What's the kindest thing you've ever experienced?

[flopsytheflatcat]

an act of kindness to you or one you've witnessed or heard about?

I had discovered my exh had had an affair and realised my marriage was over. It was my 40th birthday 2 weeks later ( my dad has also died recently so my family didn’t really acknowledge my birthday).

Anyway I went into work that morning - my work is quite formal, we never buy gifts, cards etc - got to my desk and there was a little cake with a candle in it, a card and some lovely really thoughtful gifts. My colleague who sat next to me just gave me a big hug and said happy birthday. Message on the card said ‘the sun will shine again’.

I felt so so touched it actually makes me cry again thinking about it now.

These have made me tear up!

9 years ago my dad was in a hospice (does a few weeks after this event) and I wasn’t in the clearest frame of mind. On a car journey home from work I drove straight into the back of another car, completely writing my car off.

I got out, so did the other driver. I gave her my details and promptly burst into tears. She just took me in her arms and let me cry. I had no way of getting home and was trying to call DH when 2 men in a white van pulled up. They said they knew they were strangers but if I was willing one of them would drive my car to the nearest garage and the they would drive me home. Later on the driver from the car I crashed into called to check how I was, said she couldn’t stop thinking about me.

Total strangers but I’ll never forget their kindness.

I was sitting with my Mum in intensive care, and knew from the monitors that she was in her last hour, probably. Her nurse called another nurse to help turn my Mum, and they both made sure her sheet and gown were flat, so that Mum, who was unconscious, would not be uncomfortable. Whilst Mum's nurse was dealing with her mouth care, the other nurse said to Mum "I'll just comb your hair, F, " That small act of kindness and care meant so much. The nurse had her own patient to care for, but she took the time to respect the dignity of a woman who was dying. I will never forget her kindness.

When my Mum was dying one of the nurses on the ward had been in the same class as her at junior school, after we had left in the evening my DM had become very frightened, she didn't want to die in the dark alone so the nurse who should have gone home at the end of her shift sat and held my Mums hand all night.That nurse was an angel. My mum died 48 hours later.

The person who posted a Christmas card through my door with £100 inside after the idiot i used to be married to refused to pay for his children. It meant my DC had gifts to open that year

The nurse who made me a cup of tea after one of my miscarriages. My family were all away & MIL refused to look after dc so dh had to leave me on my own. That nurse was so kind.

Another kindness I will never forget are 2 men in Brazil who helped me & a friend out of a very sticky situation. They helped us get out of the town on a bus within the hour & stayed with us till the bus left to stop these men from hurting us. I remember them & their kindness almost 30 years later.

@ParkheadParadise, your post will stay with me for the rest of my life. Hugs to you, what a kind man.

When DD’s school was closed cause of snow last year we went out to play in the park. I hadn’t realised how bad it was, and got stuck trying to push her wheelchair up a very snowy hill.

Two teenage lads came up and offered to help, pushing her up the hill and chatting nicely to her. After I’d said thanks and how kind that was I saw them lobbing snowballs and swearing at the driver of a bus going past a few minutes later

Maybe not the kindest, but still lovely.

In the summer holidays I was cat and housesitting for DM. DD(5) had recently got into the Rainbow Magic books and we were trawling the high street charity shops looking for them. In the last shop we went to, they had about 50 of them, in order, from first book. They were on special offer - buy 5 for £1.50 or something. We we debating which ones to buy, when a man leaned over and handed me £10 because "children should always read". It wasn't enough to buy them all but I had exactly the right money to cover the cost of the extra ones.

I was so shocked and grateful, and now I'm waiting for my moment to do something similar. The books are crap but they've encouraged DD's reading and she's now on the advanced program at school, and we still talk about the man who bought her Fairy books for her.

This thread is a great reminder how many kind and thoughtful people there are - and IMO they way outnumber the few that aren’t. It’s just we only ever hear about the bad stuff.

I remember when I went travelling for a year I had so many small acts of kindness done for me. People, on the whole, are kind.

Thanks for starting this thread OP

Some lovely posts here, though sorry to hear that many of you have been in such desperate situations.

I will never forget how kind our GP receptionist was. Had just moved house and was in the midst of registering with new practice when had a MC.

She called me straight behind the and gave me a big hug.

These are all so lovely!

@wombinside That's just made me cry. I hope things got better for you quickly.

Wow @candle1000 that just made me cry. What a woman.

I helped a young girl in distress one day 💖

I was waiting for the bus & she just passed me getting off & she looked absolutely distraught. I felt an overwhelming urge to ask her if she was ok. She was so distraught she could hardly get her words out. After a few words from her it appeared that a man had exposed himself to her on the bus. She was really frightened, hyperventilating & she was autistic. The man was still on the bus. I told her to stay put & that it was important that we dealt with this. I got on the bus & told the bus driver that a serious incident had occurred & to radio for the police & security& not to drive off ( this was in a huge busy shopping centre bus station ) Security came & I stood with the girl whilst she gave his description, she begged me to stay with her & I could see that she was in a state. He was removed & detained by security. I waited with her whilst the police arrived. I stayed with her & accompanied her to the police station ( as I had to give a statement too ) I stayed with her at the police station until her family could come & collect her. a one hour journey home at tea time ended up in me getting home at 11PM, the police were kind enough to drive me home & told me that my act of kindness was rare 💖 That poor girl. We stayed in contact & message every now & then, I have bumped into her a few times & she always gives me a massive hug 🤗 & reminds me how I saved her that day 💖💖💖

@JJSS123 words fail me ,how on earth did you survive ? I am so so sorry about your family circumstances .I hope things are better for you now and that you have somehow left as much of that dreadful past as possible behind you . x

The lovely, lovely dental nurse who made a really difficult situation better.

I'm exceptionally needle/dental phobic to the point where all dental work needs to be done under full anaesthetic. At my last round of treatment she talked to me about anything and everything until I was relaxed. When I came around afterwards she had arranged to be there as a known face even though she didn't usually do recovery.

My DD when she was 10 found a £2 coin on the street in Oxford. She picked it up and just said I'll be back in a minute.
She crossed the road and dropped the coin into a cup in front of a homeless person
She came back to join me and didn't say a word.
I didn't have the heart to explain that it's recommended not to give cash. We'll have that conversation another time. In the meantime, I'm so incredibly proud of her kindness.

There's lots of daily kindness we get too.
DS, 4 and I catch the bus to school, if it's full he always gets given a seat.

Caught a full train, lady offered me her spot on tbe floor for me and DS, said I'd never get back up at 7 months pregnant with twins but thanks 😂. One of the other women there walked into the next carriage and asked really politely if anyone would give up their seats for me and DS. Two men immediately got up and gave us their seats, and were really sweet about it.

@Gazelda .... How lovely 😊
I love reading all these kind stories 💖
Kindness really does makes the world go round!
I've just dropped the girl a message who I rescued, to see how she is. She doesn't have many friends & she's always super excited to hear from me, bless her : )

When DD's boyfriend of nearly 4 years dumped her by text she put it on the group chat. two of her friends dropped what they were doing and came over with packed bags so they could stay the night. One of them was staying with her boyfriend 100 miles away, and took several trains to come back to be with her.

One I don't really remember but put pieces together afterwards.

A relatives husband buggered off in November, cleaned out the bank account and as a final dick move told his 4 year old santa was dead.

Presents came in from all over for the children, I think everyone who even vaguely knew the family bought an extra present that year.

A very minor one, I walk with a stick so it's not always easy to get shopping into a bag, I was buying some things in Greggs and knocked my sausage rolls onto the floor.

A little girl, about 9 picked them up and took the other bits I'd bought and packed my bag.

I thanked her and complemented dad, I could see she was with dad as the pride was radiating from him.

A small group of my friends were fabulous to me when I completely ran out of money in my early 20s after university. They supported me when i couldn’t do it myself. They paid for me at networking events and networking lunches and proof-red CVs and applications as I job-hunted and job-hunted and job-hunted. It was in the end only about 2 months before I got a part-time job, but I’ll never forget the kindness and the introductions and the quiet picking up of tabs and the assurances that I would have a job soon.

Oops! Typos from typing on phone. Have a lovely day everyone! - and it’s a kindness I’ve paid back many times to young people seeking their first steps in the working worlds.

I have a few kind things that have happened

DD was a few weeks old & Id gone out to get gas electric and baby milk & food for the week and as i walked into the shop started patting myself down and couldnt find my money, i turned around to walk outside and a woman was rushing towards me and had my money. It was £50, she could of took it and gone but came and gave it to me. I was on benefits at the time and nearly cried with relief. I am still grateful she didnt steal it

Once i was running down the road with my DD away from abusive ex p and i hid around a corner. I saw him running past so waited a few minutes. As i came out he was running back up the rooad towards us, i remember standing infront of my pram knowing he was going to hit me when out of nowhere a tiny woman appeared with a boxer dog and started going mad at ex p. She told him if he didnt get away from us she would set her dog on him. She made him leave and then walked me and my DD home ( we lived seperatky to ex p ) this woman was smaller than me and i am only 5'2. That was easily 4/5 years ago & Im crying writing this, that was so brave of her and so bloody nice. I dont remember her name and dont live in the area anymore but ill never forget that. She was so nice