Whatever happened to kindness? Spoiler alert: Our readers prove it's alive and well

In recent years, NPR has explored how small interactions with strangers can do more than just brighten our days — they can improve our well‑being.

Our original story from 2023 traced psychologist Gillian Sandstrom's research back to her experience as a lonely graduate student in Toronto who exchanged a wave and hello daily with a hot dog vendor she passed on campus, even though she never once bought a hot dog. That brief exchange boosted her spirits so much that she began studying the power of "weak ties." Her research found what many people intuitively feel: Even the most casual encounters can boost mood, ease isolation and strengthen our sense of community.

Global health professor Kristin Jenkins of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., wrote to tell us that our story had inspired her to ask her students to intentionally engage with strangers and casual acquaintances. They enjoyed the assignment so much, they wanted to continue doing it! In sharing some of their experiences with NPR, they described moments that echoed Sandstrom's findings. A mechanic started "a wonderful conversation" about nursing school. A hospital worker felt more grounded during a stressful shift: "Something as simple as using someone's name or taking a few extra minutes to listen can actually mean a lot.". These short, simple interactions became reminders that kindness doesn't always have to be grand to be meaningful.

About This Series We're looking back at some of our past global health and development stories to see "whatever happened to ..."

Now, we've invited readers to share their own moments of connection — small exchanges that lift their spirits and stay with them much longer than they expect.

One woman from California shared a story about her mother, who lost a year of school to polio as a child and has lived ever since with a twisted spine and chronic pain. Even so, for the past two decades, she and her dogs have made weekly visits to nursing homes and hospitals, bringing handwritten cards and goody bags to people who normally don't have visitors.

Another reader in Kenya told us that a quick question about an acronym on a man's T‑shirt while waiting in line at a bakery turned into a lively 15‑minute conversation. They both walked away smiling.

Finally, one open-hearted reader doesn't just limit kindness to other humans. "Even a simple greeting like 'Hello, brother' to a hawk or 'You are so beautiful' to a flower brightens my day."