kindness

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.

An elderly woman’s misdialed phone call turned into a delightful surprise when she accidentally left a voicemail for a local attorney’s office instead of a medical supply store. Bernice, a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, attempted multiple times to reach the store to order a new walker. However, due to a mistake in dialing the last digit, she consistently connected with the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office. Kyle Hartstock, an office agent, shared with KRQE, “I put it on speaker and played it for everybody because it was a different kind of missed call, and it was kind of cute and humorous at the same time.” When someone from the office returned her call to clarify the situation, Bernice simply expressed her need for a walker. Rather than leaving her to fend for herself, the staff members decided to pool their resources to purchase a new walker for her and deliver it as a surprise. Despite their refusal to accept any payment from Bernice for the walker, she expressed that the best part of the visit was the warm hugs she received from the young staffers. This heartwarming incident clearly shows how kindness can emerge in the most unexpected circumstances, and also serves as a wakeup call for us to always be ready to lend a helping hand.

Uber driver Latonya Young has given rides to hundreds of passengers—but there is one particular car ride she will never forget. The 43-year-old single mother from Atlanta, Georgia had been studying criminal justice at Georgia State University until she was suddenly barred from continuing her classes due to an unpaid $700 balance on her account. “Every time I got ready to pay the money, my kids needed something,” Young recalled to WIST-TV. “I said, ‘Okay, I’ll just wait.’” Young, working as a hair stylist by day and an Uber driver by night, had been driving a passenger to a soccer game one night when she mentioned her financial struggles with the university. A few days later, she received a call from Georgia State University saying that she was free to reenroll in more classes since her Uber passenger, Kevin Esch, had paid off her remaining balance. “I was literally blown away. A stranger has never done that or done anything like that for me,” Young told reporters. “When he paid the balance, I had to do this for him. I maintained my grades, As and Bs, just trying to do everything to make sure he knows I appreciate him.” Esch was in the audience when Young graduated with her associate’s degree a few weeks ago—and he is still serving as an inspiration to her as she prepares to study for her bachelor’s degree.

Compassionate firefighters in Florida are receiving recognition for their extraordinary efforts to assist a family in distress during a medical emergency. Captain Dennis Noble, along with firefighters Joe Clark and Duane Norman, were among the first responders who quickly arrived at the scene where a family of four had run out of gas while en route to the hospital. At the time, one family member was experiencing a medical crisis, prompting paramedics to provide on-site treatment before transporting them to the hospital. This left the remaining family members stranded on the roadside with a flat tire, an empty gas tank, and no funds to refuel. Taking initiative, Noble, Clark, and Norman pushed the minivan a quarter of a mile to the nearest gas station. They not only filled the family’s gas tank but also repaired the leaking tire. The Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) later shared a photo of the three firefighters pushing the vehicle on social media, commending them for their selfless actions. Regardless of our job descriptions, if the willingness to show kindness is in us, there’s hardly a portfolio that will obstruct the free flow of empathy. Let’s evolve to make our lives revolve around kindness.

22-year-old Giada Collalto had been living in the Spanish city of Bilbao as part of a European language studies course when—unfortunately for her and thousands of others—the COVID-19 outbreaks left her quarantined without hope of getting home. After a series of remarkable misfortunes, it was a stroke of luck in the opposite direction that got her safely back to her family in Venice. After word of the outbreak in Italy reached Ms. Collalto in Bilbao, she decided to wait and see what would happen. But in mid-March the semester was prematurely ended, and lectures began to be broadcast online. Studying abroad doesn’t make much sense if you are stuck in your apartment staring at a computer screen, and with the possibility of COVID-19 being the next historic influenza, Collalto became determined to return home. She managed to purchase a plane ticket from Madrid to Paris to Rome, then to Venice on April 8. However, the Italian government had already implemented the harshest quarantine measures, including a 200-meter restriction of travel around one’s house even in rural areas, and a flight attendant informed her she was not permitted to travel home. Aside from being stranded in a foreign country, she was now stranded in a foreign city: Madrid. “I was desperate and angry; my parents were worried but couldn’t do anything to help me. I called the embassy and they told to me to send an email. All hotels in Madrid were closed, with no public transport to go back to Bilbao,” she told CNN. A friend of hers from Bilbao contacted a taxi driver, a 22-year-old man named Kepa Amantegi. “He immediately said he was available to come to pick me up and he drove nine hours from Bilbao to Madrid and back,” Kepa said. However, when she returned, she was informed that her apartment was no longer available, whereupon Kepa invited her to spend the night. “His parents and his two sisters welcomed me as a member of the family, I will never forget their kindness,” Collalto recalled. The next morning, she and her new friend Kepa pondered if it were possible to simply drive the 1,500 km back to Venice. Kepa made attempts at calling local authorities and, surprisingly, receiving all the necessary authorizations for her journey home, as she was permitted to travel and the taxi driver was allowed to work. Despite her insistence on paying him for the 3,000-kilometer round trip, he graciously declined, stating, “I don’t want to take advantage of you; I see you are in a difficult situation, don’t worry about the cost.” After staying overnight at Collalto’s parents’ house in Montebello, Kepa returned home the next day with a tote bag filled with regional treats like grappa, wine, and chocolate Ms Collalto couldn’t contain her joy and gratitude as she expressed, “It’s something I will never forget; I was a complete stranger to this young man,” and added, “I think this pandemic can bring out the best in people.” Just like the pandemic brought out the best in people, every life experience gives us a neutral opportunity, it is up to us to do the noble thing by Trying A Little Kindness. Tough times may stretch us beyond our limits, but it’s crucial that we don’t use them as an excuse to be mean and inconsiderate. When we find people in a fix, we must resist the temptation to take advantage of their situations to exploit them; instead, our sense of humanity and kindness should overshadow every contradictory, self-centered personal ambition.

Cory Schneider, a Florida man, faced a difficult decision when he needed to part with the 1997 Ford Crown Victoria his late grandmother had gifted him after a car accident. Instead of selling it, he chose to do something meaningful. He shared on Reddit, “1997 Ford Crown Victoria—white—around 100k miles, almost all driven by grandma. Damn good physical appearance for a 24-year-old car. I want to help someone who needs it with a free vehicle.” The response was overwhelming, and after reviewing numerous requests, Schneider decided to give the car to Mark Selby, a 31-year-old substitute teacher, who had recently been in an accident that totaled his vehicle. Selby was living with his mother while recovering from his injuries. Marcel Gruber, another kind hearted fellow from St. Petersburg, learned about Schneider’s generous act and decided to contribute by placing $400 in the car’s glove compartment to cover registration and other expenses. As we can clearly see, kindness inspires kindness, therefore let’s not hold back on empathy, love and all that’s needed for a peaceful coexistence as we may just be the catalyst for a chain reaction of breathtaking acts of kindness.

We’ve all heard of an “Aha! moment”—when something confusing suddenly makes sense or a brilliant idea shows up out of the blue. Well, it seems that in Hawaii, there’s also something known as an “Aloha! moment”—an occasion that offers the opportunity to bestow an act of love or kindness. Chloe Marino was shopping at a Kahului, Hawaii supermarket with her 5-month-old son. As sometimes happens, she got distracted and accidentally left her wallet behind. Luckily, the wallet was spotted by eagle-eyed store security guard Aina Townsend, who volunteered to return it to its owner after his shift. Not having a car, the plucky 22-year-old took it upon himself to bicycle for nearly an hour—uphill three miles in the dark—to the Marinos’ door. “You know, I lost a wallet before too and it’s the worst thing in the world,” Townsend said. “I was just doing what I felt was the right thing to do.” Chloe, who didn’t even realize she’d misplaced her wallet, was blown away by Townsend’s determination as well as his willingness to help out a total stranger. Her husband, Gray, was so impressed that he posted an account of Townsend’s good deed to his Facebook page, and one reader was so moved that he started a GoFundMe campaign after learning Aina’s story: “This young man moved to Maui 5 years ago, and works as a security guard at the grocery store to support the family and put himself through college. What really got me was that he rides his bike to work and school every day because he doesn’t have a car, and has been doing this for 5 years,” wrote Gregory Gaudet on GoFundMe. “When I put myself in his position after a long day of work and school, wanting to go home to see my family and go to bed, but choosing to ride my bike to the next town miles away, instead, to return this women’s wallet, I know this guy has a huge heart.” On New Year’s Eve, the friends and family of Aina and Gray gathered at a local car dealership and presented a brand-new automobile to the Townsend family after collecting $25,000 in Aloha donations.