Swandeh Terhide

A cab driver in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, is receiving commendations for his integrity after returning a significant overpayment made by a Chinese-American tourist. Zhang Peng, the driver, discovered that a passenger had mistakenly paid 6,500 yuan (approximately $950) for a ride that only cost 65 yuan (about $9.50). Zhang suspected the payment was an error, likely made by a group of four tourists he had recently transported from the train station to a hotel. After unsuccessful attempts to contact them through his dispatchers, he went directly to the hotel to clarify the situation with the front desk clerk. When the passenger, identified only by his surname Liu, learned of the mistake, he was shocked. Liu explained that it was his first visit to China and that he was unfamiliar with the WeChat payment system, which led to the confusion. “In the US, there’s usually a space for decimal points, so I thought I had to do the same here,” he said. Despite Liu’s offer of a reward, Zhang insisted on returning the full amount of the overpayment. Grateful for Zhang’s honesty, Liu left a glowing review on WeChat, expressing his disbelief and appreciation for the driver’s integrity, especially given the substantial sum involved. “For some people, money is their only goal, and 6,500 yuan is a lot of money. I felt so excited yesterday because you returned it,” Liu wrote. Let us ensure that our pursuit of daily sustenance does not diminish our honesty and humanity. Together, let’s remain steadfast in our kindness and integrity.

Despite enduring a brutal fight against kidney failure and stage one breast cancer, Amy Pettenato has remained fiercely positive in the face of her health problems. When it finally came time for her to shave her head, however, the mother-of-one couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. Thankfully, an “angel” in a restaurant swooped in to lift her spirits right when she needed it. In addition to Pettenato undergoing dialysis and cancer treatments, she has also been working full-time at a credit union in Medford, New York—which is why she was so relieved to go out with her family for a lazy Sunday brunch at Metropolis Diner earlier this month. As she was eating, Pettenato noticed that there were four little girls dining next to her with their parents. She later recalled the incident on Facebook, saying: “At times I noticed one of the daughters looking at me and then noticed the mom looking and smiling at me.” Since it was Pettenato’s first time out in public with only her cancer survivor hat to hide her shaved head, she felt embarrassed and self-conscious. The neighboring family eventually paid their check and got up from the table, but before they left, the mother sat down next to Pettenato and began sharing her own experience as a 13-year cancer survivor. After encouraging Pettenato to stay positive, the woman left the restaurant. Not only that, Pettenato was later informed that the woman had secretly paid for their meal. Pettenato was so emotional over the heartfelt experience, she took to Facebook in hopes of tracking down the woman so she could thank her for her kindness. “She was an angel and made my day,” wrote Pettenato. “Not because she paid the bill but because she wasn’t afraid to sit next to a total stranger and share her experience and wish me the best.” Her Facebook post ended up being shared hundreds of times until the woman was finally identified as Kerry Holmes-Vallario. When asked why she reached out to Pettenato, Kerry Holmes-Vallario told News outlet: “When I saw her I knew exactly what she was feeling—I remember the day my husband shaved my head; it was the hardest day of my life. When I saw her sitting there I just wanted her to know that she isn’t alone in her fight and that ‘we’ as warriors are all here for each other. “On my journey I had met so many women who became friends from this disease and I wanted a just reach out to her and let her know I was there for her,” she added. We may forget everything else but I hope we won’t forget one vital lesson here – to be there for each other. Let’s stay fiercely kind.

A 19-year-old Walmart cashier named John Lopez Jr. recently captured the attention of his community in Princeton, Texas, after he selflessly paid for a distressed woman’s $110 grocery bill. The incident unfolded when a woman ahead of another shopper, Laci Simms, realized she did not have enough money to complete her purchase. In a moment of compassion, John stepped in and offered to cover her expenses, using part of his college savings to help her during a challenging time. Laci, impressed by his kindness, took a photo and shared it on Facebook, praising John’s upbeat demeanor and his ability to inspire faith in humanity. As Laci’s post went viral, numerous community members began to share their own positive experiences with John. One local resident, Brandon Weddle, recognized John from the photo and expressed how he and his wife had often discussed the young man’s impact on customers. Motivated by John’s generosity, Brandon decided to create a GoFundMe page to raise funds for him, aiming to support his college aspirations. Initially set to raise $1,000, the campaign quickly gained traction, surpassing its goal and ultimately raising over $34,000 within just a few days. The outpouring of support for John did not stop at the crowdfunding effort. He was also honoured by his manager and the mayor of Princeton, who presented him with a certificate and a medallion recognizing his good deeds. The funds raised through the GoFundMe campaign were transferred to John’s bank account, and he expressed his gratitude, stating that he plans to use the money for his college education. This recognition not only painted John’s character in positive lights but also showcased the community’s appreciation for kindness and selflessness. May this scenario awaken the spirit of kindness in us. Let’s show kindness to all.

Despite the popularity of Girl Scout cookies, few would consider spending $540 on them. However, that is exactly what a generous man did earlier this week. This Good Samaritan’s motivation wasn’t a love for Samoas; he aimed to help two Girl Scouts escape the frigid weather. Maya and Emerson were selling cookies outside a store in Greenville, South Carolina, when a man first approached and purchased seven boxes for $40. Shortly after, he returned and announced he wanted to buy their entire stock, allowing the girls to leave the cold behind. In total, he spent $540 on cookies. We can all learn to take actions solely to assist others. By putting others first, we thicken the abundance of kindness and generosity in our daily lives. Small gestures of support like the one here, set the frequency of kindness resonating all through the vastness of existence.

An employee of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano, Auwal Ahmed Dankode, discovered $10,000 while cleaning an aircraft and promptly returned it. Given the current exchange rate, this amount exceeds 15 million Naira. Despite the temptation to keep the money, Dankode recognized it did not belong to him and handed it over to management for the rightful owner to claim. This act of integrity highlights the importance of empathy and honesty. By considering the perspectives of others before making decisions, we can foster a world where positive values flourish

A professor is receiving widespread acclaim for his compassionate gesture towards a student balancing education and parenting last month. Wayne Hayer, a 26-year-old college senior studying kinesiology at Morehouse University in Atlanta, Georgia, is also a father to a 5-month-old daughter named Assata. While Hayer’s wife typically cares for their baby, she needed assistance finding childcare for the day. During a mathematics class, Hayer received a text from her asking for help, prompting him to share his predicament with Nathan Alexander, the mathematics professor known for his strict “no texting” policy. Understanding Hayer’s situation, Professor Alexander invited him to bring Assata to class. The following day, Hayer arrived with his daughter dressed in a pink onesie. Alexander not only welcomed the baby but also offered to hold her, allowing Hayer to concentrate on taking notes. Classmate Nick Vaughn captured a photo of Alexander teaching with Assata secured in a baby carrier, which quickly went viral on social media. Vaughn noted, “Not only did he teach the entire lecture with the child in his arms, but he also stayed after class helping those with questions about today’s lecture with the child still in his arms.” The incident resonated deeply with many, proclaiming the importance of support for student parents and challenging stereotypes about fatherhood. Hayer expressed gratitude for the experience, describing it as a moment of solidarity that enhanced the learning environment. There are enough lessons and inspiration to be drawn from here. May we learn to use our positions in life to soften the situation of others.

Jamario Howards and his friends were sharing a meal at Brad’s diner in Oxford, Alabama when he saw the senior sitting alone. So rather than allow the woman to continue dining by herself, he crossed over to her table and asked if he could sit with her for a while Howard and the woman, who was later identified as Eleanor, began chatting and swapping life stories – and as they continued to chat, she mentioned that her husband had recently passed away and it would have been their 60th wedding anniversary the following day. “I instantly gave my condolences and asked her to come eat with us, which she was excited to do,” writes Howard. Eleanor and the three young men shared the rest of their meal together, laughing and chatting all the while, and Howard says that it taught him a valuable lesson about humanity. “The point in this is always be kind and be nice to people,” writes Howard. “You never know what they are going through. This woman changed my outlook on life and how I look at other people. Everyone has a story, so do not judge!” Let’s choose to judge less and show more kindness. The truth is, we may never fully understand the struggles others face. So, let’s commit to being fiercely kind to one another.

Social media users are praising a young delivery worker for coming to the rescue of an elderly man struggling to cross a busy street this week. The senior had slowly been making his way through a busy intersection in Singapore when the traffic light turned green. Thankfully, a nearby DHL driver saw that the man had only made it halfway across the road, and he immediately pulled his van over to the side of the road and rushed to the old man’s side. At first, the driver can be seen trying to help the man use his walker – but when they failed to make much progress, the driver simply gave the older man a piggyback ride to the other side of the street. The sweet moment was captured on video by Hambali Leonardi as he was watching the event unfold from his car. In addition to the DHL driver being hailed as a “hero” and “employee of the year”, social media viewers are also offering to give him money as a reward for his good deed. For all that it’s worth, kindness mustn’t come in monetary terms. Simple acts such as holding the door for someone, giving a listening ear and dishing honest yet kind compliments are truly magical.