 11, 2013) Girl Gets Up At 5AM To Decorate Her Entire Street (May 9, 2013) Idea of the Week Corporate Compassion.Read more in our weekly newsletter. Need help with ideas? Ask our kindness experts! |
Got on the plane in Minneapolis for the two hour and nine minute flight to NY. Spent the first nine minutes of it talking to the young curly-brown-haired passenger with long sideburns. In the first three minutes of talking to him I noticed on the back of his hand a ball-point-pen tattoo. One word.
"Lost".
And for some reason that touched me. In the same inexplicable way that "Help Wanted" signs in store windows do sometimes. That people would be so honest, so open about their vulnerability.
I wonder what he is going through.
This fellow passenger with his friendly manner who freelances ... 
Each week, I give my elderly neighbor a ride to the store, when I am going. She keeps trying to pay me, and I keep refusing. I tell her that it doesn't cost any more for her to ride with me. 
I am a mother of two and always have had a special spot in my heart for people that have spent many years on this earth. I somehow fall into these peoples lives for some reason or another. 
I have been going through a difficult patch recently and a friend told me this story when we spoke one evening. I am sharing the story with you because it gave me a little bit of hope when I was in need of a positive perspective. I hope that the ripples of this lovely story give you some hope if you need it too.
He said that he was standing at the entrance of his building that evening, on his way home from work. He was talking to the building porter, when an old couple entered to go towards their flat. ... 
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you. The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
"What's wrong, are you well?" ... 
I think that while some acts of kindness are easy to do or are done in a sort of planned way, there are other moments that test you.
In the face of hunger, suffering and misery, my mind begins to rationalise and justify why I shouldn't be helping. However, sometimes after the good fight, a sense of compassions wins and I do something. Otherwise my laziness or fear wins over and I just walk away.
Today I faced this kind of choice.
I had walked a bit of a distance from my University Campus to my bus stop. I did not have all ... 
At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough."
She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed ... 
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 ... | Home | About Us | Our Friends | Get Involved | Contact us |  |  |  |