Welcome to The Holiday Sanity Blog Tour, 20 days of tips, tools, techniques, and perspectives from me (and 19 other coaches) who LOVE this holiday season. I’m so excited to be a part of this tour and connect with a group of like-minded people that have such a passion for helping others.

When Megan Hale & Jenn Scalia shared their vision for this blog tour with me, I knew I wanted to be a part of it because I love December and always look for some community events to take part in. This appealed to me because it’s all about making the holidays calmer, less manic, and I figured we could all use a bit of that!

Read on to for some beautiful stories of kindness – and don’t forget to add kindness to whatever you’re doing this holiday season! 

Would you say that kindness is a way of being for you?

Or that you don’t have time to think about being kind to others? 

Today I want to show you how random acts of kindness changed real lives. I asked my Facebook friends to share their stories of kindness, and I have some of their stories here for you. Some examples of how just a small, simple act can change a person’s life or outlook. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did!

“I remember when I first came to the UK and someone just picked up my luggage at the airport for me and helped me climbing the stairs. Coming from a country not so used to these practises, it was a big eye opener. My kindness tip? I always greet people who serve me in the shops and engage in a quick conversation ‘how are you today?’ It’s simple YET extremely powerful.” – says Fab Giovanetti

“This year a few online friends have spontaneously sent me Happy Mail (packages of creative and crafty things), very random and very kind!”, shares one of my favourite creative people, Daire Paddy

My friend and fellow intuitive Karina Ladet, remembers “the AMAZING Australian couple who took such good care of me + my family when we visited last year. Blown away by their generosity!”

“I was wheelchair bound for 2+ years and my elderly neighbour drove me everywhere, doctors appts, hospital, to get my son from school sometimes… He told me off if he saw a taxi pull up and I hadn’t asked him first. Fast forward 5 years and I can drive and walk whereas he has had a stroke leaving him half blind and unable to drive. I have such a battle getting them to accept help from me despite all they did for me, but yesterday for the first time they knocked on the door and asked me to drive them somewhere. I was so pleased!”  – Maddy Dilley

“A few weeks ago I was standing in the coffee queue, loyalty card in hand, and the man in front of me turned round, took my card and got it stamped for his drink. This happened to be my 9th stamp which meant my drink was free! Made my day and cost him nothing! :)” – Emily Davies

“When I was 15, I was visiting my sister in Edmonton and I was walking down the street on my own. I saw a woman struggling with several heavy grocery bags and asked her if I could help her. She looked at me with suspicion at first, but I think her inability to carry the weight was enough to let her guard down. Little did I know she lived 4 stories up without an elevator… I delivered half the bags to her door. She promptly dug in her purse to give me a little money for my trouble… but I told her I didn’t do it for money, just helping a fellow human being out because she needed it at that specific time… and I was able to provide it. Although she looked stunned and thanked me profusely, her trusting me was her gift to me… doing that random act of kindness felt SO good… ever since, I do my best to find ways to foster the habit. (that good feeling fuels me… it’s kinda selfish, really). ” – Anne Lawrence

Here’s a longer example from the lovely Marylin Muir. Do take the time to read it, it’s very heartwarming!

Back at the end of November 2012 things were at their absolute worst for my youngest son who has autism. He was waking every night by 2am and not going back to sleep, his behaviour was getting more difficult as a result of the lack of sleep. I was on my own with him and his big brother, and I was at the end of my tether. I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown (which I had at the very end of the month).

So, fast forward to the day in question. I was still trying to do the best I could, and at that point was trying to help my 5 year old non verbal son learn how to walk to pre-school without the aide of his disability chair (for his safety).
Well this one cold, wet morning, we were attempting the 5 minute walk.

It had been about 15 minutes so far, of me attempting to coax him into walking, getting a few feet, and him stopping and screaming his poor little head off, throwing himself to the ground.

A woman had parked her far just a few yards in front of us to drop something off in the nearby shop. She smiled that understanding and commiserating smile – parents will know the one, you know what it’s like to have the screaming toddler who has had enough, right?

5 minutes later she came back to her car and we had just managed past it. I was on the verge of tears but trying to stay calm for my little man. She smiled and asked me where we were going. I explained it was just a short walk to the school and she promptly offered us a lift in her car. I could have cried I was that relieved.

I can’t remember her name, what she looked like, or the kind of car she had. But I will never ever remember how much she helped me carry on for that bit longer. Her kindness meant so much more than she could ever possibly comprehend. “

And a couple more lovely stories from some friends of mine:

“Years ago I was knocked off my bicycle when someone opened a car door. I landed on my head. A noisy crowd gathered around me. But one woman, about 65, understood what I needed in my state of shock. She sat me down, somehow kept everyone at a distance and stood right behind me with her hands on my chest. Not really medical, it was about human warmth and well-intentioned, reassuring physical contact. I’ll never forget it.” – Jonathan

“Once when I was pregnant with M and on the metro on the way to work. I felt ill, like I was fainting, so I got off at Montgomery and, among the general indifference, I approached a STIB worker who was checking the rush hour crowd. He took me upstairs and in a spartane side room, took out what I assume was his prayer mat and made me lie down on it, while he called an ambulance. His kindness stayed with me.” – Paola

But hey, if you can spread kindness with something big, that’s great too! Sile Walsh, a life coach working out of Cork, Ireland (check out her work on self care, it is awesome!) says she “was blessed with a random gift, out of the blue to a first class ticket to the USA”. My friend Grace got a car from a friend who moved abroad. “He wanted to give it to me and my boyfriend to keep the hippy vibe going as he feels I’m the sharing kinda person. How sweet is that!! The people behind the desk at the insurance company said ‘Wait, What?? You didn’t pay for this car???'”

Really, random acts of kindness matter, no matter how big or small. They make people smile. They make people feel noticed. They make people feel good. And they make the giver feel good too, so it’s a win-win! 🙂

Want more stories of kindness? Check this out – anonymous creative gift giving!

It was SO much fun compiling these beautiful stories… And I kept hearing from people that they loved being asked about kindness, that it was lovely to think about the kind things that they have done or that others did for them.

So who’s in? Who’s committing to being kind whenever possible this holiday season? Commit and I’m sure you’ll find that kindness becomes your way of being, and that’ll make everything brighter. Leave me a comment with your intention!

I’ve had a great time taking part in the Holiday Sanity Tour and  I’d love for you to have access to the rest of it. Remember, it’s only just starting, there is still so much great content to come!

Make sure to sign up here for The Holiday Sanity Blog Tour updates and check out Michelle Bobrow’s s post from yesterday (a budget-free and debt-free holiday gift guide) and Kelsey Abbott’s post tomorrow (on gratitude). 

Have an amazing December, everyone! It’s my favourite time of the year because it’s also my birthday month and I’m planning something special to celebrate… 🙂 Make sure you get my newsletter to hear about it first (and to get a free 10-step course on connecting with your intuition!)

Lots of love, light and laughter,