11 People Who Sow the Seeds of Kindness Wherever They Go

Kindness can change the world, and some people spread it everywhere they go. These 11 incredible people are true heroes of kindness. Their powerful actions inspire others and make a big difference every day. Read on to meet the people who are planting seeds of kindness and changing lives for the better.

• When my mother-in-law died, I was happy. Not out loud, of course, but inside, I felt relief. She never liked me. Never approved. Never once gave me a birthday gift or said a kind word.
  At the memorial, my husband handed me a small box and said, “She asked me to give you this on her funeral day. Not before.” Inside was a simple, worn photo of her as a young woman, laughing, free, nothing like the cold version I knew.
  On the back, written in shaky pen. “I wasn’t always like this. Life hardened me. But you made her happy, and that softened me again. I just didn’t know how to show it. I hope this picture reminds you I tried.”
  I stared at the photo for a long time. For the first time ever, I missed her.

• “Me, my brothers and my mom were in a restaurant eating lunch. We didn’t have much growing up, so a Sunday lunch was a big deal. Nothing fancy, just a mom with his 3 rowdy boys.
  And when mom asked for the bill, the waitress said it was paid by the couple from the next table, who already left. I’m almost 40 and still can remember it vividly.” ©thiswasneverthat0927 / Reddit

• “My neighbor’s dog fell off a cliff, and they could not afford the surgery to save his life. We put 500 bucks in an envelope on their back step, with a note that said to help your dog. It was not enough for the whole cost, but we heard the vet took it as a down payment. The dog lived for quite a while after.” ©handji****lly / Reddit

• “Living in Canada, this winter I drove around my neighborhood and looked for people who needed help shovelling their driveway. I’d just drive up, hop out with a shovel and start shovelling. Though it wasn’t completely selfless, I just figured instead of going to the gym, I might as well put my workout to good use and help some people out.” ©pethcir / Reddit

• “In my case, a stranger once paid for my coffee when I was short on cash. A small act, but it made my day and sparked a chain of kindness.” ©deggerchugsj95 / Reddit

• My MIL never gave me a single gift. So when she handed me a box during my birthday dinner, I was surprised. “You’ll like it,” she said, smirking. I opened it and immediately froze.
  It was the most humiliating gift I’ve ever received. Inside was a self-help book titled “How to Be a Better Husband.” My wife was speechless. I was fuming inside but tried to stay polite.
  The night felt weird after that. But the next day, I flipped through the book out of curiosity. Something was tucked between the pages. A letter.
  It said: “I used to think no one was good enough for my daughter. But I’ve been watching. You love her. You try. And you’re doing just fine. The book’s a joke, but this letter is real. Happy birthday.”
  I almost teared up.

• “Was on the bus home, and the guy next to me had a pizza box. It smelled like heaven. He must have noticed my envy over the pizza, because he opened it up and offered me a slice.
  Still remember the taste and the smile he gave me when he saw how happy I was. Good dude. Hope he is well wherever he is.” ©Unknown author / Reddit

• “A guy gave me his umbrella at the station as it was pouring outside, a complete stranger, and he totally didn’t have to.” ©aniwynsweet / Reddit

• “I ran out of gas one time while driving across the country. Lots of cars just passed me for over 4 hours. Finally, a dude stopped and checked on me, I told him I have no gas or cash.
  He just turned around and left. He came back 10 minutes later and poured gas in my car. Had me start it to make sure, and then left.” ©f**ninjainvegas / Reddit

• “My card declined buying lunch on my break at the grocery store I was working for. The customer behind me handed the cashier 20 bucks, and she insisted I keep the change (my lunch was around 5 bucks). I was 18, living on my own in a new city.” ©Coffeeandbunnies / Reddit

• “I used to live above my landlord who was also a chef, and one night he made me a delicious bowl of pasta and sent his 2 little sons to deliver it to me. There was no occasion or anything.
  Pasta was great, and we got our full deposit back when we moved out. He was a good dude. Worth mentioning, he only owned the house, and we lived in the upstairs, not some big realty co.” ©****_YEAH_DUDE / Reddit

Before you go, don’t miss our next article about a woman who discovered her husband named their daughter after his ex, at least according to her mother-in-law. The story dives into family drama, unexpected secrets, and how one woman navigates the complicated feelings that come with it.