Tell me about a time a stranger has been kind to you - that unexpected kindness

[BridportSpectacular]

I was wondering around Cambridge waiting for a relative to get the yes or no after a biopsy at Addenbrookes, the prognosis was awful but this would give a bit more time.

I'm not a make up person really but thought I'd pop into a Department Store - John Lewis?? and ask about a new foundation.

The absolutely lovely middle aged make up lady took me under her wing, gave me a full make over, including doing my eyes twice because I cried when I explained why I was in Cambridge and chose me a lipstick shade that was perfect.

It was like a total therapy session. She was just so kind and it made that 2 hours I was waiting just go.

The news came back from the hospital that we had more time left than we thought.

Emergency roadworks were blocking my driveway (it’s a dual drive into a village). I parked a bit further along to ask what was up. It was a burst water pipe and they were just finishing the repairs. The lovely worker I spoke to asked where I’d parked, and said I could do a U turn to get back in. I said I’d just drive up to the next roundabout and come back, I didn’t fancy a three-point turn across a busy road (I haven’t been driving long). She offered to do it for me! I was delighted to have a little chauffeur-driven moment, it was very kind of her.

Must be nearly 40 years ago now, but I had been to a business meeting, all dressed up in high heels and a suit in a fetching shade of terracotta (it was the 80's!) when I had a puncture on the M5. I was terrified and wondering what to do when a lorry driver stopped, changed my tyre for me and refused any payment. I was so grateful to that kind man helping a damsel in distress. Amazing how I remember that after so many years.
Also many years ago, my father had just died and we were all in bits and amongst all the condolence cards was one from our farmer neighbours. We barely knew them as the farmhouse was about 1/2 mile from our house, but the lovely kind message they wrote has stayed with me always.
What I love about these threads and is a life lesson for us all is that most of these gestures were quite small - a hug - a kind word - yet these things have been treasured a remembered. .

In my twenties me and a friend got stuck in a town in India- no trains/public transport - we were in total panic. A young guy - max 18 came up to us and arranged a private taxi which he paid for to the town where we anted to go. he told us his parents had spent time in England and had been helped by lovely english people so if he ever saw an English person in trouble he should help.

Something happened me today. I had a box of takeaway containers collected over years. I put them in Freecycle and a lady wanted them. Got a very polite message and I told her I would leave them behind a hedge as she was coming quite early. When she came to collect them she gave me a box of home made flapjacks to say thank you. I was flabbergasted. What a lovely thing to do. She said it was a small thing as she was so grateful. I wasn’t in dire need or anything, but it was such a thoughtful kindness.

On holiday in Paris, my DD had had an accident and her thumb was elastoplast almost to her wrist. We were on the metro, it had been raining and was almost hanging off. A lovely lady opened up her bag, produced a roll of elastoplast plaster and some scissors and cut her a new piece off!

I was abandoned by the AA at 0200 who after saying would be with me in an hour, then called back and said they didn’t have anyone to come out to me when I was stuck in mud in the middle of nowhere, where a solid track suddenly became deep mud.

I tried and tried to get myself out, but just couldn’t manage (I drive a 6m van and am disabled, so difficult!) and was in tears. Then I remembered there are 4x4 volunteer drivers who help in snow / floods etc, so I emailed the one for the county I was in, they reassured they’d come and help, so I went to sleep and 2 lovely gents rocked up early the next morning and towed me to safety, and wouldn’t even accept a donation to their fuel / their charity.

Coming out of a supermarket car park I steered into a curb and my type popped.

I go out to check the tire and the car behind me stopped. A young man got out, said "Do you have the jack and a spare?"

I said I would call the RAC, nope he insisted on changing it, showed me his army ID so I knew he wasn't a creep and wouldn't take any cash.

One from WWII.

My grandad was called up when my dad was two. After basic training grandad got some leave but had to be on a boat in Liverpool afterwards.

So my grandparents and my 2 year old dad decided to go the night before and spend the day there and get a B and B for the night.

But everyone else had the same idea, and they couldn't find a place anywhere, they didn't have a lot of money but decided they would have to go to a hotel eventually ending up at the Adelphi which they really couldn't afford.

As they were discussing whether to go in someone approached them, he was a chef and was working at the Adelphi that night so his bedroom at home was empty.

He gave them his mother's address and said, "Tell mum I sent you" and gave them directions.

So two strange adults and a child arrived at a house, told the owner her son had sent them and they were made welcome.

Wow! That’s so great and inspiring. I didn’t even know such people existed. Having been in a flood myself, I understand how vital this service is.

I did the great north run for the hospice that cared for a relative. About a mile from the end I became completely overwhelmed with grief. A man about my age, dressed as a dinosaur came over asked if I was ok, gave me a hug when I told why I was crying and walked with me and came with me to meet the other family members that had done it, to make sure I found them.

i actually have a make up counter story as well. My mum died and I decided I needed some bits of make up as I was running out. The young woman trying some bits on me was lovely and I just burst into tears. I told her why, I was really embarrassed. I was meeting my daughter after and was worried she would be worried about me as I looked a mess on top of her own grief. She guided me to a stool in the corner and 3 of the women came and chatted with me and shielded me from the people walking past until I collected myself and then cleaned me up and put some more make up on.

When I went back to work I was in the kitchen, alone. And a lovely woman came in. She just put one arm round me, hugged me and told me she was there if I needed someone. Then quietly left.

For about 6 months after she died a male director would call me when he knew he I was working from home and ask a really odd question. Or for some help he didn’t need. Then ask how I was and if I needed anything.

Mums been gone 18 months and it’s broken me. But I often think of the small acts of kindness those around me showed during that time and it makes me feel like I have some hope.

I love this story, Liverpool is such a fab city and the people are amazing :)

Many years ago. I was in transit through an airport in a developing country, and did not realise that you had to pay just to transit through the airport. Cash only (£50) and I did not have enough cash on me. When I explained this, armed men carrying AK47s surrounded me and demanded I pay. (The ATM machine was outside the airport and they would not allow me out of the airport so I couldn't get there, but they didn't care about that). I was about to miss my next flight and was crying and pleading to no avail.

A British lady heard this and gave me the £50 cash. (I of course promised to transfer the money as soon as I got to my destination, but she could not have known if I really would). I made my flight and was so grateful to her and never forget the kindness. It was a very scary situation.

(I did complain to British Airways, whose flights I was on both in and out of this airport, saying that they should have let me know you needed £50 in cash to walk from one side of a tiny airport to the other, something I had never heard of before. They said it was my responsibility to have checked this. Thanks BA!).

I was on holiday on a cruise shortly after nursing and losing my dad,I was exhausted and a song we played at his funeral came on in the theatre and I had to rush out and go into the nearest bathroom where I just burst into tears and sobbed. A staff member lady was cleaning the toilets I apologised but she came over and spoke to me , she kept saying tears are natural and spoke to me with great kindness .
I didn’t see her again but had noticed her name badge I went to reception and asked about her on our last day and left an envelope with a note and tip for her thanking her.

Another one, this time regarding my DS. He was diagnosed as autistic early on, and in those days, when he was aged 3 or 4, he had huge problems in public places, with managing his behaviour etc. Part of his behaviour programme was to learn to tolerate everyday things like being in supermarkets etc. He was taken nearly every day to the local huge Tesco to practice, which was often quite a challenge.

One of the employees at Tesco made it his business to help out whenever he was there, making a big thing about getting DS to do tasks like helping him with packing or find things on shelves, even allowing him to work the checkout scanners, talking to him about what was going on all the time. He would specifically move from another task he was doing to come and operate the checkout where we were standing so as to let DS "help" him. His name was Emmanuel and we never forgot him, even many years after we moved from that area (and we did report this to his managers, on several occasions over the years we lived there).

Gosh .. what a lovely thing to say.. my job means I see lots distress and I am going to remember to say that!
I am glad you are here too… and better.

I’m sitting here, reading this thread and having a good cry. It’s so heartening to read these stories. After all the horrible things happening in this world, it’s good to know there are so many good, kind people performing acts of kindness. I suffer from bladder problems and desperate for the loo in Paddington Station, this was before they scrapped the charges, I realised I didn’t have the 50p I needed to enter. Standing there, obviously looking desperate, a lovely lady handed me the money and walked off. It’s a small thing but I’ve never forgotten it and I’ve tried to pay it forward ever since.

My parents missed a flight at Stanstead due to major crash on road on way, so did lots of other people. Airline just told everyone to stay in the airport overnight, but were some very rowdy big groups of lads (football game) who had all drunk rather too much and a young female student travelling alone was really upset and nervous. My parents approached her and on learning on her worries, called her parents and then brought her back home stay safely overnight before they all drove back for the rescheduled flight the next day.

we’ve also rocked up at home with half a dozen other people are late night filming, and my parents have fed and accommodated then all without issue. Looking after waifs and strays is a bit of a family tradition now

I was trying to pay for my parking at the hospital, I was heavily pregnant and the machine just wouldn’t accept my card. I was getting frustrated because I just wanted to get home but this lady came over and had some cash so paid it for me. Was just a nice thing to do.

My dad had an unexpected diagnosis of a life threatening bowel obstruction due to what turned out to be an aggressive sarcoma. We (his family) thought he’d die in surgery but he didn’t, and ended up living 3 further months and having a well managed, pain free death surrounded by family.

I was flying from another country to see him after his operation, leaving my husband and 2 older children and taking my breastfed 5 month baby. I had been too distraught to sort out food for myself.

There was a lovely mother travelling with her children who, realising I was upset, fed me the same snacks she offered her children 😀 and held my baby for me so I could go to the toilet.

That baby is 11 years old now, by the way. But I’ll never forget the kindness of that lady, she made me feel looked after.

This is very trival compared to so many but it completely changed my confidence as a young 11/12 year old & I've never forgotten it.

I hit puberty earlier than friends and was very conscious of my breasts and shape etc. I was in the changes rooms in Primark arguing with my mum about how rubbish I looked & my boobs were too big etc as she pleaded with me to buy some Summer clothes as I lived in a large hoodie in the sweltering heat.

This lady interrupted and introduced herself as working with a modelling agency. Told me she knew what was wrong & what I didn't realise how good my figure was & that she could fix it if I let her. She told me that I had an absolutely fantastic hour glass figure & if I was taller she would definitely take me on. She told me needed to stand up straight, walk with confidence & a smile & I would look great. She made me practice walking until I got it right, 3 times or something and said "See how you are walking with confidence, can you see how fantastic you look".

I lapped it up and I left feeling amazing as she was so glamorous & was in expert in body & beauty. She had to know what she was talking about surely! A modelling agent told me I looked great and she would know best!

Even today, people comment occasionally on my posture.

Years later, my mum told me, that when i went to the till to pay, this lady told her that she worked in Tesco next door on her lunch break but a mum of 3 daughters who was passionate about body image & said if I was anything like her girls I needed to hear i looked good from a stranger rather than my mum etc!

Laughable really that I was so naive I bought it but it gave me so much confidence at the time when I was struggling with body image!

That is absolutely brilliant! If only that lady knew what a great thing she did for you that day. I remember being that age and how awful it was.

My eldest child (now an adult) has autism and lives in supported living. One weekend he had come to stay the night and the next day was travelling back to where he lived. It hadn’t been an easy weekend and he was keen to get back quickly. The plan was to travel on the tube to the train station with him and him to then travel independently a few stops to where his supported living place was (a journey he had fond previously). He was getting a bit snappy on the tube and my youngest (also autistic) was with me as we were going somewhere after. We got to Balham station and my eldest just darted up the stairs without saying goodbye. I started to get upset, a lady who had been on the tube had seen us and was also getting an overground train from Balham. She saw I was upset and just gave me this huge hug. Such a small thing but so powerful. It literally lifted this huge weight from me. I’ll never forget that and if you’re reading this thank you xx

Went for a hike up Mont Ventoux in France with a friend. It was cold and (yes) very windy and by the time we arrived on top we were freezing, exhausted and very low on water. The campground we'd planned to stay on turned out to be closed for the winter - this was pre- smartphones, so we hadn't really been able to check. It really wasn't a great situation.

There were a few holiday homes that looked inhabited, so we knocked on the door to ask for some water and perhaps to pitch out tent near the house so we wouldn't be blown away during the night. They not only invited us in for dinner but also let us sleep in a spare room, made an amazing breakfast and dropped us off at the foot of the mountain. Amazing people.

I've had several similar instances of people being incredibly generous to me and friends when we needed help, especially while off the beaten track.

It’s the small things isn’t it. I try to carry a spare packet of tissues and bottled water (hat and gloves in winter), so I can hand them quietly to someone should they need them. I don’t have enough money for big gestures like paying for people’s shopping, but doing little acts of thought / kindness can really make your day so much brighter, even as the giver.

I was in M and S, had recently gone back to work and was looking through the sale dresses. I had very little money and very little confidence. I picked out a bright dress and was holding it and a lady came up to me and said, you have to buy that, the colour will suit you, you will look beautiful in it. I bought that dress and thought about the kindness of that lady each time. She will never know how lovely she made me feel.