To ask have you ever done something for someone who could never pay you back?

[Midge1978]

This quote was on twitter today: “you haven’t lived until you’ve done something for someone who can never pay you back”

I work with children so I guess I kind of do that everyday. Teach them, encourage them, empower them and none of them will ever remember! Does anyone else feel that they’ve done this in their lives?

My parents have. A girl I went to school with got trown out by her parents (lots of issues at her home) my dad saw her wandering the streets and took her home and while social service sorted out a place for her she stayed with us. My parents are still today the first she goes to when she needs help advice or similar.

There was lad about 12 in the card shop buying a card and a mug for his mum. He picked up another small gift from the counter, but when he came to pay and counted all his pennies he was about 40p short. I gave him the money and said I hoped his mum liked her presents, He'd gone bright red and replied "thankyou".

It is so much better to give than to receive.

A very heartwarming thread for those who are not total cynics.

Totally agree. My late mother did so much for so many, and never expected anything in return. I look back on some of the things she did for people, and am always grateful to have had such a wonderful role model in my life!
As for myself, well I don't think I could ever match up to her generosity, but I have volunteered for a charity for a few years now, do community work, and have long helped support a family member and her children, who I know will never be in a position to repay. I am sure there are a lot more selflessly good people out there than we sometimes realise

My eyes are leaking reading this thread. So much kindness in a world full of bad.

The first Christmas after I separated from DS1's dad I had been in my rented home about 8 weeks. There was a knock at the door and it was the elderly man from a few doors down. He'd brought a big orange and a little book for my DS. That act of kindness from a stranger has never left me and I visit the man's grave each Christmas now, he passed away a few years ago and his ashes are buried near my great grandparents.

I have one I'd like to share about a friend who really helped me out and I don't think I can ever repay him.

I was moving out of rented accommodation, and for various reasons work had prevented DH and I from being as ready as we should have been (very long hours and meetings away for both of us). We also had a little 6 month old...

Then on the day of the move, DH had go to work! My DM thankfully took LO, but I was facing a day alone moving house

Out of the blue, at 8 o'clock the doorbell rang and there was a friend of mine. He'd taken a day off to help me move. I was

I cannot express how grateful I was as the day was a nightmare (moving van broke down amongst other issues!). I genuinely couldn't have done it without him.

It's nice to be nice.
There was a guy on Radio 4 this morning saying that the brain generates reward chemicals when people help somebody else.
Give the next beggar you see a Mars bar and a cup of coffee.

I work with children so I guess I kind of do that everyday.

Surely they do pay you or future teachers back when they start earning and paying taxes which contribute to your wages?

I still remember my teacher from Reception and how nice she was and the things we made !

A little kindness really can go a long way.

As I as driving I saw an elderly man trying to run for the bus one day, the bus didn’t wait for him. I turned my car around and went back and offered him a lift to wherever he needed to be. He accepted. He was happy, and I was happy to have helped.

I gave a friend in dire straits the money for the airfare to get her home, away from her abusive douchebag boyfriend.

I just wanted her to be safe.
Then there’s the smaller stuff like giving kids/pensioners money at the till if they’re short. Also gave a woman tissues and fizzy water out of my shopping bags after I saw her being sick out of a car window.

I’ve been helped by people in earlier life - I really needed it - and so it’s just passing on the baton.

A tiny thing but recently I returned to a car park and found a parcel that had been dropped on the floor. It was ready to be posted and there was no one about so I stopped off at the post office in the next village on my way home.

Thought no more of it but a few days later a woman posted effusive thanks on our local Facebook group. I fessed up and it turned out she’s married to a friend of DP’s. She’s sung my praises to mutual friends and we’ve become mates ourselves. My little good deed paid off, very random.

Oh yes and wish I could do more.

I cannot think of something ive done atm more than give blood if that counts.

I do howeve have some amazing friends ironicly most met via mumsnet that have given me more support whilst being depressed than i could ever return to them. (Obv would never ever want anyone to expirence this hell of an illness) i could not thank them enough.

TBH, op, I really don’t think it counts at all if you’re being paid to do it - that’s your recompense. If you weren’t paid to work, would you be doing it out of the kindness of your heart? Unlikely. So what do you do with no chance of payback, that isn’t work or ‘duty’ (bringing up children, family stuff etc). Just helping a stranger because you just can.

Yes. Paid for a friends divorce from her abusive husband, together with another friend. Put cash in an envelope in her desk. Various other minor bits and bobs. Shopping week before pay day. Treats for kids. Bits of uniform.
I am chronically aware that i am blessed with a lovely husband and secure life. I never lend anyone money. But if i can lighten the load a bit I will.

Yes my disabled friend on benefits was going to get a loan out to a bill of £12! So I gave her £20. She can't pay it back and I don't want it back. But she was really grateful

My friend had my 3 children at short notice so I could be there for my Dad who was dying in August. I’d just lost my mum 2 months earlier. She made it possible for my Dad to not die alone. I can never ever repay her.

Giving blood is a wonderful thing to do, we never know when we, or someone we care for might need it. It is something most of us can do.