kindness

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.

Finn Lanning, a middle school math teacher at AXL Academy in Aurora, Colorado, has made an indelible impact on the life of his student, 13-year-old Damien, by offering him a home and a chance for a kidney transplant. Damien, who has faced severe health challenges since his kidneys failed at age eight, has been in and out of foster care due to his medical needs. His unstable housing situation previously prevented him from remaining on the transplant list. After learning about Damien’s struggles, Lanning began visiting him in the hospital, where he was receiving treatment. Recognizing the urgency of Damien’s situation, Lanning decided to become his foster parent. This decision, just like most others, wasn’t without its challenges, including training to care for Damien’s medical needs and managing the costs associated with his strict diet. Support from Lanning’s colleagues, who donated sick days, and a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $50,000, have helped ease their financial burdens. Now living with Lanning, Damien has been placed back on the transplant list, and they are hopeful for a call from the hospital soon. Lanning aims to adopt Damien by the end of the year, ensuring he has a stable home. “Damien deserves a place he can call home,” Lanning stated. How truly beautiful will it be, if we’re not only preachers of love and kindness but real-life marshals of kindness, embodying love wherever we go.

Sometimes, the smallest gestures can bring the greatest happiness. This was evident when a Ugandan woman, who had never owned a pair of shoes before, was gifted her first pair by a kind-hearted traveler. Laura Grier, a photographer, was driving through Bwindi National Park in Uganda when she spotted a barefoot woman on the side of the road. Moved by the sight, Grier asked her driver to stop the car. She then proceeded to remove her own tennis shoes and handed them to the woman, who was a member of the Pygmy tribe. The shoes fit the woman perfectly, and her reaction was nothing short of pure joy. She immediately burst into a happy dance, twirling and jumping with excitement. Grier’s driver helped put the shoes on the woman’s feet, and the woman’s priceless reaction was captured on video. “When I saw the woman on the side of the road barefoot, I urged my driver to stop,” Grier recounted. “The woman was barefoot and had never owned shoes before, so we stopped the car to pull over and give them to her, and her reaction to wearing the shoes was priceless!” This should serve as a reminder that even the simplest acts of kindness can bring immense happiness to those in need. Grier’s gesture, though small, made an impact on the life of a woman who had never experienced the comfort and joy of wearing shoes before. In whatever little way we can, let’s spread kindness, love and joy.

An Australian family’s vacation was rescued by a kind-hearted stranger after their car broke down during a long road trip. The Melrose family, consisting of Daryn, his wife, and their two daughters, were traveling 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) across Australia to participate in the national minnow sailing championships in Darwin. They had left their home in Gippsland, towing two boats for the competition, but their journey hit a snag when their vehicle broke down in the Northern Territories, leaving them 620 miles from their destination. Heartbroken at the thought of missing the event for which they had trained all year, the family felt their dreams slipping away. However, after ABC News shared their story on social media, hope arrived in the form of Rodney Sims, a resident of Darwin. He came across the post while browsing his feed and was reminded of a similar situation he faced 30 years ago when he received help from a stranger. Determined to pay it forward, Sims drove to the motel where the Melroses were staying, hooked up their boats to his truck, and transported them back to Darwin, completing a remarkable round trip of 1,250 miles. The Melrose family was profoundly grateful for Sims’ generosity. Daryn expressed his appreciation, calling Sims a “legend” for his incredible effort, which allowed his daughters to arrive in time for their competition, where they hoped to achieve podium finishes. While it may not be immediate, the urge to pay forward past experiences of kindness would always surface. And when they come calling, let’s not hold back. Keep T.A.L.K.ing.

A generous mother from Arkansas is receiving accolades for purchasing the entire inventory of a closing shoe store to donate the shoes to those in need. Carrie Jernigan was shopping at a Payless Shoe Store in Alma with her children when her daughter requested an additional pair of Avengers-themed shoes for a classmate who had outgrown hers. Jernigan gladly agreed to buy the shoes for her daughter’s friend. However, on a whim, she inquired about the cost of buying all the remaining shoes in the store. “I jokingly asked, ‘how much for the rest of the shoes in the store?’” Jernigan recounted. The cashier’s reaction indicated that the idea was feasible, prompting her to provide Jernigan with her contact information. The district manager later reached out to Jernigan with the total cost to purchase approximately 1,500 pairs of shoes, and she eagerly accepted the offer. Since her purchase in May, Jernigan and her family have been distributing the shoes to children in their community who are in need. Jernigan expressed her pride in her children’s values, stating, “If you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they say to be kind. I don’t care what they do in life as long as they are kind and good people.” She emphasized that this experience has reaffirmed her belief that their hearts are in the right place, and that works for her.