Stories about the Golden Rule in Action… Let’s Hear Yours!
Please submit a story about how you helped someone or simply showed them love, respect and kindness.
Or possibly a story of how someone helped you or simply showed you love, respect and kindness. We’ll publish them here.
These positive stories can go a long way to help unite our country more than ever before!
Thanks, and take care!
Treating Strangers Like They Were Family
Back in the mid 70’s when I was in my mid 20’s, I was driving up the I10 freeway to the small ski town that I lived in. As I went under the last overpass before my exit I noticed a car pulled over on the onramp. And I saw an elderly gentleman outside the vehicle.
I went on up to my usual exit and turned back down the freeway to the next exit and went across to the onramp that the man was stopped at. I got out of my truck and asked him if he was OK. He was about the same age as my grandfather. He said yes, but he had a flat tire and wasn’t strong enough to replace it. So I got his spare tire and jack out and replaced the flat tire.
When I got it bolted to the rear axle I let his car down and the spare was a bit low on air. So I told him that I would follow him up to the next exit, to air up his spare at the gas station.
After I filled up his spare he reached into his wallet to give me some money. I told him thanks, but I could not take it. He said, “Come on, this is for you and thank you so much.” Again I told him that I would not take it and that I was happy to have helped him, like I would for my grandfather.
We shook hands and he gave me a big hug! Then I said goodbye and we parted ways.
I am so glad that I went back to help him and hope that he had a safe journey back home. I’ll never forget that experience!
–Mark Dankowski, Healdsburg, CA
The Stranger Who Appeared in My Darkest Hour
My teenage years were troubled, and I found myself quite lost. When I was 17 and had moved out of my family’s home, I remember one night I went to a dance in another town where I did not know anybody.
I desperately wanted to connect with somebody—anybody–but there was not a familiar face to be found. I experienced a rising feeling of panic in my gut and my breath came more and more rapidly.
All of a sudden, I felt like I was going to explode, and ran out of the dance and leaned up against the building, trying to get a hold of myself. A young man around my age appeared asked, “Hey, are you OK?”
I don’t recall exactly how I responded, but I was so upset and beside myself that he instantly grasped the situation. He began talking to me in a kind and calm voice, and slowly helped me to realize that there was no immediate danger in my current situation. Somehow I was able to relax and eventually regained my ability to function.
I will never forget the kindness of that stranger who appeared like an angel when I was most in need of an understanding human connection.
–Tim Smith, Santa Rosa, CA
Showing Kindness: Passing Down a Family Tradition
When I was 13 years old, back in 1973, our family moved from the Chicago suburbs up to the Minneapolis suburbs.
In the summer when the temps were hot and the humidity was high it was unbearable to be outside. I recall that when there were local county workers in our neighborhood working hard in those conditions, that my Mom would make up a gallon jug of ice tea.
Then she would give that to me and my older brother with glasses to take out to the workers. They totally appreciated that and chugged it down.
They all said thanks a bunch, and we told my mom and that made her day!
She was amazing and always showed everyone respect and kindness. And my Dad was as well.
–Mark Dankowski, Healdsburg, CA
Reminding Others about Kindness Can Be Powerful
In the early 1990’s I went to the island of Kauai to help my closest buddies build a house on the golf course in Princeville. That was such a great experience that I will never forget!
One early evening we went down to the small town of Hanalei Bay for some dinner and a few beers. We sat at the front bar and next to me were three younger local men.
One asked me, “Where ya from?” I told him California and he said, “F—in’ Haole!” He and his two friends gave us a nasty look and it seemed like they wanted to start a fight.
So I asked them that if I truly respected their island and culture, then why should there be any issues. They told me that no matter what I felt, that I was still an “F—in’ Haole!”
Then I asked them where their family was from and how long they had been on the island. They told me that they were all there for at least four to five generations and came from the western Pacific islands.
The next thing that I asked them was what their family members that first came to the island would have felt, if someone had treated them just like they did to me. I reminded them that we all should show respect and kindness to everyone no matter where they came from.
One guy said, “Right on Bro!” And they all agreed and bought me a beer.
Once I got the beer I thanked them and then asked if they believed in reincarnation. They said yes and then I told them that you never know who you could be talking to. And that I could possibly be their great, great, great Grandfather that came back to remind them to be nice to others. “Whoa!” was their response.
They all shook my hand and the rest of the night was a fun time.
–Mark Dankowski, Healdsburg, CA