UPDATE: Brad has generously decided to give away seven books instead of five. If your name is listed below, please contact me at email(AT)tinybuddha(DOT)com with your address so I can share it with him! The winners are:
As I write this, I’m having one of those days. I feel so agitated it’s like there’s a tornado under my skin, yet so drained it took me five minutes to get my fingers to start typing words.
I’m guessing I’m not alone in feeling a lot of intense emotions as of late, in a homebound life in this highly uncertain world. To be honest, I always experience intense emotions, but today it’s felt like someone poured gas on the flaming feelings within.
Then a minute ago, I heard a little giggle and turned around to see my baby’s huge grin two inches from my face. My boyfriend had brought him in to lift my spirits because he knows how much that cherubic little face cheers me up. And did it ever.
Oh, that face, the innocence, the joy, the unbridled excitement to see me, even when I feel like I’m sucking at life. That, right there, is pure bliss—and the kind of simple act of kindness that can make a huge difference in my day.
Maybe for you it’s a “just thought of you” text with a picture of something you’d enjoy if you were there. Or maybe it’s a compliment on something you thought everyone took for granted—like your omelets or your optimism or your oddball sense of humor.
We all need a little pick-me-up from time to time, and even if it’s not badly needed, it’s always appreciated. Because who doesn’t love feeling loved? Who doesn’t think it’s amazing to know someone’s thinking of them?
Though it’s always a perfect time for kindness, I think it feels even more comforting now, when many of us are itching for more human interaction and looking for reasons to stay hopeful.
Which is why I’m especially grateful for Brad Aronson, who’s kindly offered five free copies of his book HumanKind to Tiny Buddha readers.
He wrote this book solely to inspire kindness by sharing stories of kindness—and he’s donating all his earnings to the non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
It’s the kind of uplifting book that makes you feel good about life because it shines a spotlight on the best of humanity—including the proverbial village that came together to help Brad and his wife Mia through her battle with leukemia.
Chapter after chapter, Brad introduces us to everyday heroes, people using their talents and interests to help make the world a better place, starting with their own sphere of influence.
And it’s not just a book of stories; it also offers dozens of easy ways to make a difference for the people around you through simple words and deeds.
It’s encouraging. It’s inspiring. It’s a light in the dark. Like a grinning little face on an especially hard day.
If you’d appreciate a free copy of HumanKind, enter the giveaway by commenting below, sharing either an act of kindness you recently witnessed or the kindest thing someone’s ever done for you.
You can enter until midnight PST on Sunday, May 3rd. I’ll update this post with the winners’ names on the 4th,
Stay hopeful, stay kind, stay safe, my friends.
Sending lots of love from my pile of bricks to yours.
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine.
I’d love to read this! It sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. The kindness that was shown to me was having many phone calls, texts and messages on my birthday with silly comments to add laughter to the day.
I would love this book to read.
My daughter in law is a front line Nurse in a Buffalo hospital designated for Covid 19 patients only. She has self quarantined from her family for a month and speaks of the devastating toll this is taking on families lives. They have celebrated small victories, but it is taking a mental toll on her. She speaks of never being the same. I would love to ‘gift’ this to her in hopes of showing her the good. She needs a smile and hope. Thanks!
Thanks. I believe this would be a great read.
I am an admin in a mental health practice. During this time of working remotely, I have found that my job duties also include conversation that has nothing to do with my actual work. People are starved for human interaction. Although my boss might not approve, I give them my time. We chat for a few minutes and commiserate on “hunkering down”. I always tell them they “made my day!” by having a nice talk. I think it is a kindness to us both!
I heard about this book/writer on a national news program recently. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. This world situation has my husband & I totally exhausted after his lung cancer surgery & chemo. His fighting & strength is the gift he gives me. I live, hope & encourage but cry in the dark.
Truly kind acts towards me have been few. One stands out. A neighbor teacher came to express her sympathy to me after my Dad passed away. Completely unexpected, so thoughtful…I had never met her before but she cared so much for me at a very sad time!
Just having someone check in via text or phone call during these isolated times shows much kindness. I find myself reaching out more often now that in-person interaction has been limited. It has definitely inspired me to spread kindness every day, whether we are in the midst of a pandemic or not.
Thank you!
I went for a walk through my neighborhood and noticed beautifully painted rocks with kind quotes written on them, placed in yards. I have found two in my yard so far “Be Safe, Stay Kind, This too shall pass”. It warmed my heart and gave me hope.
Sadly, I was losing even more faith in human kind. I spent the beginning part of the lock down thinking Facebook would help me stay connected to my community and family. Instead, I found myself getting sucked into brutal disagreements about how the pandemic was being handled and reminded how ugly and mean total strangers could be to each other, especially hiding behind a keyboard. Luckily, I soon found other outlets for connectivity and began witnessing the donations of toilet paper, of all things, to those that didn’t have it, volunteers offering/shopping/cooking for the elderly, etc. Though I never imagined watching others offer toilet paper would restore some of my faith in the world, sometimes it’s just so simple to find some good in the world.
I’d love to enter the giveaway! Thank you!
The kindest thing anyone ever did for me still overwhelms me.
When i got sick I lost my job, the health insurance I so desperately needed, and then my home was foreclosed on. I needed to move before the sheriff changed the locks & I was nearly catatonic with grief & fear, as well as unwell. A woman I knew, but who was not one of my closest friends took charge, “marshaled her forces” enlisting people I didn’t even know & their vehicles for days to pack & transport, then unpack & set up my new home in public housing. Every box was gone & every cupboard & closet filled, furniture arranged, TV hooked up when I walked in. I tear up every time I think of it.
In our neighborhood, one sweet woman and her family make about 100 breakfast burritos every Sunday and post in the neighborhood FB group to come and get them to go, and if you can’t get there, pm her and someone in her family will deliver them. Such a great community!
In these times the littlest things show the biggest kindnesses. My son bringing me two rolls of paper towels was huge to me when I was unable to source some in my usual store trips for several weeks.
Before everything, back in February, I hosted my first big party… and it was my Dad’s 60th birthday!! I was so strung out for 2 months straight.When we got there to set up, I realized I messed up a few things: not enough plates or cups, wrong racks for the sternos, tablecloths were for square tables and not big tables… overall it was just a mess! Without hesitation, my cousins and aunts came up to me to help. One ran out for more plates and dishes, another ran out to buy tablecloths, and even the kids pitched in to decorate. I almost started crying in relief! The party was so fun and so great, you could see my dad REALLY loved it. Afterward, they helped me clean up. I truly could not have done this without them.
This was the one of the kindest gestures I’d ever experienced 🙂
patients bring me little gifts all the time and many of them cant afford much. I appreciate all the thoughts and good jestures they provide each day.
I got a free mask from an RN that works here, in assisted living! Please enter me in giveaway! Thank you!
I am grateful for 2 friends who showed me such kindness and love when I was going through my darkest days. They let me be (which I desperately needed) but did things for me I couldn’t get the energy to do for myself. No questions asked, no judgement, no irritation, no guilt, no impatience, just love. I would love to read about more kind acts.
I was walking in the park last night and saw some people trout fishing. As I returned to the car, one of the men gave all of his fish to someone who did not have any and I know that meant a free meal for some family.
This looks like a wonderful read… definitely relevant to everyday and especially right now. I work for a financial institution and every now and then I have a client that touches my heart with their kindness. One in particular has a little dog and we always chat about our pets (I have a rabbit.) A few months ago he came into my branch with a bag of fresh, organic carrots for my bunny. It was the sweetest gesture and made my day – which had been feeling not so much on the up-and-up. His kindness helped me to me reset my negative thinking that day and gave me the opportunity to recognize good through a positive lens. It’s always the littlest things that can make the biggest impact.
Thank you for all of your stories too…
A man who works with a hospice company dropped off a gift after he found out I wanted one. He made a trip just for me. I felt so special and grateful.
My friend was stopping at Trader Joe’s yesterday. She volunteered to shop for me too, as I am grandma home in quarantine, and got me a month’s worth of food! Of course I reimbursed her, but I was able to avoid being in the store itself. SO GRATEFUL!!!
I’d love to win… My husband paid me a great kindness when he helped with spring cleaning in amazing ways..
The kindest thing anyone has done for me is unconditionally love me and teach me how to love others and myself. I am so grateful to have a wonderful friend and mentor in my life.
I experienced acts of kindness this week. My boss and a colleague reached out to me to to assist with my workload and to offer very kind words!!! #Grateful!
While going through breast cancer treatment in the fall of 2018, the company whose cosmetic products I use chose me to be their model for a YouTube video on doing makeup when you have little-to-no hair, lashes, or brows – like those who live with alopecia or those who are going through chemotherapy like I was. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about that day – a shining glimmer of fun and hope in the darkest time of my life.
The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me is an act I will never ever forget. My husband passed away in Oct 2012. It was tragic and shocking. After he passed, I received hundreds of condolence cards. But shortly after the initial condolence card from my friend, Kathy, I began receiving cards from her on a daily basis. They were simple ones and ranged from “thinking of you” to religious messages to “hope you are doing well” cards. This lasted for about two months. I asked her why she did this for me. She said that when she lost her infant son years ago, my husband went to their house and sat and talked with her for hours. He consoled her. She told me that she would never forget that about him and how kind he was to her. In turn, she was doing the same act of kindness for me. I will never ever forget her act of kindness.
I really would enjoy reading the stories in this book.
I have been practicing something similar for a few years now – I call it my Plus1 – Every day I try to do one small action of kindness. The kindness I send out truly nurtures me.
Plus One: Today, after caring for a mortally injured turkey, we take her to the woods to bury her.
I have been very grateful for my neighbor as our friendship has grown the last 6 weeks.
We are both single, I have no family in town and have had many ups and downs with our emotions & feelings, often times to our amazement, similar. Her outside porch has become our safe, social distancing place to visit over coffee, wine, good laughs and even shared tears. We have had some deep discussion and shared our hearts & exposed our vulnerabilities. We send silly 😜 txts or jokes to brighten each other’s day. She has taught me to knit and I’m on my 2nd scarf! We cook and leave lil dishes of our soups, breads, rice dishes ect. on each other’s porch. We both have lil 5-6lbs dogs who love to play with each other, so they get frequent romps at each other’s house.
So one could see how very grateful I am to have had an angel named Amy next door all these pass years and not realized it. Stepping forward when I most needed it during a time I’m feeling the most alone.
Blessings and light to us all! 🙏
Denise
when i was 18 (in October 1997) I was leaving Boston after breaking up with my boyfriend. I had a whole string of blessings that day.
I realised at the bus station that my bag with my wallet was missing. I couldn’t buy my bus ticket. (As well as having lost several photos, and my antibiotics).
I was talking with a MBTA employee, to try to get permission to ride back the route I’d come, to look for my bag. As I was talking (and crying), a woman tapped my shoulder and asked if she could give me a little money so I could get some lunch.
She handed me $20.
Another woman gave me $1.
The employee asked how much my bus was. It was $41 and change. He gave me $20, so I could get home.
He also permitted me to ride back to look for my bag, though he cautioned it was best to look in the trash bins, and not to hold my breath. I didn’t find it, which was heartbreaking for me, but okay, I could get home.
I kept delaying my bus, and called the MBTA lost and found every hour to ask about the bag. After a long day of ‘no bags found’, on what would have to be my last call (I HAD to get the next bus out) the operator replied, ‘What color is it?’ They had my bag! A train operator had found it and held on to it to turn in.
I asked the greyhound baggage check person at South Station if I could leave my two large bags on an IOU. He was hesitant (I don’t really blame him), but agreed.
I was once again given permission by MBTA staff to ride fare-free so I could collect my bag. After I had retrieved it, I tried to pay for both my previous trips, but they wouldn’t let me, nor would they let me pay for my return to South Station.
I don’t know any of their names, but I do still think about them all.
Please enter me in the giveaway!! So many people have been kind to me lately. Several members of my church call us regularly, a friend made us a bunch of masks and some craft sheets for my autistic son, and my cousin left us a care package on the front porch. I’ve tried to pay it forward by donating fabric and elastic to my friends who are making masks for hospitals. My son and I are also making cards daily to send to the people in the surrounding nursing homes. We also try to video chat once a day with one person from our friend or family list.
I am the Founder of the #decidetobekind movement on LinkedIn..would love a copy!
My dad has often been in hospital UCIS for different reasons where I have met a lot of sad relatives of other patients. My act of kindness has always been approaching them even if I don’t know them, listening to them and hugging them for as long as they need.
We donate food for the needy people
Lori! I am so happy for you. A baby boy ❤️ I have been following you and your blog for a long long time. You and your blog helped me through an unexpected but necessary late life divorce 10 yrs ago. It only took 5 yrs to happen, but I digress. Now becoming an old woman I worry constantly about giving back and then I stand still. A lifelong pattern of behaviour, hmmm. I witness kindness in the actions of my 7 yr old granddaughter. She always wants to help her younger brother, she calls him “her king”, ❤️, if she sees anyone sad she tries to cheer them up. She sent me a hand drawn card to say she misses me too after my last drive by visit, waving at her from the front lawn. She just radiates life in a helpful, loving and kind glow. Of course she is like any 7 year old and has her moments but she is a continual inspiration to me, her old Gramma. I miss being with during this pandemic and was debating whether to mange the shops to get ingredients to make rice crispy squares for them today, she has celiac disease and cant eat all the usual treats. Anything to help her little family have a bright minute right now. Happy baby to you and your family, best of everything, deborah
My dad was a nurse in the 80’s and 90’s for AIDS patients when so much of the medical field turned people away. He was amazing. I miss him so much. <3
My parents allowed my 2 year old son and I to move back in with them after I experienced some PTS from a current unfortunate event. They’ve been a huge help in my healing and I’m grateful to still have this time with them.
I work in a Senior Community and one of our residents’ has been working non stop to make mask for other residents and employees. Such kindness she has shown, other residents are showing their gratitude for front line employees by backing goodies it’s absolutely touching and warms my heart. Please enter me in the givaway. THANK YOU SO MUCH for this community I love it.
Hi hope everyone is well ..I have been a bit down lost my jobs , I sing in a band we cant rehearse, cant gig😖 and I’ve been lonely my two dogs I think are taking me for granted now. Luckily, yesterday I got some attention..affection out of the blue..I was walking at a park and stopped to watch some kids playing and I felt something up against my leg I look down and it was a little girl maybe 2 years old looking at me I said hi smiling at her next thing know she’s giving me a mini hug the mom comes running up apologizing and I said oh no dont apologize I needed it ..we all do especially now♥️
The kindest act I’ve ever experienced is someone opening their home to me in a time of need & in order to get me out of a toxic situation and allow me the freedom to follow my dreams.
I have an elderly neighbor on disability that lives in a downstairs apartment. Above her is a single man that often has a lot of company going in and out of his apartment which not only is very noisy for her but she feels unsafe. Not only does his company stand on her porch and talk but he does also. They sit in her lawn chairs, stand in front of her door and are constantly walking in front of her windows. Last weekend, I purchased some lattice, a plant table, windchime and plants and arranged her porch so that it is more personal for her as well as blocking off both sides with lattice and thus becoming her space. Now not only does she feel safer but she has a nice, relaxing porch to enjoy!
My kids and I went to visit their 80 year old Nonna (my Italian mother-in-law) and we sat on her patio and talked with her while she stayed safely in the house (covid pandemic)…at one point she disappeared into the kitchen, returning 15 minutes later with homemade french fries, my youngest daughter’s favorite thing she makes (other than octopus which would take way longer than 15 min hahah). She always offers food as a way of showing how much she cares, even when she couldn’t sit at the table with us, instead placing the food just outside the door and then beaming from the couch while my kids ate fries outside. 🙂
While exploring walking trails the other day we ended up on a riverside trail in a neighbouring town. Along the way we noticed painted rocks placed along the trail. They had inspirational messages such as “You are loved”, “Smile”, “You are outta this world”, and “Nice shirt!”, among many others. The rocks instantly made us smile and I appreciated that someone (or many someones) had taken the time to not only create them, but also to place them along a public walkway. We would have missed seeing them if we weren’t present in the moment. The experience made me feel very grateful for the kindness of others and completely made our day! So much so, that I posted some pictures of them on social media hoping to brighten someone else’s day like ours had been. It was such a simple, heartfelt and anonymous act of kindness! ❤️
Last night my husband baked two loads of banana bread—one for us and one for our neighbor. My husband has never baked anything and we’ve been married for 34 years! Times like these can also bring out the best in people!!
With all the stuff that is going on in the world right now, I’ve been pretty positive, I’ve been making tons of free masks for people in my small town, I’ve been baking bread etc. even though my days are like “groundhog day”, but I woke up yesterday morning, and thought, I can not do this anymore. I am depressed and feel what is the point, if you can’t do anything, you can’t meet with your family or friends, you can’t take trips or go shopping or go to the movies. I can’t wait until this virus is all over, and hoping that they find a cure so we can all get back to some kind of normal.
While headed to pick up groceries, I saw that a neighbor has a shelf full of canned food in front of their house with a note to take what you need.
My daughter has been spending time With her grandmother (after her online school hours ) learning how to sew masks for clinicians and kids in the hospital.
It’s really touched my heart to see her choice to give back.
Hi, i’m from Indonesia. I recently witnessed so many kindest in my life, like my own Baby Girl who’s just a 18 Months old baby, like giving food to any strayed cats she saw. Today i witnessed my Mom’s making so many Cakes for her employees ( Fasting employees ) while she also has to work too. I think all that small things are considered “kind” for me, all we just have to do is “Be Grateful even for the little things that happen in our life” ❤️🙏🏻
A friend brought me a few grocery items I have not been able to find due to covid-19 and shortages. Plus some extra yummy surprises. It was so unexpected and caring it made my day.
I also took someone an item because they were unable to find their “favorite” kind of toilet paper due to shortages. My store had the brand they were looking for so I bought them the big package 96 rolls lol.
I will share what I saw around instead. In this current tough times, there are even kind souls whom are willing to spend time, effort and even monetary to just help others, by preparing food, cooking, packing, and delivering to those who just need assistance or simply just want food. (No judgement no sort of requirements) I can see the tremendous amount of effort required just to get the overheads prepared, executed along with ensuring safety and managing it almost 6 days in a week. Must have been very tough.