True story.

I have a little store and all sorts wander in the doors. I had a kid come in who said that he and his Grandma were homeless and living in their car. Now there is a local program called helping hands that sometimes can cough up some $ in these situations. So I was looking for the phone number of the local minister that could help them. I got really frustrated by the unhelpful phone book and slammed it down on the counter and…(wait for it)…The door opened and the Minister walked in. Serendipity or God at work, either way, just WOW! – Kathleen

While checking out in the grocery store, I dropped a glass jar of artichokes. It shattered and glass flew everywhere with the oily liquid spewing. I was mortified. I immediately apologized.

The clerk calmly came around to clean it up, telling me it happens all the time (it was my first). It took quite a while to clean up. I apologized to the people in line after me, still feeling so terrible (of course, it was later in the evening so it was the only line open). A woman 2 people behind me asked what brand of artichokes I had and went to get another jar for me. The lady behind me said it’s ok and chatted with me about good recipes with artichokes.

Another worker came to help us finish cleaning up my nasty mess. All four of these strangers made me feel so blessed that I stopped feeling badly about what had happened.

The kindness of strangers! – Paula

A few years ago my husband was made redundant. It was a massive shock as he had always dedicated himself to the firm, we often joked that the firm came first and the 4 (at that time) children and I came a close second! It was a massive blow to my husband and although he understood the firm’s financial position, he was a little hurt. We are a couple who have always earned and paid our way, in fact, we pride ourselves in it. We are the couple who pays our bills first and tries to have a little fun with what is left afterward. Luckily we had redundancy and mortgage insurance for three months. I managed to make this last for six months. read more →

While I was in Washington I was at a pizza place and saw an elderly couple. The man was in an electric wheelchair and appeared not to have much use of his arms. His wife also arrived in an electric wheelchair but left hers outside because there wasn’t room for two in the small space. She hobbled inside and fed her husband his food. It was just so sweet watching them. So I went to the counter, away from those I was dining with, and paid for their meal asking that they not be told it was me. read more →

What would happen if people saw reminders of kindness everywhere they went?

That’s what I sought to find out as I walked around downtown nearly two months ago brandishing bright, orange signs that said “Do Good. Be Kind. Change the World.” My goal: Kick off “Signs for Good”, a new project aiming to plant these orange signs in yards or windows around the country. That simple message — Do Good, Be Kind, Change the World — reminds people that there are some things we can all agree on, even in a time where finding common ground can be difficult. It’s a message that can resonate with folks of any religion or political affiliation; from any walk of life. read more →