Hand Full of Nickles

Today I was getting a coffee and noticed the guy behind me was counting change to get his coffee. He had asked the price of a medium ice coffee and when he was told the price he looked concerned at his hand full of nickles. I waited in the line in case he didn't have enough money. He finished counting and was 20 cents short. Just before I was able to offer up the rest of the money the girl behind the counter offered him the senior discount. He was by no means a senior and was very grateful for her kind act.

Avocado Lady

So I was on vacation in Mexico with a good friend of mine Jose Cardenas. Since he's a native I was able to see a different side of Mexico. We went to his families small towns and other places I would never have seen. Everywhere we went I witnessed kind acts. Just taking me around with him was a kind act in itself.

This story is about one outstanding kind act that happened on this trip. We went to a small restaurant in a town I cant remember the name of. After we got our food I innocently asked if they had any avocado. She apologized and said no. I was okay with this of course and went on with the meal. I looked up a few seconds later and saw the woman driving away on her scooter.

When she came back, she had an avocado for me. She had gone out specially for me just to get one avocado. This is kindness that I have never experienced before in the US or anywhere else for that matter. I was shocked and extremely grateful and of course left a large tip.

Submited by Janet Blythe

A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Karen Knowles and I were driving down a divided highway in the villages, fl in the morning and she  saw a dead cat on the road and saw that it had a pink tag on it. She asked me if I minded stopping to get the cat as it for sure belonged to someone.

I told her sure. So she made a legal U-Turn and pulled off the road. I stayed with her car and she proceeded to try to cross the heavily traveled road to get to the cat. Finally, she just put up her hand to stop the traffic and went to see the cat.

It did have a tag with a name and number on it. She picked up the still warm cat and brought it over. Karen called the number on the tag and a young girls voice message came on saying she was at school and couldn't take the msg. So Karen left a message that her cat was found. but decided not to tell her that it was dead.

We caringly wrapped the cat up in paper and placed it in a satchel Karen had in the back of the car and drove it back with us to Karen's house. It wasn't until after school let out that the young girl called her back and Karen had to tell her the bad news.

Karen went above and beyond this act of kindness by delivering the cat to the young owner so that she could bury it in her yard. The young girl was so grateful and though emotionally upset was glad that her cat was brought back to her to bury herself.

Thanks for the great submission Aunt Janet
Cory

Submited by Lois Anne

Yesterday I asked for guidance in helping a small dog suffering with Myasthenia Gravis and Megaesophagus. I was led to a Bichon Rescue group online with two contacts. Last night I received a four-page email from a woman by the name of Marilyn. The amazing response offers hope amidst tears of fear in how to help this little three-year-old dog, Snowball...even a gift of a chair for feeding her in an upright position.

Marilyn touched my life with her love and kindness. Thanks, Cory, for providing a place to share the story.

Thanks Lois Anne for the great story.

Cory

Some Inspiration

When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.
—Abraham Lincoln

Family in need

So the same girls that had the man give up his seat for them on the plane the other day payed it forward while on their trip. While they were taking a break from there memorial site tour, they noticed a family in need. The family had brought their dog on vacation with them and were not allowed to take it into the Lincoln memorial with them. The only solution they had was to pair up into groups and experience the site separated. The girls had overheard this dilemma and they offered to watch the dog while the family enjoyed themselves.

First of all I believe that the fact that they even noticed that the family was in need was a kind act. Secondly that they offered to watch the dog shows how much kindness they have in their hearts. It was a simple task and they had fun playing with the dog, but it still was an incredibly kind act. They were in tune with the kindness around them, which enabled them to lend a helping hand.

Pui on Left and Amy on Right

Thanks for the blog entry
Pui, Som, Eve, and Amy

Perception

For a long time I believed that the world was going cold. Through the process of self reflection and the careful observation of people over the semester, I realized it was actually me who was becoming cold. I guess cold is a harsh word maybe just less aware. I have been blindly walking about, unaware of the kindness going on around me. I am beginning to realize that focus is vital to how we see the world. Depending on whether your point of view is pessimistic or optimistic can greatly alter your perception. By thinking about performing kind acts I have become more aware of the kind acts being done by others and there effects. Its funny, even the people who perform these acts don't realize how profound of an effect they have on the recipient. Through my project I hope to better myself, becoming more aware of the kindness in the world. By documenting this journey I hope that others can benefit from my experience.