Can I have some "people are lovely" stories to restore my faith in humanity please?

[JocastaNu]

I work in social services. Very little surprises me but every now and again you get a case that hits hard. Today is one of those days. Can't go into any details but I'm definitely having a "people are shitheads" moment.

Could you share some stories of how people are not shitheads please? Anyone done anything lovely for you unexpectedly recently? I feel I need to hear how there is still good in the world.

Friends of my friend set up a fundraiser when she was terminally ill. They raised enough money to pay off the mortgage so that she could go peacefully knowing that her children would be provided for and be safe and secure.

Also we were on holiday in Yorkshire Driving along a lane and a little lamb ran in front of the car. Oh no it is loose I thought. Jumped out of car and fifteen minutes of hilarity ensued while myself and another driver chased it up and down the street to try and get it back over the fence to its mum and the rest of the clan. No idea how I did it in the end but eventually I caught it, grabbed it and lifted it up and it jumped back over the fence.

The reason I'm telling the story was that we then went to the local pub and no idea why now I thought this was a great story and began recounting the tale to locals (who I knew, it wasn't completely random) who were absolutely non plussed as it happens all the time 😂 Bloody tourists.

@zzizzer Out of all of the stories so far yours made me cry. What a horrible time for you and a little acknowledgement from stranger meant the world to you. Goes to show that small gestures cost nothing and can mean the world to someone. We all need to take notice of each other more

One of my very favourite people are lovely stories came from a work colleague.
A man on their team had mentioned that he never puts up Christmas decorations or does anything to celebrate and that he really struggles with the time off work over Christmas as the routine of work keeps him going. The whole team chipped in and bought him a Christmas tree and decorations and then all 10 of them went round to his house and put them up together. They made plans most days. Several people invited him to their houses for Christmas dinner as he lived alone and had no family. He declined. So on Christmas Day one of the women drove for over an hour to his house to drop off a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. The team had bought him presents and had spent ages choosing things he would love.
He sadly got very sick a few months later and passed away. He left a letter for them saying how much it had meant to him and honestly it is the most touching letter I have ever read.

The lovely man who popped my child on to the train. I though she was following me but with the buggy and the other child I didn't realise she'd let go. I froze and a lovely man appeared from nowhere and lifted her on.
Lots of random help on nd off trains and at stations going up and down stairs.
I fell over infront of my house and hit my head very hard on the brick wall. A cyclist stopped to make sure I was ok. Luckily someone was home to help me.
When the concussion symptoms reoccur a friend set me up with hello fresh type scheme for 2 weeks of meals.
The biggest was MIL stepping in and helping DH when I had to return to my home country for an emergency for 2 weeks. FIL had just passed, his funeral was the week before. She was amazing. Dh was is a stressful work situation and had to be at work when his bereavement leave was over so him not having to worry about childcare/ daily things was huge.

Bump

Oh god, I'm a blubbing mess at some of these.

My favourite is dog related. I had been diagnosed with a chronic condition out of nowhere. Just married, new house, thinking of starting a family and then boom. We decided to get a dog to have some positivity to focus on and got a lovely but dumb golden retriever. He loves socks. They are his favourite thing and he is so happy with a stupid smile when he has one in his mouth

We were told having children might not be possible and after our third miscarriage I was quite broken just done with it all. I sat on the toilet crying like I'd never cried before - big sobs that took my breath away. I noticed after some time that DDog was lying on my feet - next to the biggest pile of odd socks. He'd often steal them and they'd disappear (to this day we don't know where his stash is). But in my moment of utter despair, he went and got the things that make him the happiest in an effort to cheer me up. He must have had to go back and forward several times to build up such a pile. I've never loved anything more in that moment. He's an old boy now and I dread the day...

But happy ending is he is currently sat watching my DC who is toddling next to him playing, stopping every now and then to give DDog a stroke with an 'ahhh' noise.

Years ago I was travelling back to my flat having been to see my BF over the weekend. Sunday night, dark, cold.
And it turned out that though I had checked the platform my train was arriving at, I had nonetheless managed to end up on the wrong train, and it was the last train that night. I had very little money then and was going to end up hundreds of miles away from anyone I knew.
A lady overheard my increasingly panicked conversation with the guard and offered me a bed at hers for the night.
Bless her. I posted her some chocs later that week as I'd had to leave at 6am to get the train to where I lived and worked and so hadn't been able to thank her properly.

@minmooch your post made this hardened old boot blub like a baby.

Some of you might have seen on the news this week about a house explosion. I’m proud to say this is my community and we have certainly risen to the occasion. From the heroic efforts of passing workmen and later the fire brigade to rescue those trapped, the local pub and churches feeding those evacuated from their homes to the efforts of others donating what they can spare for three families left with nothing. At last count a just giving page had smashed its 5k target and the local WI hall was filling up with donations. It’s certainly restored my faith in people.

Personally I’ve had the lovely lady who whipped out her purse and paid for the drinks I’d ordered when DH was in A&E and I got to the till before realising I had left my purse behind.

Also whenever I cross a railway bridge someone always seems to appear offering to carry the buggy while I get DS up the stairs.

Aged 9 (many many years ago) I came flying off my bike and used my face as a brake when I hit the road. I lay twisted up under the bike, screaming, and looking like an absolute horror show.

A mum driving her children home from school (her lad was in the year above me) saw what happened. She pulled over, approached me with a smile and gently untangled me, reassuring me that I wasn't badly hurt. She popped me in her car as her son untwisted the bike and put it in the boot, and took me home. Only my brother (aged 11) was home - times were different then - and he went white when he saw me.

For his part, he called our DM (she was at Bible Reading Fellowship ) and then dabbed at me with cotton wool and warm water until she came bursting in and nearly had a heart attack.

I was the talk of the town and school for a couple of weeks with my peeled face, but I bear only a couple of little scars 40 years later. I'll always remember that kind smile and the way someone else's mum instantly calmed me down. I think DM knew her (tiny town) and went to thank her afterwards.

I have two:

1. I was in a foreign country and my bag came open as I was crossing the road. All my stuff fell out and a man helped me pick it all up. I went on my way and opened my bag to look for my wallet and it was gone. I ran back to the road but no sign of it. Contacted the bank and cancelled my cards and ordered a new visa for urgent delivery.

The next day someone had called my number. There was a message from a woman who had found my wallet and handed it in to the local German Embassy. I went along and found it and all my stuff was there. The bank were incompetent and hadn't cancelled my cards.

1. I was in N Yorkshire and lost my wallet (yes the one from above). Must have dropped it somewhere. Had no money. I could buy things but couldn't get any money out. A woman at my hotel gave me a tenner for the journey home so I could buy some sandwiches. Wouldn't accept a cash transfer or anything. Really, really lovely of her.

I was in a library, some older teens had come in from the local secondary. Being a bit disruptive but not massively. Librarian had 'shh' them a couple of times.
Then a homeless looking woman comes in, maybe on drugs I don't know but she looked terrible. She collapsed. The teens rushed over, one propped her up, helping her, another gave her his water while waiting for the ambulance they spoke to her so kindly and were so reassuring and helpful. It was nice I see one of the lads from time to time in the area we sort of nod at eachother now

Just this week there was a post on a local fb page that an elderly man had lost his wallet having just taken out his pension in cash, had anyone seen it? No ID in the wallet so no way for it to be returned to him.

It's been found and returned to him by someone who saw the post.

But add to that, if it hadn't been found, the sheer number of people offering to put money in a pot for him would have easily paid back what he'd lost.

Bump

When DS was a baby we’d been to Asda to do a big food shop. We came out with a trolley full of food to 3” of snow in the car park. The trolley wheels stuck. 2 separate strangers came over and carried my trolley to the car while I carried DS.

HowMany you’ve just reminded me of being on a stopped travellator in Tesco with DD and shopping in a big trolley and the wheels magnetically stuck half way up. I was completely baffled but a gang of teenage boys behind instantly grabbed the front and back and carried the trolley to the upper level.
Maybe it happens a lot - it’s not my regular shop - but it made me smile!

I had a tonic clonic seizure while I was out alone in a local town and got a head injury as I collapsed.
I woke up in an ambulance very confused.
Someone or some people had called an ambulance, tried to stop the bleeding from my head with my scarf, and given my 2 bags including my iPhone which I'd been holding I think to the Paramedics.
I'm very grateful that they had known to help me and call an ambulance and no one had stolen my things.

Usually, my next door neighbours and I would have coffee together every couple of days and a meal every month or so, as well as popping in and out of one another's houses daily.

During the past year, they have had their parents living with them to shield and obviously we have been limited in meeting. Firstly not allowed garden meets, but would have been over 6 people anyway.

They have provided me with a full, plated meal about once a fortnight. Just get a knock at the door, or a text 'We've got too big a joint / an extra fillet of fish - would you like to help us out for tea?'

They are truly the best neighbours.

Our village centre flooded the night before Christmas Eve. The whole village was out that night delivering sandbags and helping as best they could, then the next day we were all there helping to clear up, bringing hot food, organising a free skip and just generally trying to help. Throughout the last year there have also been regular deliveries of craft packs and gifts for all the village children, and also gifts for all those who are alone, elderly or self-isolating. The Parish Council has tracked them all down and brings little bags around door to door - Easter eggs, simnel cakes, tea and biscuits. There’s been a group of volunteers right from the start ready to collect shopping and prescriptions and things for the vulnerable. And we’ve also managed to raise thousands of pounds for new village playground, as a community. People have really come together and mucked in to support one another.

My sons wheelchair headrest got twisted in school and would have cost the NHS £200 to replace as well as months of waiting, so I asked on Facebook locally and a lovely family offered to straighten the bracket and did it for free. I gave them some flowers. They also had a disabled child.

@museumum

My local facebook group is FULL of people returning wallets, cards, jewellery and phones to their rightful owners. That makes me happy. I honestly think that these days your phone or whatever is more likely to be returned / handed in than nicked (my friends was handed in two weeks ago when she dropped it in a park).

Ours is too. Also lost dogs and the hunt for them (even using drones) and the eventual joyful repatriation of said animals. 😀

Our village fb freecycle page is full of beautiful things, and people donate enough furniture to furnish some homes!

What a lovely thread

When I was quite heavily pregnant I was standing behind a guy at the cash machine.
He had tried a few cards but couldn’t get any money out. He then walked off mumbling something along the line shit what am I going to do. His money (around £100) came out. I tried to call him back but he didn’t hear me so I grabbed the money and ran (well waddling run) after him. I caught up after asking others to stop him. He was so relieved that I thought he would cry. He gave me £20 for my baby I refused so he put it on the floor and ran off quickly and shouted back please take it.

I had lots of people be lovely to me when I was pregnant and ds was little old people giving ds money for an ice cream, women on plane offered to cuddle ds while I had a nap or needed the bathroom,
helps at stations, help getting my sling on (I struggled at first) I was constantly touched how lovely the vast majority of people are