It’s not always easy to be kind, but there are some people who do it and do it well (and some even do it every day – imagine that!). More importantly, they don’t always wait to make some grand gesture – plenty of people realize that little acts make a big difference.
Kindness even benefits the good samaritan as well. Doing something nice for others releases serotonin in the brain which helps regulate mood, social behavior, appetite, digestion, sleep, and memory. Everybody wins!
We’re inspired by these 75 people and their acts of kindness big and small. And we sure hope they got a big boost of happiness after they helped others.
1. Heartbreaking heroics
When Kevin Berthia decided to end his life after suffering from depression for many years, one thing saved him in that moment – the voice of Officer Briggs.
Berthia spent 92 minutes clinging to the Golden Gate Bridge and 89 of them talking to Briggs before he agreed to be helped to safety.
You can read his emotional first-hand account here.
2. Above and beyond
This teacher in Ghana has no computers in his classroom. But he knows his students will need to have some computer skills if they want to be successful.
So he takes the time and effort to draw out Microsoft Word and teach it to them on his blackboard!
3. Springing into action
A Redditor posted the photo, saying:
“Was eating my Chinese food when this little Asian woman working behind the counter stopped taking orders to help an elderly man navigate the rainy walk to his seat. She was incredibly patient with him during his slooooow order and even brought his food outside for him. Faith in humanity restored.”
4. Rainy day friend
Most of us would.
But Gilligan wouldn’t.
5. Life-bringer
This is Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua. He delivers water to the wild animals in the dry parts of Kenya so they can survive during droughts.
The pea farmer spends a few hours every day making sure the local animals have enough water.
His story touched so many people that they set up a GoFundMe campaign for him that raised over $400,000!
6. Small gestures count too
This Redditor looked up from his reading at a coffee shop to find a man researching vets on his laptop so he could get some help for the injured sparrow he had just found.
7. He’s with the band
Someone is teaching these kids right!
8. Keep it clean
He’s so embarrassed by the people polluting the area that he goes around and cleans up their litter himself.
The man who took the photo offered up his own act of kindness as well – when the post went viral, he secured shelter and a job for the good samaritan.
9. A final gift
We don’t often think of what our final moments will be like, but this woman is making sure fewer people spend them alone.
10. Thanks to a hero, from a hero
He was shot 5 times and continues to need treatment and physical therapy to this day.
11. Broadcasting kindness
Here’s one protestor who truly understands how important it is to get the word out about the Hong Kong protests and his simple “thank you” of holding an umbrella over the head of a reporter is important to see.
12. You can stand under my umbrella
Kind AND creative.
13. Pre-interview good deed
If you’re not used to this task, it’s certainly hard to get it right the first time.
Way to set someone up for a great interview!
14. Take kindness for a spin
Normally, you shouldn’t get into a car with strangers, but we have the feeling Beverly didn’t get this far in life without having good instincts.
15. Photography for those in need
Her mother volunteered to take special photos of the dogs in costume to make it easier for them to get adopted.
We love that!
16. Kindness down under
This is just one small example in which a baby kangaroo came up to a boy for help and he gave it some water and a refreshing shower.
17. Everyone’s grandpa
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, who shared the photo on their Facebook page, said:
“This photo was taken by baby Logan’s mom as she fought back happy tears. Logan has been in our hospital for six weeks. Every night, his mom goes home to be with his big sister. Every morning, she drives back to Scottish Rite feeling “anxious that he’s been missing his mommy.” On this particular morning, she walked into the PICU to find Logan—a preemie born at just 25 weeks—in the arms of David, who smiled and introduced himself as the ICU Grandpa. This photo captures just one precious moment with a legend of a hospital volunteer who’s been holding patients, and their parents’ hands, for 12 years.”
We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying.
Ok, we’re all crying.
18. Bathroom hero
May we all show the same basic level of human decency someday.
19. Wonderful use of time and talent
She crochets them all by hand and takes them to the local shelter for distribution.
20. Finish the job
This is the very definition of stepping up.
21. Double dose of kindness
We bet those cookies were even more delicious for having been made with love.
22. Sometimes you just can’t
What a cool mom.
23. Kindness to all God’s creatures
It’s seemingly small actions like this that can make a big difference, both for the animals and in people’s minds and attitudes towards them.
24. One last breath of fresh air
What an amazing deed and a fitting reward for someone who helped care for nature.
25. Back to school kindness
Teachers don’t get enough respect for the amount of money they spend out of pocket to help students learn.
26. Keeping your cool pays off
What a great gesture.
27. Genuine holiday spirit
But one of his professors showed him the compassion his family claimed to live by.
28. Taking the time
Some people’s actions show us how many opportunities we miss to do good deeds.
A Redditor posted with this photo:
“After bad storms, this retired old man goes around our neighborhood and cleans the debris out of yards and catch basins. When I asked him why he said “because I am retired and have the time to help”.
29. With a little help from Facebook friends
This woman snapped a photo of herself with the complete stranger who stopped by to see her in the hospital and braid her hair after she asked a question about beauty in a Facebook group.
30. Above and beyond
He held him throughout the meal so mom and dad could enjoy their night out.
31. Teacher of the year
She wrote him a thoughtful note with encouragement and an offer to help any time.
She also stuck in a ShopRite card so he could buy food or whatever else he needed.
32. Tech for good
In this case, a new app is allowing people with some spare time to help the blind in just about any situation anywhere in the world.
33. To protect AND serve
Good work, officer!
34. Maintaining dignity
Instead of making them pick through trash for food, he sets some out for them.
35. Play nice
But since he’s a bit vertically challenged, the neighbors built these steps so he can climb up a bit higher, allowing them to reach over the fence and bring him over for playtime as needed.
36. Dashing through the snow
She made it to the hospital in time to deliver her baby.
37. A new wardrobe
It shows a woman getting out of her car to give a homeless man a bunch of jackets, pants, and a pair of boots.
38. Once in a lifetime
Instead of just hopping out of the cab, he paid his way in and let him enjoy.
39. You’re never alone
This good samaritan set up a bench that people can take a seat on that shows they don’t mind if someone comes by to join them and chat.
40. Courageous rescue
That takes some serious commitment and bravery.
Here’s one firefighter handing the cat he just saved back to its grateful owner.
41. Good deed dry cleaning
These generous dry cleaners offered to clean the interview outfits of anyone currently unemployed.
42. We’re all in this together
Rumor has it that what finally changed her mind was watching him throw away the key, so there was no way she was going down without him.
43. An investment in future kindness
This is pretty amazing (and an expensive favor).
What would you do for someone if you had been on the receiving end of this?
44. Giving directly to those in need
But if you know someone directly affected by tragedy, sometimes you get more for your money giving it right to them.
That’s what one charitable soul did after Hurricane Sandy flooded the house of a couple expecting a baby.
It was completely anonymous.
45. Reward for a good deed
As a result, the woman he returned it to helped raise $90,000 for Harris.
46. Birthday surprise
And they brought him a cake.
It, understandably, brought tears to his eyes.
47. Making up for others’ shortcomings
The OP explained:
“A friend of mine as at a local Denny’s and watched her server tear up and search frantically for the money from two high schoolers’ bill…they left without paying. Even though it took forever for their food to get there, she decided to leave enough on the tip to cover both bills and then some.”
48. No pizza undelivered
Now that’s going above and beyond the call of duty!
49. Small but meaningful act of kindness
He helped this older gentleman who was having trouble tying his shoelaces.
It just goes to show you that small gestures can be just as meaningful.
50. Pre-surgical consult
That’s full-service care!
51. Giving to the needy
They call him “Bagel Jesus.”
52. Help is better than hustle
That’s when he realized it was more important to stop and help her and just catch the next one.
53. Kindness and then some
These bystanders worked together to push a burning car off of the motorcyclist trapped underneath.
The 21-year-old survived and thanked his heroes profusely for putting their lives on the line.
54. In Memoriam
That’s his mother in the background, watching the emotional scene.
“I have seen many people doing good deeds and I think they are great. I want to be a great child too,” he reportedly told his mother before his heath.
55. Teach them young
It looks like she’ll grow up to be a compassionate adult if she can already see the need to comfort someone – even if they’re on TV.
56. Everybody wins in this competition
Now you have no excuse that you’re too busy to be kind.
57. Reading is fundamental
She stops by to give him a lesson each day when she gets off the subway nearby.
58. The importance of community
The 94-year-old WWII vet comes to the mall to have coffee in the food court with his friends.
59. Have a heart
Then they returned to his house to finish shoveling.
60. The real hero
The boy didn’t think he could finish, but Kerr stayed with him the whole time until both crossed the finish line together.
61. Kindness coffee break
Would you ever think to do such a thing so regularly?
How wonderful!
62. This is what food is for
He now serves 3 meals a day to people who are homeless and those whose families have abandoned them, as well as the neglected and abused.
63. Group hug
It’s such an incredible photo – we just hope he felt all the good vibes being sent his way.
64. Treat her like a princess
We just love that he has a whole book full of autographs of aspiring princes and princesses!
65. Teach your children well
She plans to donate all of it to one person in need.
66. Tis the season
This actually inspires us to be kinder to our delivery drivers – they probably don’t have time to stop and eat very often during those busy days before Christmas.
67. Love and cookies
She spent some much-needed time with the 112-year-old patient who hadn’t had a visitor in over 3 years.
68. Pay it forward – and then forward again
However, the men’s meals were already covered – so they all decided to give the cash to the waiter.
69. Handymen
So they banded together to fix it for him right then and there.
70. Gone to the dogs
So they bagged up these leftovers and went and handed them out to homeless pet owners.
71. Rainy day deed
It takes a really thoughtful person to go to this much effort.
72. Imagine the acoustics!
The gift of music is one of the best you can give and this thoughtful musician just made our day as well.
73. Lessons learned
Take, for example, the kindness and compassion shown by this professor who invited his student to bring her 4-month-old to class when her babysitter didn’t show AND held the baby while he taught so mom could take notes.
He did this for almost the entire class period.
74. Rock on
Metallica gets it – and they went out of their way to show their appreciation for their oldest fan.
75. Kids have the biggest hearts
He started making custom keychains and selling them for $5 apiece, raising over $3,000 to pay off the student lunch debt at his Vancouver school.
But seeing some of these slides reminded us just how many little things we can do throughout the day to make people’s lives better.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.