12 Stories That Show the Bravest Thing You Can Do Is to Be Kind
Life can feel heavy at times, but kindness has a way of cutting through the weight like nothing else. Even the smallest act can bring a sense of calm, connection, or hope right when it’s needed most. These stories highlight the moments where kindness stepped forward and gently changed everything.
My teenage daughter kept dyeing her hair wild colors. I hated it and told her she looked ridiculous, trying to force her to dye it back to normal. She stopped talking to me about anything.
Senior year, she got into her dream art school. The admissions officer mentioned that her “bold self-expression” stood out in her portfolio—including photos of herself with the colorful hair. I apologized and even helped her dye it purple for graduation. She hugged me for the first time in months.
My coworker kept bringing terrible baked goods to the office. I made jokes about them behind her back, got others laughing. She stopped bringing them.
Months later, at her retirement party, someone mentioned how she used to bake for her late husband every week and bringing treats to work had been her way of coping with grief. I felt horrible.
I found her email and apologized. She wrote back saying she appreciated it but had already moved on. I hope she has.
My brother kept asking to borrow my tools and returning them dirty. I finally told him to buy his own stuff and stop being cheap. He stopped asking for help with anything.
A year later, I needed his truck for a move and had to swallow my pride to ask. He helped without hesitation. “I wasn’t being cheap,” he said while we loaded boxes. “I was unemployed and trying to fix things around the house for my kids. You made me feel like garbage.”
We’re good now, but I wish I’d asked instead of assumed.
