Last week I ran a giveaway for Brad Aronson’s HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time—a heartwarming book that highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things and offers practical tips for everyday kindness.
I had ten books to give away—four for the blog, three for Facebook, and three for Instagram—and I invited you all to share an act of kindness you’d recently received or witnessed for a chance to win. These are the four bloggers who were randomly selected:
- Tracy Steen
- MichaelannD
- Annette
- Amber Harmon
Email me at tinybuddha.com to request a copy!
If you didn’t win a copy, I highly recommend you grab one for yourself or a loved one here (perhaps as a Mother’s Day gift to thank your mom for her kindness, or a graduation gift to help someone create a sense of purpose grounded in love).
There’s a reason HumanKind has over 1,300 ratings on Amazon and endorsements from Deepak Chopra, Gabby Bernstein, and Neil Pasricha, among others. As one reviewer wrote, “It’s a feel good, do good book.”
Judging from the stories many of you shared last week, I know you all appreciate little reminders that there’s a lot of love in the world, and HumanKind is cholk-full of them.
You may not have seen them on social media but I was moved by their acts of kindness and decided to share ten entries from each one here. As they lifted my mood, I hope you feel the same.
Instagram: Kind acts of kindness shared
1. When we last travelled in a metro station, I stood and offered my seat to an older lady. My 8-year-old son observed and kept silent. My boy, eight years old, was able to see that my uncle had a bag, so he offered to take his place on the bus. He looked at me and winked like “I got this.” I felt so proud! ~@thearistochique
2. I’m now in a wheelchair and can’t do a lot of things around my house without pain. My neighbour came yesterday to clean my home. My neighbor came over yesterday and cleaned my house. I was overwhelmed by his kindness. ~@susan1228r
3. After work, my boss advised me to go online and take some time for myself. It was an act of kindness that is truly amazing. ~@brensiegollihue
4. Following a terrible loss in the family, I was welcomed back by my classmates. They filled my whiteboard with kind and encouraging words. I don’t think I’ll want to erase them! ~@christa_ha
5. Recently, in January, I found out that I had Stage 3 kidney disease. My sugar must be controlled. Yesterday was my birthday. I was a little sad because I knew I wouldn’t be able to have a birthday cake. A coworker came by and surprised me with an unsweetened birthday cake. It was truly touching to me. ~vanellaj5
6. Someone gave me an odd rubber toy that looked like a baseball while I was out walking my dog last week. That ball was given to me by a stranger who thought it might be a baseball. I brought it to the dog park today and gave it to all dogs as a toy. ~@saira.ashlee
7. My boyfriend is very selfless. He is constantly, always and forever trying to help others. A homeless man needed gloves after their hands had been sore from long time on the streets. My boyfriend helped him get them gloves. The man said to my boyfriend that he would like to contact his dad during their conversation. My boyfriend phoned the father, who was thrilled to be there in fifteen minutes. His kindness brought the family together, which I shared with my boyfriend. He wept. ~coco__magnolia
8. Recently, my landlord put a lock on the faucet outside so I could not use it to water my garden plants. I was greeted by the old lady down below who filled 8 one-gallon water containers and placed them on my front steps. Both the plants and I were happy! ~@avabearbooks
9. My spirits and physical strength were affected by severe hair loss after a prolonged COVID hospitalization. My family received homemade hair coverings and scarves that my friends gave me. ~@greenalien5000
10. Our car repairman fixed our daughter’s car for free because he heard we were donating it to a boy who had cancer. After fixing our car, he offered to fix us our plane tickets so we could fly back home. ~@indy_blau
Facebook shares acts of kindness
11. As a voluntary support person for refugees, I have been amazed at people’s heartfelt willingness to help those arriving from war zones. Recently a woman—a single parent on a very basic income herself—donated a pram, highchair, toys, and clothes to the point that my car could not have held any more. Both the refugee family and I were amazed. This troubled world is full of good things. ~@Päivi Kinnunen
12. My husband and I aren’t very plant-savvy, but we have a next-door neighbor who is! Our yard is much larger than theirs, but we don’t do anything special with it because we wouldn’t know where to begin. After several conversations about how we admire their garden and plants, our neighbor surprised us by planting a line of lilac bushes along the edge of our yard, and they’re now starting to bloom! ~@Melanie Hersh
13. Paraprofessional, I work in high school with a lot kids from low-income families. I donated five prom dresses and I am doing makeup for the girls’ day of free of charge. ~@Jessica Ryan
14. One patient bought lunch for me as a nurse in the cancer clinic. He was very grateful. ~@Kim Pirie
15. I was in line at a grocery store, and I didn’t have enough money on my card. I was ready to put a few items back when the man behind me came up and slid his debit card to cover all my groceries—about $40 worth. It was a wonderful act of kindness from a stranger. It is something I intend to do. @Susan Mahony
16. Two girls are our babysitters. One of the girls was unhappy about her lost paci. Her younger sister popped out her own paci, stuck it in her sister’s mouth, and sitting side-by-side, put her arm around her sister. @Cindy Kline
17. We live in a small West Virginia town, and an elderly townsperson hadn’t been seen out and about. This woman used to frequent the local library. She was a regular at the library. The librarian knew she had serious health problems and that there wasn’t any other means of transport. She hadn’t been to the library for two days. They reached me. and I investigated with law enforcement, and we found her at home—no heat and no water.
Local police delivered milk and bread as well as personal hygiene products. We suggested that she be placed in a nearby motel, while we restore heat and water. The offer was declined by her and she thanked our efforts. Local contractors offered to heat the house and repair any water leakages. The situation was also helped by adult protective services. It is a proud thing to see our community come together and help someone in need. This is the essence of community! @Bill Dawson
18. When I tried to turn left onto busy roads, the next driver noticed a break in traffic. He slowed down to allow me to turn. This was an excellent gesture in rush hour. It was then that I paid it forward and allowed someone to turn in my direction. Everyone could use some kindness in rush hour! ~@Lisa Pogge Bragano
19. My eighty-four-year-old mother helps make “Mercy Meals” for people who are sick, elderly, or have been in the hospital, to make sure they get a nutritious and satisfying meal until they are back on their feet again. ~@Ryan Sherbrooke
20. The kindest thing I’d ever received was when I was getting ready to transition from a job. Instead of a going away present, a thoughtful coworker gave me ten $20 Walmart gift cards with a card that said, “You always seem to know where help/kindness is needed.” My kids helped me carefully choose where each card should go—and really loved giving the last three away to random folks while shopping. I’m tearing up just thinking of the ripple her kindness sent forth! @Brooke Hall
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I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough stories like these—tiny reminders that the world is full of good people who care and want to help. That’s why I love HumanKind. It’s the kind of book that fills you with hope and joy and inspires you to pay it forward, and the book itself is a kindness story, with all author royalties going to Big Brother, Big Sister.
Thank you, Brad, for this gift to the world—and thank you to everyone who shared a story here and on social media!
**Some entries were slightly edited for grammar or length.
About Lori Deschene
Tiny Buddha was founded by Lori Deschene. She’s also the author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal, Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, and other books and co-founder of Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that helps you let go of the past and live a life you love. For daily wisdom, join the Tiny Buddha list here. You can also follow Tiny Buddha on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Tiny Buddha’s first post, 20 Inspirational Acts of Kindness for Humankind and Winners of the Giveaway appeared on Tiny Buddha.
