Be kind to others.I realize this is simple and very basic. However, it is necessary and it does make a difference. I often have people who cross my daily path to whom I can show kindness. It is often just a smile. A smile often says, “I see you. You aren’t invisible to me. You are important.” People need someone to care about them.

I read a story many years ago about a man who had decided to commit suicide. He’d lost a fortune, his family and nearly everything he owned. He went to a local pawn shop to buy a gun. He planned to take the gun back to his apartment in New York City and kill himself.

As he was getting on the elevator, a little old lady was slowly getting on too. She had a small cart she was pulling behind her and was having a little trouble getting it into the elevator. He said that he was actually a bit angry because he wanted to hurry up,   get to his apartment and end his own life. He reached out to the old lady’s cart and forced it as it had become stuck. He got it free easily and she got on the elevator.

After the door closed, she looked up at him with a big smile and said, “If we had more young men like you in this world, the world would be a better place. You are so kind to help. Such a sweet young man.”

Of course, it changed his thought of going back to kill himself. He wanted to go around New York and find people that he could help and people who were struggling even with something that was as small as the little old lady’s cart.

That day, his life changed.

Later, he enjoyed great success in his work and life.

A quite funny thing happened to me last Friday. It was a fine day and I went to London to do some shopping. I had planned to get some Christmas presents. I also needed to find some books for my course at college as I am a student of Oxford.

That morning I caught an early train to London, so by early afternoon I could buy something that I wanted. Anyway, I’m not very fond of London, all the noise and traffic, and I made some arrangements for that evening. I took a taxi to Waterloo station. I couldn't really afford a taxi, but I wanted to catch the 3:30 p.m. train. Unfortunately, the taxi got stuck in a traffic jam, and by the time I got to the Waterloo station the train had just gone. Disappointedly, I had to wait an hour for the next one. While I was waiting, I bought myself an evening newspaper, The Standard, and wandered over to the station buffet (自助餐). At that time of the day it was nearly empty, and I bought a coffee and a packet of biscuits (饼干)—chocolate biscuits. I’m very fond of chocolate biscuits. I found that there were plenty of empty tables and I sat by one near the window, where I could cozily enjoy my beverage and biscuits. Then, I began doing the crossword. I always enjoy doing crossword puzzles.(填字游戏)

After a couple of minutes a man sat down just opposite me. It seemed that there was nothing special about him, except that he was very tall. In fact, judging from his clean dark suit and a fine briefcase, he looked pretty like a typical city businessman. I didn’t say anything and I carried on with my crossword.

Christmas was hanging around. Six-year-old David was thinking what presents he could get from Santa. He wanted slippers; he wanted a silk tie; he wanted some toys. And school starting soon, he also hoped to get something about schooling. In order to get Santa to know what he needed, he thought he would write a letter to Santa, which he believed would bring him those presents. He found a sheet and made a list of the items on it, and then bent down to post the letter up the chimney, waiting for the winds to take it up.

David got up very early on the Christmas morning. He searched his room carefully, but to his disappointment, he didn’t find the presents he hoped for. Hadn’t Santa received the letter? Was he too busy to send him the gifts? Although feeling a little upset, David was convinced that Santa would not forget him and he was bound to receive the items.

Many years had passed and 2019 came. In an old house, a young builder, Lewis Shaw was removing the fireplace with his colleagues when he suddenly found a small piece of paper, which was still in perfect condition even if it had turned yellow. He picked it up and unfolded it. It was a letter written to Santa. The touching hand-written note read:

Please can you send me a drum, box of chalks, slippers, silk tie, pencil box, any little toys you have to spare?

Love David

It was then signed off with lots of kisses.

This was the very letter written by David and the house was where he had lived during his childhood! The letter struck Shaw so much. How simple Christmas once was! David didn’t ask for much, just the things he just needed. Nowadays kids always want expensive gifts and take it for granted.

Shaw decided to find out the author of the letter. He shared a photo of the note on Facebook.

Yours,

Li Hua

It took place in a teacher’s family. One day, Ben was playing basketball in the living room after school, when he accidentally threw the ball at a vase sitting on the shelf. The vase dropped to the floor and a large piece broke off. What made Ben more upset was that the vase was not a common decoration but an antique (古董), which was handed down through generations from the 18th century. It was also his mother’s favourite possession. To cover his terrible action, the terrified boy glued the pieces together hurriedly and put the vase back to its place.

As the mother herself dusted the vase every day, she naturally noticed the cracks (裂纹) that evening. To her surprise, the repair work was actually very good. At dinner time, she asked her boy if he broke the vase. Fearing punishment, the suddenly inspired boy said that a neighbour’s cat jumped in from the window and he couldn’t drive it away no matter how hard he tried. It raced around the living room and finally knocked the vase off its shelf. His mother was quite clear that her son was lying, for all the windows were closed before she left for work each morning and opened after she returned. However, in the face of her son’s nervous eyes and the suspicious looks of the other family members, Ben’s mother remained calm. She realized she shouldn’t just simply blame and punish her son for lying. She came up with another idea.

Before going to bed, the boy found a note from his mother in his room, asking him to go to the study at once. The boy thought he would now be punished but, as he had already lied, he was determined to deny everything to the end, no matter how angry his mum became.

In the study, calmly bathed in the light, his mothers face showed no sign of anger. On seeing her son push open the door and cautiously enter, she took a chocolate box out of a drawer and gave him one.

The mother said, “This chocolate is a reward for your imagination: a window-opening cat!”

Now with some chocolates in hand, the boy’s bad attitude disappeared.