Gayle Noble spends her days driving around Oceanside, California, doing random acts of kindness for people. Rocking a Grateful Dead tie-dye shirt and her signature plush hat, the 77-year-old hippie-at-heart is driven … to give.
Since she retired, Noble has made a job out of making others feel good. Almost every day, she drives around town delivering goodies to people who are working often thankless jobs.
In a stop at the post office, she skirted the line, squeezing past a customer, to give a postal worker muffins.
But no time to chit-chat! She was off to her next stop, at the UPS Store, where she placed some cookies on the counter. "It's nice every morning to have that smiling face come in," said Bryan, a UPS employee. "She'll tell us, 'You guys have such a hard job, I know what you're going through, I've done it before, and here's some muffins to get you through the day!'"
And boy, does that make their day — as it did at Trader Joe's, where Noble got a hug from an employee, who remarked, "She's an angel. There's a halo under this hat."
Gayle Noble's journey of kindness began at a young age, inspired by her grandfather who taught her the importance of giving back. This lesson stuck with her throughout her life, leading her to be known for her "aggressive kindness" by her daughter, Nisse. Gayle's generosity goes above and beyond, always surprising people with treats and gestures of goodwill.
Aside from her acts of kindness, Gayle has a remarkable history. In the 1970s, she broke barriers as a female chief engineer at a Los Angeles radio station, a rare position for women at the time. She continued to make waves in the technology field, designing a groundbreaking interface chip for an early home computer in the 1980s, which was even named after her. Over the years, Gayle accumulated more than 50 patents in various technology fields, showcasing her innovative spirit.
Her radio background eventually led her to a career in computer engineering, where she contributed by writing code for the U.S. military. Gayle's legacy extends beyond her professional accomplishments, as she continues to touch lives with her unwavering kindness and generosity.
"The experience of the Vietnam War was my motivation," she revealed. "I was assigned to operate the stealth fighter and a few other aircraft. The codes were crucial in distinguishing between friend and foe."
"My primary goal was to save lives," she emphasized, highlighting her desire to assist others.
This selfless attitude has defined her entire existence. However, Nisse faced challenges along the way. "I never had a close relationship with my mother," she admitted. "Connecting with her has always been difficult. She has a unique way of showing kindness, almost like a quick delivery service! After my father's passing, I decided to focus on self-improvement. It's a continuous journey."
What did she ultimately realize? "I came to understand that my mother is a vessel of love and generosity, that's her true essence," Nisse acknowledged. "Her actions are truly inspiring."
Today, Gayle's compassionate spirit is touching hearts globally, all thanks to Nisse. She is the creator and curator of Gayle Tales, an Instagram platform dedicated to showcasing her mother's acts of kindness. It's a space where individuals from all corners of the world shower this 77-year-old widow with affection and admiration.
The Power of Love and Acceptance
The impact has been profound. "Yeah, they love her so much," said Nisse. "I think they love what she represents. It's giving a lot of people freedom to be themselves. And what a beautiful thing, to be loved and accepted for who you are."
Watching her mother embrace her true self fills Nisse with pride. Once embarrassed, now dedicated to honoring and celebrating her mother's authenticity.
Gayle, the mother, seeks nothing in return for her acts of kindness. "What I get out of it is the joy of knowing that I've added some spark into each one of them," she said. "That's the best part."
