kindness

Larry Farrish Jr., an elementary school bus driver in Jefferson County, Kentucky, was on his route picking up children for school when he noticed a little boy, Levi, sitting on the ground with his jacket over his head, crying at his stop. “Normally when I pull up, he’s standing there waiting for me with a big smile, but on this day, he was sitting on the ground with a jacket over his head,” Larry said. “I asked him, ‘Hey buddy, what’s going on? What’s wrong?’” 7-year-old Levi, with tears streaming down his face, told Mr. Farrish that he didn’t have any pajamas, so he couldn’t participate in the school’s Pajama Day. “I thought, ‘I gotta fix this,” Larry stated. “It hurt me so bad. That just wasn’t my Levi, and I wanted him to have a good day. No child should have to miss out on something as small as pajama day.” After completing his bus route, Larry stopped by a local Family Dollar store and purchased several pairs of pajamas in various sizes. He then brought them to the school’s office and asked them to get the pajamas to Levi for the school’s pajama day.  Levi was overjoyed. “It really turned the whole Friday around, for him and for me,” Larry shared. Larry has been a school bus driver for seven years, having previously worked as a corrections officer and a truck driver. He finds great fulfillment in being able to help children and make a positive impact on their lives.”They become my kids after they leave their parents. I make sure they get to and from school safe, but I also try to bring some type of joy to their lives,” he said. Giving back to the less fortunate would not only allow you to put a smile on someone else’s face, but it may also open your eyes to a bigger reality. By doing this, you may become a source of strength for others with better societal sensitivity, be Inspired to Try A Little Kindness.

Ten years ago, James Harris Jr. and Russ Redhead were fierce rivals at a pool tournament in Maryland, competing for a trip to Las Vegas. However, a life-saving decision made by one of them transformed their relationship from adversaries to close friends, illustrating the power of compassion. Over time, their friendship deepened as they bonded over their shared love for pool. In 2020, Harris faced a health crisis when COVID-19 exacerbated his kidney disease, requiring him to undergo dialysis. His wife, Denise, initially volunteered to donate her kidney but was it was revealed on examination that she wasn’t a match. Determined to help, she reached out to friends and family for potential donors. During a pool tournament in November 2022, Denise shared her husband’s situation with Russ, who immediately offered to donate his kidney. After undergoing extensive testing, Russ was confirmed as a perfect match. Both men had their transplant surgeries on February 8, 2024, and recovered well. As they continue their journeys, Harris is preparing for his first pool tournament post-transplant, and the bond between him, Russ, and Denise has grown stronger, with Russ now considered family. Their story highlights the far-reaching impact of kindness and friendship, proving that true connections can emerge from unexpected circumstances. It is upon us therefore, to stay optimistic and fiercely kind too.

It’s exhilarating to hear that Luc’s willingness to provide love, care, and support to a child despite potential challenges speaks volumes about his character and compassion. Becoming a parent through adoption is a significantly kind and compassionate journey. That’s wonderful news! Luc became a father through the adoption of a child in 2017. Luc’s decision to provide a loving home for Alba, despite her having Down syndrome and being rejected by 20 families, is truly heartwarming and admirable. Alba was only 13 days old when her biological mom left her alone at the hospital. It’s indeed heartbreaking to hear about situations where individuals struggle to find a loving home. Luc’s decision to step up and provide care for Alba despite the rejections from other families is truly commendable. Luc felt prepared and confident in his ability to fulfill the responsibilities and commitments associated with parenting. And to be frank, he is giving it his best footing. Luc is a compassionate person, particularly drawn to helping children facing difficulties. He shares his interests and activities with his new daughter, possibly to build a friendship. She is open to new experiences and enjoys spending time outdoors and walks in the park and museum. Luc expressed profound gratitude towards Alba who completely attributed a transformative impact on his life. She has had a significant positive impact on his life, bringing him happiness and a sense of fulfillment. This does validate the two-way nature of the street of kindness, as it positively affects both benefactor and beneficiary. Luc and Alba’s story challenges and breaks down various stereotypes related to fatherhood, religion, and family dynamics. I am most optimistic that their story will continue to challenge these stereotypes in the future as well, and pave way for a deeper demonstration of kindness to everyone regardless of their physical or health inadequacies.

Seemingly minor gestures can often leave a huge positive impact. After reading this, you’ll find it hard to justify withholding kindness. This realization will no doubt prompt you to rethink your actions every time you interact with another person. Yesterday, while riding the Q train home, a passenger observed a young African American man dozing off on the shoulder of a Jewish man. The Jewish man remained completely still, allowing the young man to rest comfortably. After a moment, the passenger inquired if he wanted to wake the young man, but the Jewish man shook his head and replied, “He must have had a long day; let him sleep. We’ve all been there, right?” When the passenger disembarked the train 20 minutes later, the young man was still peacefully asleep. This small yet kind gesture served as a reminder of the inherent goodness in humanity. Each moment offers us an opportunity to do something positive for someone else, and our small yet impactful actions can inspire others to key into a lifestyle of kindness too. As you go about your usual engagements today, do remember that we owe each other nothing, except KINDNESS.

What better way again could a man convey kindness and gratitude to his alma mater? A motel owner in Burlington, Iowa, has surprised the elementary school he attended by writing a $700 check to pay overdue school lunch fees for dozens of kids. Jerry Fenton’s donation covered 89 students and their parents at Grimes Elementary school, the same school he also attended as a child. The overdue lunch balance at the school was only $458.63 at the time of the donation, so the extra funds will go towards future balances as well, allowing his impact to help even more children. After Fenton’s donation, parents who owed money were sent a note from the school saying their balance was cleared. It is well documented that not eating lunch will have a negative impact on a child’s learning. However in the past years, research has indicated an increasing number of children arriving in cafeteria unable to pay for their meals. A 2012 survey of school meal programs found that 53 percent of school districts were experiencing an increase in unpaid meal charges. One may wonder why acts of kindness are often shown on media spaces. But it will interest you to know that, this is done in a bid to inspire others too to act kindly. Same way Fenton said he was inspired to help out the school after learning about a similar story on Facebook. The story that inspired Fenton’s good deed is about Josette Duran, a mom in Albuquerque, N.M. who is more than 1,000 miles away from Fenton. Duran’s son had asked her if he could have two lunches to bring to school so he could give one to a friend. Duran soon learned that her son’s friend’s mom had recently lost her job and couldn’t afford to pay his lunch bills. Fenton wanted to take this good deed a step further. Many of the students don’t even know that their lunch accounts are overdrawn, thanks to Fenton’s donation, students won’t have to worry about their lunch balances, and they might not ever learn why. We have high hopes that his deed will go on to help inspire other random acts of kindness since his story has gained so much traction.  Now it’s your turn to do something good for your fellow man. Times are rough, you should be kind enough to pay bus fare for someone; at the restaurant, offset the bill of another, in whatever way you can, just pay it forward. Be inspired to be the embodiment of kindness you expect of others.

Despite the seemingly prevalence of evil, hate and drama that is in this world, it is beautiful to see when others go out of their way and offer to lend a helping hand. A couple in Redmond, Washington was caught shoplifting at their local Target. Normal protocol for this situation meant calling the cops in to help mediate the situation. However, upon further investigation it was clear to the police officer involved that he had to do something more. The couple had two children ages 8 and 4 months who needed some basic necessities. They had tried to take diapers, shoes and clothing from the Target. The police officer realized the dire situation the family was in, and took his own money and paid for all the items that the family desperately needed. Redmond Police Department’s spokeswoman Becky Range said that officers often deal with shoplifters who are trying to support a drug habit or reselling clothes for profit. In this case, the officer addressed the situation and quietly walked to the cashier to pay for the items. Before he left, he directed the couple to local family resources. The family was in such need, the couple placed a pair of shoes on the old child’s feet to wear while leaving the store. The parents were served a trespass notice, but Target did not pursue any charges. The officer declined to be identified. If it wasn’t for an extra attentive supervisor, the good deed wouldn’t have gone noticed at all. One good thing about kindness, it could be done alongside your profession, any profession. Be inspired to TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS.

You know the saying, ‘When life gives you lemons make lemonade,’ well, when life gives you pizza, give away a slice,” Josh propounded. Josh Katrick had just finished his eighth round of chemotherapy for colon cancer when he ran into a bit of luck. The 36-year-old found out that he won free pizza for an entire year from his local pizza restaurant in Northampton, Pennsylvania. However, instead of celebrating his winnings and immediately running to get a slice of pizza, Katrick decided that other people in his community needed the food more. He gave every slice away! A local food bank has been the recipient of Katrick’s generosity. He cited that he was inspired to pay it forward this holiday season because of the generosity he received from others during his cancer treatment. “After everything I went through these last few months — I met so many people and have been receiving so much — I felt I wanted to give back.” Katrick said. He received an email from the shop telling him he won, and he replied asking if he could give the free pizza to someone else. “We asked the question, ‘Who are you thinking?’ and he said, ‘Northampton Food Bank.’ And it kind of, like, it hit a nerve…in the heart,” said the pizza shop’s manager, Frank Grigoli. After learning what Katrick wanted to do with his winnings, the pizza shop decided to extend its own act of kindness. The restaurant decided to double the prize to make sure Katrick gets his share of pizza, along with the food bank. It is indeed clear for everyone to see that, if the willingness to be humane, generous and kind is there, no situation or circumstances can hold us back. Every one of us has something to give, each one of us is capable of being kind, where we are and with what we have. It all starts with one kind thought, one kind word, one kind act and the world will be set ablaze in the furnace of kindness. Just like Josh Katrick, dare to be kind, regardless of whatever.

If you still subscribe to the notion that everyone is unkind, it is because you haven’t really taken time to look around you and see how kind humans can be. But in case you don’t find any, kindly rise to the challenge and set the pace. James Donaldson, aka ‘MrBeast’ a very famous Youtuber has 300 million subscribers, and they tune in to watch him perform crazy stunts. But the revenue from these wanton acts of viral content goes to more than just filming expenses—MrBeast has spent millions and millions on philanthropic causes. Taking his ‘Beast Philanthropy’ series to Central and South America, the YouTuber targeted areas where natural disasters had left people homeless. In Jamaica, a family living in a rural mountainous area lost their home in a landslide—they got a new modern home, as did another family whose house was flooded every time there were heavy rains. In El Salvador, MrBeast paid for the construction of row housing a safe distance from a river that had recently flooded and washed a small community away. He also built a soccer pitch for the kids to play on, and paid for brand-new soccer equipment, shirts, and cleats for all the kids. At this point, he had given away 50 family homes. In Argentina, he and his partners transformed 15 structures in low-income housing areas into ones that were comfortable, weather-resistant, and had all basic amenities. By the time he had finished doing the same in Mexico, he had given away 83 houses. In Colombia, in an area that had been dismantled by tornadoes, 17 families got new furnished houses. This is just the latest installment in MrBeast’s philanthropic activities—some of which go to projects on his subchannel Beast Philanthropy. He’s dug wells for villages in Africa, helped 1,000 kids and young people get cochlear implants, and held several massive fundraisers for feeding families, constructing solar power stations, and more. The thing about kindness, it is more real than we can ever begin to imagine. If only the needed activation energy is supplied, and we learn to give in to the dictates of empathy and kindness beeping in our souls, we would be transforming Earth into a colourful Haven for all.

Dami Fakolujo, a Nigerian-Canadian living in Ottawa, has made it his personal mission to help newcomers to Canada feel at home. As a former immigrant himself, Dami understands the challenges of adjusting to a new country and culture. When the Bamigbaiye family, a Nigerian family newly arrived in Canada, moved into the neighborhood, Dami immediately reached out to them. He invited the family over for a backyard barbecue, where the aroma of familiar Nigerian dishes filled the air and lively conversations flowed. Dami wanted the Bamigbaiye family to feel a sense of community and belonging from the start. Over the following weeks, Dami took the Bamigbaiye children on trips to the library, ski hills, and tobogganing areas, introducing them to quintessential Canadian activities. He helped the parents navigate the bureaucratic processes of obtaining driver’s licenses and enrolling the kids in school.  Dami’s support went beyond just practical matters – he shared insights into Canadian customs and norms, easing the family’s transition. Reflecting on his own journey as a Nigerian immigrant, Dami felt a deep need to pay forward the kindness he had received when he first arrived in Canada over a decade ago. He understood the importance of having a support system and wanted to ensure the Bamigbaiye family had the same opportunities he had been afforded. Dami’s commitment to helping fellow immigrants is a testament to the power of community and the importance of paying it forward. His actions not only enrich the lives of the families he supports but also a strong source of inspiration to those who believe in the power of kindness. If you don’t find any reason to be kind, it is because you’re yet to realize the many graces and blessings of the Universe upon you. Once the reality of Nature’s kindness dawns on you, you’ll see every need to pay it forward.

The countenance of kindness radiates so bright, embracing and positively capturing the hearts of all. It leaves prints that linger far beyond the breath of men. This year, kind hearts of men introduced the world to James, a Nigerian security guard at Providence College, who was recently given a monumental shock by the students he protects. Working 4 overnight shifts a week, student organizer Brandon Reichart said James greets everybody with a smile and always welcomes conversations no matter what time of the night. But for the last five years, James has not been able to return to his homeland to visit his family, and so Brandon organized a GoFundMe to secretly arrange a trip back to Nigeria with pocket money included. The GoFundMe page said that all donations will go first to buy James a ticket, then to pay for his food and lodging, but the donations kept on coming until the fundraiser was halted at $30,000. Then came the fun part, when Brandon and some of his fellow students entered James’ office and surprised him with the ticket.  “We started a GoFundMe to take care of our own, because that’s what we do here at Providence College. As long as I’ve been here they’ve done that for me, we do that for each other, so now we’re doing it for you,” said Brandon, with James sitting in his chair looking perplexed. “You’re part of the family, so our gift to you is a trip to Nigeria,” he says, while a fellow student tries to hand James an envelope; James covers his face and falls to the floor. It is clear to see and appreciate how a warm hug, a generous smile and a welcoming heart could all create arrays of open doors and opportunity in places and times we least expect. At TLI, we still stand on the existing belief system and mantra that, no act of kindness, be it ever little, goes unrewarded. Just be the positive change you desire.