Just before Christmas, Yoga teacher Philip Hilton found a wallet and he handed it to the Eastleigh Police Station on Leigh Road.
Recently he received a letter of thanks with a cheque of £20.
The letter reads:
“Dear Mr Hilton,
Firstly I must apologise for the delay in writing to you.
You found my wallet just before Christmas and very kindly handed this into Eastleigh Police in Leigh Road. I appreciate this and please accept the enclosed cheque to buy yourself a small present for your good deed.”
I learned about this act of kindness yesterday through Eastleigh Police’s tweets.
@EastleighPolice TODAY GOODNEWS I HANDED A WALLET WITH MONEY IN IT TO EASTLEIGH AND GOT A TWENTY POUND CHECK
COOL TAX pic.twitter.com/8w5kmRT34t
— philip hilton real (@hilton_philip) February 2, 2015
Philip later told me that he is going to donate the money he has received to the food bank in Eastleigh.
I found this news heart-warming. It reminds us of kindness in our community. Kindness is beautiful when it is reciprocal.
Other acts of kindness
Recently I visited a Volunteers Fair organised by One Community, at Eastleigh Museum. At the Fair, many people showed us their selfless work in the community.
I learned how volunteers in Eastleigh & District disability forum, Eastleigh Good Neighbours, Lions Club of Eastleigh, and many others groups have helped our neighbours with kindness.
It is easy to donate money, however it is not easy to spare your precious time to serve others, or to listen to others. These volunteers are truly inspirational.
Kindness with Ceanothus
Nearly three years ago, I received a handwritten note, with a lovely picture (a proper glossy picture, professionally printed one that you don’t see often these days).
The note read, “We had 10 of these & 110 people – collected nearly £2,000 for Jubilee Lunch to donate to Age Concern. Thanks for ceanothus.”
The lovely purple-blue ceanothus is from our front garden. It was planted by my neighbour Nigel a few years ago.
I remember one morning a lady knocked on my door. She said our ceanothus was gorgeous and it was just the right colour she had been looking for. “I’ve got white and red flowers. I just need BLUE.”
She explained that she was running a fund-raising event at Otterbourne at the weekend, and she desperately needed beautiful flowers for her flower display at the table. She needed this vibrant blue. “Could I have some?”
“Of course! Please help yourself.” I took out our flower clippers and she was happily cutting the flowers.
I had forgotten about this lady’s visit until I received the note and photograph two weeks later. You can read about the full story in my other blog post: A touch of kindness with ceanothus.
Chandler’s Ford Today: thank you for your kindness
People asked me what I get out of running the Chandler’s Ford Today website for the community.
You know that it is a non-commercial website and will stay non-commercial.
There is no financial gain in running this website, but the most precious gift is kindness. Your kindness.
Some people whom I’ve met through Chandler’s Ford Today have become friends. Many of you have sent me words of encouragement through emails, and have provided me with your inspiration and a good supply of coffee and tea.
Sharing is an act of kindness
Many of you write your own stories to be published on this website, and many of you have sent me local information (or gossips). Sharing is an act of kindness. You trust this website and you want your stories and acts of kindness to be shared in the community.
Your kindness has touched my heart. In moments of despair and darkness in life, let’s remember kindness is around us.
Thank you Philip Hilton for your story about returning the wallet that you had found in Eastleigh. Your honesty and act of kindness have inspired me writing this post.
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THANK YOU FOR PRINTING THE SAID STORY IM SO PLEASED AND HAPPY SHOWING MY FREINDS THIS ARTICLE I FEEL SO PROUD EXCELLENT WEB MAGAZINE THANKS FOR INTRODUCING ME TO THIS LOCAL NEWS EXCELLENT IDEA THANK YOU AGAIN PHILIP X
Many thanks for your inspiration for this post, Philip.
I like your tweet and I’m sharing it to the readers:
Honesty pays!! It is also good to hear GOOD NEWS
Though world is getting more advance in many aspects but picture’s other view is quit tragic-direct and kind communication with people around us is dropping. This is what one can easily observe that we even don’t get time to visit and check on people if they are doing well or passing through tough circumstances and need our help especially the neighbors. It’s the need of time to learn again how to deal with your neighbors in the best possible way and make your society a better place to live.
Check this: 10 Ways to Love Your Neighbor as You Love Yourself, I found very useful tips here which are actually a today need.
Dear Manahil,
Thank you very much for your comment. I like the link you added as 10 Ways to Love Your Neighbor as You Love Yourself is a great reminder of the true meaning of being good neighbours.
I would like to invite you to continue sharing your thoughts with us on this website. The teachings in many religious are the same – they teach us kindness, helping people in hardship, respect and others. I hope people would read the post you recommended and practise the good points from the Islamic teachings.
All the best to you and thank you for your contribution.