This post is inspired by Shot@Life, an initiative of the United Nations Foundation dedicated to using vaccines as a cost-effective way to save children’s lives in developing countries. (Image courtesy United Nations Foundation.)
Hi team, I need help. Here’s why:
For every comment on this post, Shot@Life gets $20 to vaccinate a kid.
Twenty. Dollars.
Twenty dollars is what it costs to give one child four vaccines that help protect them against measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, and polio. During Shot@Life’s Blogust: Blog Relay for Good, 31 bloggers have been helping to secure $200,000 in sponsor donations. We need 10,000 comments, and we’re about 1,000 away from that goal right now.
Over the years, your comments have shaped my life. Whether you were celebrating Hank’s birth with me, or cheering my Life List, or comforting me when things took a difficult turn. I know you guys care about helping other people because of how much help you’ve already heaped on me.
So let’s do this.
Can you comment twice? Yes. Yes you can. And if you have a means of spreading the word, please Tweet, Pin, link on Facebook, or post a quick link on your own site.
Let us know the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you in comments. And thanks to you for being so nice to other people. I like you.
Yesterday Fadra Nally of All Things Fadra wrote about the comments you never see. Tomorrow, I’m passing the baton to my friend Stacey Ferguson of Justice Fergie — so you can help us reach our final goal by commenting on her site as well. We have until August 31. Thanks again.
Mighty Girl 
The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me was give me unconditional love and support when I was diagnosed with cancer at age 30.
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The nicest thing was when a colleague’s family gave me a meal to take home when I felt very alone in a new city. It seems so insignificant, but it was profoundly moving to me.
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I’ve recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. My family, friends and neighbors have all jumped in to make sure that I am smiling at the end of the day!
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The nicest thing my parents have ever done for was moving to America, working hard, and giving me all the opportunities America had to offer.
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The nicest thing this week (so far) is that the local barista took the time to learn my name and saw I was having a stressful day–without asking she comped my drink. My latte never tasted better and it was a bright spot on a Monday.
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The nicest thing anyone ever did for was to marry me. I have the greatest husband in the world!
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My daughter got locked in the car. Two men stood in the rain and worked on getting the door open for me.
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My husband took me to Italy for my 40th birthday!
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this is a nice thing to happen.
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When my husband gets up with our kids and lets me sleep in!! I love him and that he does that for me!!!
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As a grad student in NYC I had no furniture, so all of my friends banded together and bought me furniture for my bedroom as a surprise birthday gift. Nicest gift I’ve ever received, hands down.
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I’m too overwhelmed by all the nice things people have done for me in my life to pick the very nicest, so I’ll just go with the nicest thing this week: my boyfriend borrowed my car and brought it back filled with gas AND washed! Such a sweet surprise.
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It is so hard to pick one nice thing, but the first really good one that came to mind is that my sister made and/or finished all of my very fiddly wedding decorations and favors by hand.
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Wow. This has absolutely made my day! I love reading everyone’s comments.
My husband has been unemployed basically for the last two years and I’ve been supporting us both… Everytime my mom can tell the stress is getting to me she shows up with a new shirt or pair of shoes, or slips me some grocery money, or just takes me out to lunch (which is a luxury we can’t afford). I don’t know how I would have made it through these long months without her.
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My husband paid for my grown kids, spouses, and grandson to all vacation together with us in Hawaii!
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The nicest thing that ever happened to me : God gave me a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful sons to complete my life.
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The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me was when a family member allowed me to move in with them to leave an abusive relationship. It changed my life, and I’m so grateful.
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They are simply adorable. Million dollar smiles.
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When the situation with my (then) husband got too bad, my sister let me and my kids stay in her home until I got my feet under me. She was very ill and mostly bedridden and my two year old son knew a captive audience when he saw one and would sit and talk at her for what had to seem like hours. When I apologized and tried to distract him she just said to leave him be, he was fine. We lost her a year later.
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The nicest thing, the best thing, was when my husband left a writing conference in PA where he was to receive an award and drove through the night back home to NC to take care of me when I was severely depressed. I didn’t know he was coming and he just walked in the door and was there.
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The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me was love me unconditionally. There are a number of people in this category, and yet it’s so rare and beautiful.
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I don’t know what the nicest thing ever is….but one of the very nicest things lately has been the emotional support my husband has given me as I struggle with trying to leave a job I’ve needed to leave for a long time. It’s especially nice since he’s been going through a lot lately too.
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My sister hopping on a plane on a day’s notice, crossing an ocean to come take care of me and my newborn baby after an unexpected surgery. Sisters rock (especially ones that stock your freezer with nummy things to eat and who are happy to get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby so you can sleep).
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When I was a kid I fell off my bike and my tire got stuck under the fence of the neighborhood crazy lady with the mean barking dog. This was on a fairly busy road and a family stopped to help unwedge my bike and gave me a ride home. Probably getting in the car with strangers was a bad idea, but they were incredibly nice and didn’t kidnap me. I know that there are plenty of other nice things people have done, but this is the first one that came to my mind.
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Thanks for supporting Shot@Life! It is an amazing cause!
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My life took a turn when I had an academic advisor listen to me when I was in college. I was struggling in college, almost failing out. My parents are immigrants and had no idea what college was or what it required and how to support me. This advisor just listened and helped me get support and resources that I needed. She gently asked me to consider if I had learning struggles, and with her help, I discovered I had adhd. I learned study strategies and got accommodations. I went from almost failing to being an Honors student and going on to grad school. I can honestly say she changed my life. I now work with college students with disabilities and being able to give back has been immensely rewarding.
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When I was 18 and a freshman at college 3000 miles away from home, mildly depressed and clearly not ready to be at college right then, my parents let me drop out of school in January, come home, and transfer to a different school the following fall. It was the best decision for me at that point in time, and not only did they make it possible, but they supported me unconditionally, from start to finish.
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i think my boyfriend (now fiance!) proposing was pretty nice. 🙂
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I don’t think anything stands out at being “the nicest thing ever” but people have done nice things for me. Here’s to $20!
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Nicest thing recently: After borrowing my car an Aunt left wine and camping wine glasses in it for me. Small, but very thoughtful!
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Thanks for supporting this cause, my daughter is going to Kenya next week to help treat wounds in a remote village. These financial contributions help programs like the one she is going on with medical supplies.
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My best friend listening to and truly caring when I’m and absolute mess over something.
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You know what’s really nice? Trying to think of the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, and realizing that, man, I know a lot of nice people doing a lot of nice things for a lot of other nice people. What a gift.
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Out of the blue from the back seat of the car a few weeks ago, my 4 year old said, “I love you even when you’re angry.” I wasn’t angry at that moment, but that was one of the most generous gifts I’ve ever been given.
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The nicest thing any one has ever done for me was when my sister planned a full day of (relaxing) activities for our family on my canceled wedding day when I would have otherwise been a complete mess.
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It’s difficult to pinpoint the _nicest_ thing anyone’s every done for me, since I feel quite blessed, but the nicest thing today was my supervisor insisting I go home from work early because I wasn’t feeling well.
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When anyone brings me iced coffee without asking
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So many things…but the way our friends rallied around my family when my dad died (suddenly, and much too young) is something I will never forget. They brought meals, took care of stuff that needed doing, loaned us a vacation home so we could take a break from the craziness, gave us lots of shoulders to cry on, checked in on us regularly – just gave us lots of love and care. I will always be grateful for that support during such a difficult time.
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One of the nicest things – some friends had our wedding cake refrosted day of (it had been damaged – they had to drive to another town to get it fixed). Didn’t say a word until long after the wedding and the cake looked perfect. Often the nicest things people don’t even take credit for.
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One of the nicest things that my boyfriend has ever done for me is just laying with me as I cried and attempted to make sense of my grandfathers death. We all lose people who have made huge impacts on our lives and the best way to cope is to be reminded of all the love we will always have.
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The nicest thing… My old friend and roommate did not believe me when I told her I was OK and didn’t need medical attention. Instead she drove me to the hospital, and I had my appendix removed the same day.
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The nicest thing that anyone has done for me has been to believe in my when I didn’t (and don’t) believe in myself. My parents were likely the first to do this. I’ve had some amazing teachers who have done this, among them Patty Frey, Finnie Coleman, and Joyce Juntune. I’ve had bosses that have done this like Scott, Ed and Suma. My wife, Ashley, is a regular champion and my sons think I’m a superhero and I don’t have the heart to tell them I’m not.
Efforts like this one remind me that that kind of encouragement is something we all need, and I hope I am and will be the believer for others.
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when i went to camp and my mom took care of my stuffed bunny rabbit
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My parents gave me so much. If I am a nice person, it is down to them.
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All the generous meals left at our house after baby #1, baby #2 and baby #3!
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The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me is let me know I am worth all the great things that are happening in my life, and that the hard struggles are worth persevering through.
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The nicest thing anyone has done for me was to support me when I didn’t think I deserved it. Turns out I do deserve it!
This is a great project and I hope they reach their goal!
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After my son was born friends and family came over our house and offered food, it was wonderful!
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My parents stocking up my fridge and feeding the cat while we were away on vacation.
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Nicest thing: homemade cookies 🙂
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