A man gave me an umbrella ...and other kind acts

[HowManyDucks]

I was out walking today, it was raining -not a lot but enough. A street cleaner I say hello to most days handed me an umbrella. Of course I was like "oh thank you that's so kind, really, I'm alright." But he didn't take no for an answer. He showed me about 8 umbrellas he had been collecting for this purpose. It's actually a really fancy umbrella, with a wooden handle. I felt a bit guilty taking it home with me, so I've put it in the foyer of our flat block where it is working as the community umbrella for now.

I just thought it was such a sweet thing to do. It really brightened up my day.

Has anyone does something kind for you today?

@HowManyDucks that was really thoughtful of him....and so are you for putting the umbrella in the communal area 💐😊

Someone offered me a shopping bag as I had too much to carry, and was too stingey to buy another one!! I also said it was very kind, but I would be ok, and he accepted that, which I was relieved about as it was my own stupid fault 😂
So lovely of the street cleaner, and great for things not just to be thrown away!

Awe great to see a thread like this 😊

One from my childhood. I was walking home from school think i was 8/9. It was snowing hard. The wind picked up and blowing snow, making visibility near zero. I had 3 younger siblings at home and was given $2.00 in case this happened. I was to go to Dunkin Donuts and call to home for mom or grandpa to come and get me and to buy myself a donut and drink while I waited. This was downtown Chicago in the very early 90s.( Quicker to walk than drive anywhere) 2 bucks was the exact amount I needed for a juice box, donut and to use the pay phone.

Except I lost the money somewhere. The store manager who knew my family called home for me and there was no answer. It was a full on blizzard blowing out and news was telling people to stay off roads etc. If you get that warning over there - it's huge. Not like here .

By this point I was crying because I'd lost the money and didn't want my mom to be disappointed I couldn't follow 'the plan'. Anyway, a very kind gentleman saw the whole thing and bought me a donut and a hot chocolate. Said he'd sit with me awhile before calling home again.

While having a very lovely chat my grandpa burst into the shop from the storm, having walked because it was too dangerous to drive. The manager went to him explained I guess what was happening and when my grandpa went to give the man money he refused. Said he was stuck waiting it out as well and had kids himself and wanted to know someone would lookout for them. We sat with him for awhile until it calmed down a bit. Left and walked home.

Months later in the summer holidays, we were at the park and an ice cream van pulled up and my grandpa bought us an ice cream as we were leaving he saw a little boy crying. He'd lost his dollar. Grandpa bought him an ice cream and explained to me that he was settling the debt to that stranger from the storm.

It's become a bit of a family tradition now. Both of parents now in their late 70s and myself and siblings will buy children treats randomly wherever we can. It causes my husband to cringe massively when I'm with him but I'll never ever forget the kindness that stranger showed me.

Thank you for this thread! I haven't thought about him in years or why I automatically treat/help other children the way I do.

Yesterday, my son and I had to get off the bus as he felt sick and he proceeded to throw up on the pavement. A very kind man was in his front garden and he gave us 3 bottles of water - we took one for my son to sip on the walk home and the other two to wash the pavement down. I was very grateful for his kind gesture!

This is a lovely thread and made me think of this from On Tyranny by Thomas Snyder

I did a kind deed for a kid once, I still think about it because it was so easy but made a big impact.
A dad and his son arrived at a cafe and sat down near us. Before they could order the dad had to get on a work call, which was a shame because it was the weekend. The call went on and on while the kid sat there fidgeting (he was about 7).
When we went in to pay and leave the dad was still on the phone and I asked them to take a hot chocolate with marshmallows out to the kid.
I heard next week when I went back that the kid was thrilled and the dad came to thank the mystery hot chocolate purchaser.
I enjoy that memory because it reminds me how much happiness an unexpected hot chocolate can bring, like even lazy people like me can help strangers.

My Dad once caught a child running down a steep bank. He was going to fast to stop and would have ended up on a road. His Dad was running after him but had no chance of catching up. My DD iterally caught him and swung him round to stop the momentum. The child laughed but the childs Dad was very very grateful! Lucky the child had no idea of the danger he was in.