Inspirational Stories / Motivational Stories

When Small Kindnesses Find You At Just The Right Time

By A Friend on July 31, 2025 / 4,071 views

By A Friend on July 31, 2025 / 4,071 views

A little while ago, I was having a rough week, feeling invisible and just worn down. One afternoon I’d popped into a coffee shop, barely talking above a mumble as I ordered. But the barista greeted me with the biggest smile, complimented my earrings (which I’d worn on a whim), and tucked a note inside my cup that just said, “Hope today gets gentler for you.” It was...

A Simple Kind Word Can Change Everything

By Emma on July 30, 2025 / 3,900 views

By Emma on July 30, 2025 / 3,900 views

Today, while waiting in line for coffee, I decided to compliment a stranger on their outfit. It was such a simple thing, but the way their face lit up made my entire afternoon. I realized in that moment how powerful even the tiniest bit of kindness can benot just for someone else, but for me, too. I walked away feeling lighter and more connected to the world around me. Lately, I’ve...

They All Had Bracelets

By Hand Pan Leann on July 29, 2025 / 3,755 views

By Hand Pan Leann on July 29, 2025 / 3,755 views

Years ago in my twenties, I left my cushy life with $100 and a backpack. I got in a vehicle heading north with my then husband. The trip had some loose plans. My friend was driving and had some family in Portland. He was recently diagnosed with bi polar and his family decided to go on with a trip they planned to Europe instead of supporting him through this really tough time. They instead gave him...

My Wonderful Neighbor Who Doesn't Know How Much She Has Helped

By Lishler on July 29, 2025 / 1,554 views

By Lishler on July 29, 2025 / 1,554 views

I've just received a very unspecific diagnosis for an incurable lung disease, so I've been stressing and even antidepressants aren't helping much. My most wonderful neighbor called me Saturday and asked me to step outside. She had made burgers and homemade fries and brought me a plate and a carton of strawberry lemonade! I hadn't eaten yet, so I was very...

All Roads Lead Us Home Again

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 28, 2025 / 3,618 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 28, 2025 / 3,618 views

I was Lost in the city. My nerves were stressed. My muscles were tense. My heart was pounding. My hands gripped the steering wheel of my car as I circled the same city block for the tenth time. I grew up in the country and never had much experience driving in the city but I needed to pick up my daughter so here I was with my three children in the car trying my best to find the exit back to the interstate. This...

My Husband Brought A Stranger To Sleep In Our Home

By A Friend on July 25, 2025 / 3,797 views

By A Friend on July 25, 2025 / 3,797 views

This was several years ago. My husband was returning from his flight in New York for work. While he was waiting, he sat next to a much older lady (probably in her 70's) who was trying to return to her country (Cuba). She had been given permission to visit her child who was sick in the states, and was all alone flying back with a layover in Miami (where we live). He helped her...

Stranded Hungry Passengers - Still Smiling At How Good This Made Me Feel

By A Friend on July 24, 2025 / 3,666 views

By A Friend on July 24, 2025 / 3,666 views

Tiny gesture. Big feels. Yesterday I was flying home after a week away. We boarded our flight and left on time, about 1 p.m., but when we reached the destination, the pilot started circling because of bad weather. After what seemed like a couple hours, we were told they were flying us to a much smaller airport since weather in the big city was so bad and we couldn't land. Lightning,...

A Stranger Saw Me Unraveling In Silence — And Chose To Answer With Softness

By A Friend on July 23, 2025 / 3,447 views

By A Friend on July 23, 2025 / 3,447 views

I’ve been quietly journaling in the same spot every morning. Not for aesthetics. Not for healing. Just to keep myself from disappearing. This week, I left a single card behind. It said: “You’re allowed to begin again — without explaining why you paused.” I didn’t expect anyone to notice. But this morning, that same card...

At The Top Of The Ferris Wheel

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 23, 2025 / 3,469 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 23, 2025 / 3,469 views

When I was a boy growing up every year the county fair would come in September and set up across the road in the 4-H camp near my home. As soon as I was old enough I would spend every night they were there riding the big rides and enjoying the thrills of them. I learned quickly too never to eat before I was done riding if I wanted that greasy fair food to stay down. After I grew up I gave up the big...

Awesome Neighbors And An Enterprising Kiddo

By A Friend on July 22, 2025 / 3,179 views

By A Friend on July 22, 2025 / 3,179 views

I caught a thing on our local town group about a kid selling slushies so he could pay for his cap and gown and got on the senior trip to Great America. My partner and I walked the 9 or so blocks to find he had an old school slushie machine and 3 different syrups. He made bank off of us, and ran up to his mom and dad on the front porch yelling “I can go now!!” We all chatted,...

Love Is Still In This World. Don't Lose Hope, Don't Give Up!

By A Friend on July 21, 2025 / 3,088 views

By A Friend on July 21, 2025 / 3,088 views

I just wanted to share an event that happened to mom and I this morning. I have been reaching out to various plumbers and electricians trying to find someone to help me figure out what circuitbreaker switch shuts power off to our water heater so I could change out its elements. We have not had hot water in almost a month. Well only one AC & Plumbing company responded to me. They sent out one of...

Till You Give It Away

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 18, 2025 / 3,491 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 18, 2025 / 3,491 views

I have a unique collection. Some of it is on the wall above my computer desk. Some of it is on the kitchen counter. And most of it is tacked to the walls of my bedroom. It is a collection of pictures, of the children I have sponsored overseas, through the organization Children International, for the last 40 years. Each picture shows them growing taller, healthier, stronger, and happier. Often I can see the...

Helped A Man Jump Start His Car And Gave Him My Lunch

By A Friend on July 17, 2025 / 1,632 views

By A Friend on July 17, 2025 / 1,632 views

Earlier today at work I saw someone’s car in the back parking lot. He asked for some help starting up his car so I did. While we were waiting I asked if he needed some water. He told me he was stuck there for about a day so he accepted quite thankfully. I don’t know what came over me but I asked if he also needed something to eat too and I saw him tear up a bit as he accepted...

Our Boat Ran Out Of Gas On The Water And Some Kind Strangers Saved The Day

By Chris on July 16, 2025 / 3,118 views

By Chris on July 16, 2025 / 3,118 views

Last weekend, I went on a golf trip with some friends out on the coast. One of the guys has in-laws with a place right on the water, so we had a free place to stay and access to their boat, too. It was just a simple flat-bottom fishing boat, nothing fancy, but the seven of us (all in our late 30s and early 40s) had a great time cruising around and swimming. On the way back, the boat died on us....

Moths And Fireflies

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 14, 2025 / 3,263 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on July 14, 2025 / 3,263 views

Somehow moth larvae has found its way into my home because for the last several days I have seen baby moths flying around or resting on my bathroom walls. I have had quite a time catching them one by one in the palm of my hand and putting them back outside so they wouldn’t starve to death or become a spider’s dinner. Still, it was worth it seeing them fly free each time I opened my back door and...

Being Kind Feels Wonderful. I Was Reminded That I Should Be Doing It More Often

By David on July 11, 2025 / 3,569 views

By David on July 11, 2025 / 3,569 views

Being kind feels wonderful. I was reminded that I should be doing it more often. My wife and I did something nice for someone today. The other day we were chatting to one of daughter's educators at day care who is an absolute gem. I was curious as to why she was squinting and still hadn't bought new glasses (it had been a couple of weeks since she'd broken them). She casually...

Barista Gave Me A Drink On The House When My Card Declined At Starbucks

By A Friend on July 10, 2025 / 2,979 views

By A Friend on July 10, 2025 / 2,979 views

I went to Starbucks thinking my check had already gone through to my checking account but when I tried to pay for my drink it declined. The barista told me not to worry about it and gave me the drink anyways! I was having a pretty bad day and this has honestly made me feel so much better. Thank you, Ryan the...