These Heartfelt Stories Will Inspire You to Do Good This Holiday Season

Personal antidotes that are all about doing good

By Taylor Stephan Dec 14, 2015 5:00 PMTags
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Giving back feels good, and there's just no denying it!

This time of year has all of us feeling especially generous, but it's always a pleasant surprise when someone unexpectedly does a good deed for you, no matter the season.

Although grand gestures like adopting a pet or buying a safe car for your family are big ways to spread the love, you don't have to do something extravagant to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

In the spirit of giving, these E! News staffers shared their most heartwarming tales of times when their hearts have been touched by others.

NEWS: This is your reminder to share the love this season

"Every year my family sets aside a little money to help pay for the layaway presents set aside by families in need. One time when my mom and I were at the store, a woman came to pay off her daughter's toy. She found out that my mom had already paid for it and she started crying. She said thank you because she was then able to buy her son a gift for Christmas. It's nothing big, but it honestly feels nice to help other kids get some Christmas magic!" —Madyln Arby, E! Loves intern

"Eleven years ago, when I was 20, I was diagnosed with lupus and moved home to be with my parents while starting medical treatment. Around that same time, I started dating a guy that I had met through mutual friends. One night, shortly after we started going out, he and I were sitting in a movie theater waiting for the film to begin. He turned to me and said that he wanted to show me something. He then pulled out a tiny piece of newspaper with a listing for an upcoming lupus walk to raise money for research. He said that he wanted to do it. It was the sweetest, most caring gesture, and I knew right then that he was a keeper. We did the walk that year, and it became a tradition for our families and friends in the years to follow. Seven years later, I married him." —Lauren Mendoza, E! News film segment coordinator

"When I was living abroad, I had to come back to America to renew my visa. My then-fiancé and I were going to be apart for my birthday, so he decided to surprise me with a visit. He flew overnight from England and got my stepdad to pick him up from the airport at, like, 6 a.m. He brought me breakfast in bed; it was super-sweet." —Amy Webber, digital producer