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.

McNeil works as a barista at a Starbucks in DuPont, Washington. Back in January 2017, she noticed that one of her regulars, Vince Villano, had been looking rather depressed every time he came in to order his cold brew. He kind of seemed like an Eeyore, just a little bit grouchy, a little bit of a sad sack all the time. After several visits, she finally decided to ask: “What’s been going on with you?” She insisted that she was willing to listen to him, so Villano got the courage to sit down with her and explain that he had polycystic kidney disease, an incurable genetic condition that causes cysts to form on his kidneys. Villano needed a kidney transplant – otherwise, he would be facing a lifetime of dialysis or worse. McNeil was heartbroken. As the day progressed, she could not stop thinking about Villano’s predicament, so when she finally got home from work, she recounted the story to her husband Justin. Then without hesitation, Justin said: “I’ve got a kidney, you know, we could do this. I think I’m willing to do that.” After volunteering to get tested, Justin and Villano began spending holidays and weekends together only to find that they had a lot in common – they were both Army veterans, they both liked hiking and camping, and even more excitingly, they were perfect donor matches. Although we often focus on our own lives and avoid interfering in others’ affairs, life would undoubtedly improve if we looked out for one another and showed genuine concern for each other’s well-being. After all, there is only one race— and that’s the human race. Let’s nurture and protect it with kindness.

In a rare display of compassion, a police officer in Somerset, Massachusetts, responded to a shoplifting incident by buying groceries for the suspects instead of pressing charges. It was five days before Christmas when Officer Matt Lima responded to a report of shoplifting at a Stop & Shop grocery store. Upon arrival, he learned that two women with two young children had not scanned all of their groceries at the self-checkout before exiting the store. Officer Lima took the women aside and discovered they had fallen on hard times and attempted to take the additional groceries to provide a Christmas dinner for their children. The mother of the children was not working and had some other family issues going on. Rather than filing criminal charges, Officer Lima served the women with Notice Not To Trespass forms. He then purchased $250 worth of gift cards with his own money so the women could buy groceries for their Christmas dinner at another Stop & Shop location. “The two children with the women reminded me of my kids, so I had to help them out,” Officer Lima said. He added, “I just did what I felt was right. It’s not about me, I just tried to put myself in that family’s shoes and show a little bit of empathy.” Chief George McNeil commended Officer Lima’s actions, stating, “They exemplify what it means to protect and serve the members of our community. When faced with a difficult situation in which a family was trying to provide a meal for their kids, he made the generous decision to not press charges and instead ensured that they would have a Christmas dinner they could enjoy.” Even the toughest tasks can become manageable when we prioritize kindness and empathy as fundamental values in everything we do. May we continually radiate kindness.

Lawrence Jaramillo and Joshua Melendrez, two former inmates, have transformed their lives by finding success in the forestry industry after their release from prison. While incarcerated at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility, they participated in a state-run program focused on firefighting and prevention. This initiative equipped them with essential life skills for reintegration into society and also placed them on the front lines of wildfire response teams in New Mexico. Fueled by their experiences, both men dreamed of starting a business together upon their release. After gaining their freedom in July 2017 and January 2018, they took the leap and founded All Around Forestry. Since obtaining a business license in November 2019, Jaramillo and Melendrez have employed a crew of former inmates, creating valuable opportunities for others facing similar challenges. Their success story proclaims that life continues after the darkest of nights and that adversity can be transformed into opportunity. Life can often feel discouraging, especially during our lowest moments. However, Jaramillo and Melendrez exemplify that with determination, self-love, kindness and a positive outlook, we can overcome daunting challenges. Their journey is indeed a reminder that self-kindness and love are crucial in restoring our spirits during uncertain times. Every ending is merely a new beginning—by being kind to ourselves and maintaining a positive attitude, we can better spread kindness and positivity to those around us.

Sy Newson Green faced a crisis during his freshman year of high school. His father required a heart transplant, and his mother suffered an accident that left her visually impaired. With both parents losing their jobs, Green’s future at Palma School, a private all-boys Catholic institution, was suddenly uncertain. Unexpectedly, help came from an unlikely source: inmates at California’s Soledad Prison. These inmates pooled their earnings from prison jobs, with some external assistance, to cover the majority of Green’s tuition, amounting to an impressive $32,000, enabling him to complete his education through graduation. The inspiration for this initiative stemmed from a book club. Jim Micheletti, an English and theology teacher at Palma School, initiated a reading program called Exercises in Empathy at Soledad seven years prior. This program facilitated regular discussions between Palma students and inmates, fostering a deeper understanding and challenging stereotypes. Micheletti noted the transformation in students’ perceptions, saying, “They go in thinking ‘monster,’ and they come out thinking ‘a man, a human being.’” Among the inmates, Jason Bryant and Ted Gray, who were serving long sentences, aimed to create a positive narrative despite their not so colourful pasts. They decided to establish a scholarship fund for a deserving Palma student, selecting Sy Green, who excelled academically and athletically. Over the next three years, Bryant and Gray worked diligently from behind prison walls to raise funds for Green’s education. Although most contributions were modest, the consistency made the difference. Now 19, Green graduated from Palma last year and is currently studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. After serving 20 years, Bryant received clemency and now works as the Director of Restorative Programs at CROP, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing recidivism through training, career development, and stable housing. He believes that helping others is the key to breaking the cycle of crime and punishment.

Kevin and Blake first met at summer camp when they were 13 years old. Even at a young age, Kevin thought Blake was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Although they stayed in touch through instant messaging and phone calls in the following years, they eventually lost contact due to the distance between Indianapolis and Michigan. One year after they stopped talking, when Kevin and Blake were both 17 years old, a fateful phone call changed their lives forever. Kevin was seconds away from taking his own life, having already written a suicide note, when his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was Blake calling him out of the blue. During their conversation, Kevin confessed to Blake that he had been planning to commit suicide. Shocked and concerned, Blake talked him down and made him promise to call her the next day. Over the following months, the two became even closer friends until they fell in love and started dating. Ten years after that pivotal phone call, in 2015, Kevin proposed to Blake. During his proposal, he reportedly told her, “I love you. Also, thanks for saving my life.” This story does cause some unexplainable, yet familiar vibrations in my consciousness. And I really hope it will make us all see the need to regularly check up on people. That phone call, that SMS! may be all that’s needed to save an unspeakable situation. T.A.L.K to someone today.

An Arizona woman heroically rescued her neighbors from a house fire, an act captured on their doorbell camera. Early on New Year’s Day, Carolyn Palisch noticed smoke drifting past her window and rushed to check on the Salgado family, who lived next door. The footage shows her banging on their front door in Avondale, Arizona, until she finally woke them at 7:30 AM. Nicole Salgado expressed gratitude for Carolyn’s persistence, noting that they escaped just moments before the roof collapsed. The fire caused the Salgado family to lose all their belongings, but a GoFundMe campaign did raise $48,000 of their $50,000 goal. Nicole Salgado described the frantic moments as they scrambled to escape, with everyone rushing out without shoes or socks. They were in shock as they watched their home burn, thankful to be alive. And grateful for Carolyn’s quick actions that saved their lives. Nicole remarked on the situation, emphasizing their appreciation for Carolyn and her bravery. “If it wasn’t for her, it’d be a totally different story,” Nicole said, declaring Carolyn a part of their family. One another is all we’ve got, let’s be intentional about being one another’s keeper; Always looking out for one another.

Mercedes Boggs, a young woman from Kentucky, narrowly escaped death when her car hit a patch of ice, flipped on its side, and slid down an embankment into a frigid creek. Trapped inside her mangled vehicle with cold water rushing in, she regained consciousness and felt a sense of despair. However, fate intervened when a stranger appeared, making his way toward her. In that moment, Boggs felt a sense of relief, stating, “When I saw him, it was just like everything was fine. I wasn’t even scared anymore. I just knew that that was like my saving grace.” The stranger, identified as John Burke, a Kentucky coal miner, was on his way home from his night shift when he witnessed the accident. Without hesitation, he stopped to help. Burke freed Boggs from her vehicle and was assisting her up the embankment when her car burst into flames. Had he arrived just half a minute later; Boggs would likely have perished in the ensuing explosion. After an ambulance crew took charge, Burke continued on his way, unaware of the scale of kindness he had done, and inspired. Meanwhile, Boggs was rushed to the hospital without knowing the name of her saviour. In a desperate attempt to find and thank him, she turned to social media, posting a heartfelt plea on Facebook. Within hours, her post was shared nearly 900 times, catching Burke’s attention, who then reached out to her. When Boggs spoke with Burke, she expressed her immense gratitude, but he downplayed his role, not seeing himself as a hero. However, Boggs and her family viewed him as a true superhero. “Kids look up to Batman and Superman; that’s how I look at John now. He will forever be my hero,” she told News outlets. Burke’s selfless act of kindness not only saved Boggs’ life but has also restored faith in humanity.