My theme for this year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is Cultivating Happiness. Today, K is for Kindness.
He felt the note in his pocket as he wearily walked down the bridge.
People rushed past him.
Nobody even looked his way.
They must’ve things on their minds.
He read the note again, “I’m walking to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
And he jumped.
*Based on a true story.
A Word to the Wise
You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.’Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Do random acts of kindness. Being kind to others will give you more happiness than being unkind.
You can check out my A-Z posts thus far by clicking on a highlighted letter!
34 Responses
That is shocking(esp. after knowing it is based on a true story)! He was a lonely soul expecting some act of kindness from the strangers…
We never know how our small act of kindness can affect someone! Thanks for sharing the story! And, best of luck completing the challenge!
God! That’s so sad….
A smile can mean the world to someone. This will stay with me for a long time!
This was so sad! How a simple gesture like a stranger’s smile can make or break a life! Kindness indeed is a powerful driving force.
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
That is sad. And yes, I had read about it before. I wish people were more kind. No one knows what a smile can bring to someone’s life.
How terribly shocking. Strangely this is the second post on Kindness that I read today….so different too.
Great true story to bring to light the virtues of small acts of kindness. A small act that can go a long way. Great post!
Sudha from
Everyday Muse
This story shook me to the core, so sad that no one smiled at him. Being kind takes nothing away from us,it only adds to our life. Sometimes we need reminders like these in our busy lives.
Wonderful shilpa.. So true. Suicide is preventable form of death. Persons contemplating never want to die
They wait and hope that some one will rescue..
Thanks for inspiring…. I am currently busy with awareness programme on psychological counseling.. Mainly to tell our students we are there for them
Damn. Reading this story is going to force me to plaster a smile on my face, anytime I see a dejected looking person walking alone! :O
Really. We need to be a little more kind to people around us. Even if they’re not at the edge. Maybe our kindness will never let them get there? 🙂
oh that’s so sad especially knowing it is a true story. Yes , small acts of kindness can bring so much happiness. We have to slow down, look around and yes if a smile can save a life , why not smile?
Tragic, heartbreaking, eye-opener. This is so true that our compassion, genuine smiles and kindness seems to have been stolen.
This post inspired me to smile a little more and more often.
To think that all it needed to save him was one smile from a stranger… anybody!
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
What a sorrowful tale.
I think I have read a similar story where someone stopped a guy and asked him for directions. The guy then dropped his suicide idea. Strange but such things exist.
oh god!! this is so sad 🙁 Random smiles are becoming so rare these days.
sooooo sad this was. Sheer loneliness and sheer speed of the pace of today’s life.
This is really horrific! It really breaks my heart to learn about such incidents!
Oh, that’s so sad 🙁
Damn people and their busy lives.
Sad! Kindness can go a long way. I have read this story. Thanks for the gentle nudge.
Kindness above all. Yes, I agree. Human kindness can make the world a peaceful place for all creatures. Thank you for sharing this important thought today.
Gail’s 2016 April A to Z Challenge
Theme: The Fun in Writing #218
That was sad. Definitely a good reason to say kind words to someone.
~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Loved this one! though so sad