To ask for random acts of kindness that you've carried out...

[IchWill]

I believe that kindness breeds kindness. I often carry out random acts of kindness, because:

1. If I'm able to, why wouldn't I?
2. The world would be a nicer place if we all helped others out more often.
3. It makes me feel good to make a positive impact on someone's life.

Most I go about and do quietly, genuinely not helping people for recognition or glory, but when I have shared one or two examples with friends, they've said I've inspired them.

Let's hear your random acts of kindness...

I also pick up the dog poo that people leave on the graves.

I was in Poundland and the woman in front was buying about £6 worth of stuff, but only had £4 on her. She'd been hoping to use her card but they wouldn't accept it under £10. So I told her to put through what she was buying with my stuff, give me the £4 and I'd make up the rest. This confused the cashier no end (who tried to then give everything to her) but she was so grateful, and told her daughter who was standing at the door what I had done.

I did similar, but on a larger scale, to a friend of mine. I hadn't seen him in years and actually thought he was dead (the last I'd heard of him he'd been very, very ill) so had been really pleased to see him in the supermarket. He ended up behind us in the queue and had just loaded everything up when he realised he didn't have his credit card, and would be just under £20 short. So I said I'd pay the difference. He didn't want to accept it as he knew he'd likely not see me for another ten years, but I pointed out that I knew where he lived so could come round and get it. He then said he'd bring it round to us that afternoon, but it then transpired that his wife was working in the very place we were going next, so he followed us there and got the money off her.

Gave a 23 year old our perfect, but old car, saved him £1k while he was starting out in life.

We have had people being kind to us when we were younger paying it forward is important

Slughtlu off my OP, but as mentioned, I volunteer for my local food bank and one of the things we used to do was stand in supermarket entrances and chat to shoppers and show them a list of the donations we needed.

When one time, an elderly lady stormed over to me, jabbing her finger in my face, furious, calling us "con artists" and "thieves". As we usually were only ever met with positivity or people sharing their own struggles, I was totally taken aback.

In shock, I said, "I beg your pardon? We don't con anyone, what do you mean?"

She spat, "There's no such thing as poverty in this country, it's all bloody propaganda!"

Well, just so you're aware, if I'm ever defending someone or a cause I believe in, I am polite and firm, but if people get aggressive I go full out back at them guns ablazing, but I had a food bank tabard on and she was elderly. So I bit my tongue.

Instead, I took a deep breathe, leant in towards the woman and chirped sarcastically, "Well, I'm just so overjoyed that you've had such a comfortable and privileged life, I do hope you never have to call upon this charity's services one day. Enjoy your shopping." Passive aggressive I know, but I didn't want to call someone's grandma a cunt in public.

Then I turned my back to her, smiled and interacted with the next customer.

Vile, deluded and bitter woman.

@mycatistoo WTAF?!?!?! Not you doing that, but people leaving dog shit on graves.

Many years ago I walked home from church where we'd had a hot dog evening, with two hot dogs in my hand. At the corner of the block of flats, next to a news agent, sat an old black man (relevant because of the country I lived in), looking cold and weary. I went up to my flat, looked at my hot dogs and felt so guilty, so I went back downstairs, bought a loaf of bread, a tin of baked beans (the shop owner opened it for me) and a big bottle of milk, and gave it to the old man. He didn't say anything, but the look of gratitude in his eyes told me everything, after which he started eating like he hadn't eaten in months. Once back in my flat I then felt guilty because I hadn't bought him some fruit also!

I also buy the lunch/coffee whatever of ambulance staff, firefighters and police if I happen to see them. And always let them in front of me in the queue.

I do this too!!

We had loads of food left from our wedding that was perfectly edible eg wedding cake, sweets from the candy cart, pastries from the breakfast buffet in my hotel room. I made up two massive bags and gave them to two homeless guys, they looked so chuffed. We also went and put my bouquet plus the table topper on a random grave in the cemetery that looked very untended. I was once given a latte in Pret that was made by mistake so I gave it to a homeless man as he looked cold.

I had something very nice done for me a couple of years ago. I had been trying to do something nice and given a 'pregnant' young woman a lift to the hospital. Turned out she hadn't been pregnant and had stolen my wallet .

A few months later, I received my wallet in the post. Someone must've found it and posted it to the address on my drivers licence. I hadn't lived there for a number of years (DVLA for some reason refused to acknowledge my change of address). The new owners of the house then posted the wallet to my new address. I was honestly in tears at the kindness of strangers. And apart from the money (obviously stolen by the thief), everything was still there!

I never told anyone this one but the recipient knew. Someone I knew through a friend was on the verge of being evicted, had no money and was miserable. I sent him a shopping delivery for a week's worth of food. He does so much for the homeless in the town where he lives that I wasn't surprised when he said he had used some of it for the weekly cook up he does . I also sent someone on here a christmas present for their kid a few years back. I don't know if they received it but I like to think there was a happy child. I try to do a few a year.

I've just remembered one. Years and years ago on here, a woman wa son the MH board saying she was about to commit suicide. She was alone at home with two DC and her DH was on night shift. I messaged her and got her on the phone then talked to her all night long until her husband got back from work. I never heard from her again but I hope to God she survived.

Not something I did, but to say thank you to the person who did it for me. DH was ill (having a cardiac as it turned out), taken off in an ambulance and a lady gave me the money for the hospital car park, which I had completely forgotten I would need. Thank you lovely kind woman .

I always give the big issue lady in our very small rural town a fiver and then never take one. She’s very grateful

I always give the big issue lady in our very small rural town a fiver and then never take one. She’s very grateful

I'm sorry but, AFAIK, you're not supposed to and she's not supposed to accept it. The point of the Big Issue is that they are sellers, not beggars.
You giving her a fiver defeats the purpose and she could be kicked out of the programme for accepting it.

Mine seems so silly compared to all you lovely people. I'm a dom carer and work with a whole range of people from young to old with various disabilities and needs. One day I was at the local spar shop getting one of my ladies her bread and milk. In front of me was an old boy who I had looked after once or twice but not enough for him to recognise me, as far as I remember he was in the grips of dementia and his wife had died earlier in the year. Anyway he was ahead of me in the line and was trying to pay for his paper with an old fiver. Of course the jobsworth cashier refused then now non legal tender and he was getting very upset. The cashier told him if he couldn't pay then to get out of his shop. So I roll my sleeves up and tear this twat a new one. I SLAM a fiver down and tell him I hope he or no-one close to him ever get dementia. For the sake of less than a pound he had just demoralised a man who had fought for his country and had spent 30 years as a postman in our community. I caught up with him down the road and gave him his paper, then walked him home. He recognised my uniform as someone to trust (Thank god) I hate the way the twat in the shop made someone feel. No-one should be made to feel like shit. I wrote a peice for my local paper about the nightmare of dementia. And to this day I still see the old boy intermittently but he doesn't remember. You are all amazing people . Sorry it went on so long.

Another one of mine. Brutal though...

I was at Hyde Park, for Radio 2's 'festival in a day' a few years back (only went for Manics )

Anyway, they had this environmental thing where you paid (I think it was £2 per glass) for a hard plastic pint glass and took it back to the beer tent each time to be refilled, so at the end of the concert, less rubbish / waste and you could keep the glass as a souvenir, or take it back and get your money back. Fine.

So me and my now ex-DP went to the beer tent to get a round in. The queues were mental (30-45 mins) and it was a hot day, so people were obviously getting impatient, but what can you do other than just get on with it?

We finally got to the bit of the barriers were we all broke out and ran to get a spot at the bar and me and then DP decided to head to different parts of the bar to increase chances of getting served quicker.

I found myself next to a big burly guy who ordered six pints off the girl serving. The drinks were stupid prices like a fiver each and the girl politely put down the drinks and asked for £42. Which was six pints, plus £12 for the refundable glasses (for which there were signs on the entrance, in the queue and at the beer tent to explain).

The guy looked at her like she'd just taken a shit in his pint and bellowed, "YOU FUCKING WHAT?", the girl explained the pint glass rule and he just started screaming in her face about how long he'd been waiting and wasn't going to pay for his "fucking glasses too". The poor girl, looked about 18 and looked like rabbit in the headlights and timidly repeated what she said, to which the bloke carried on shouting and ranting at her, he was big, aggressive and really frightening me too, but not one person stepped in. Just stared. That's other customers and bar staff and security weren't paying attention. Nobody stepped in.

So I tapped him on the arm and smiled, trying to diffuse it and said, "Ah c'mon mate, it's the rules. The poor girl is just doing her job, you can get your money back later." He then squared up to me screaming for to mind my own fucking business, again people just stared. The young girl, touched my hand, looking close to tears and said, "It's fine, leave it!"

I was shaking with fear, rage and annoyance by now and shouted loudly, "No I WON'T leave it. How DARE he speak to you like that?" I turned to the bloke and shouted loudly for others to hear, "Look at her! She's just a young girl, earning some extra money. She doesn't get paid enough to be intimidated by the likes of you."

I then stepped it up, as I was in the zone, fucking fuming and on adrenaline. "Who the FUCK do you think YOU are? You nasty fucking BULLY, fucking pay up and leave her alone." (The swear box was brimming this day, but it was seemingly the only language the arsehole understood.)

He screamed that I was a cunt and he'd smash my fucking face in!!! Slammed his money down, picked up the tray of beers and fucked off sweariing at me as he went.

The entire time, NOBODY stepped in. The barmaid was shaken, thanked and served me, but I couldn't carry the beers as my legs were now like jelly.

Then my BF appeared, I was close to tears and I started to tell him what happened, he took the beers and led me towards the exit of the beer tent as I was telling him, when I then hear shouting.

I look up and see the bully stood with his wife or GF, shouting "There's the fucking cunting bitch, she better watch her fucking back today now!" His partner just laughed and nodded!!!!!

I yelled back, "You've got yourself a catch there love, what a fucking twat!" (I never know when to quit when I'm ahead!) Then we walked off as quick as my wobbly legs could. I was so upset, but more angry that not one person helped that girl, or sorted that wanker out.

Looking back I'm lucky he didn't assault me, but that's someone's child and I could not deal with that girl having nobody stick up for her.

Maybe she's on here? Would love it if she was.

Has also happened to me.

When DD was small was in toilets of a local shopping centre and had run out of wipes, was panicking as I didn't know what to do. Woman at the changing table next to me offered me the rest of her pack as her son was potty trained so she didn't need them as much.

Later saw the same woman and her son was crying as he wanted sweets from the sweet stall which is in the centre of the shopping centre but she had no change and it was cash only. I gave him a £ coin out of my pocket. He was so happy.

@CatLadyToddlerMother Immediate karma. Love that.

I make a point of having a quiet word with management when I have been a recipient of good service. People are so quick to bitch and moan about everything these days yet seem to not bother to give credit where it is due.

**I also buy the lunch/coffee whatever of ambulance staff, firefighters and police if I happen to see them. And always let them in front of me in the queue.

I do this too!!**

I'm gonna do this too from now on.

Just remembered one. When it was snowy last year i cleared our front path, then thought I'd do the path of the very elderly and wobbly couple living a couple of doors down. Then i thought I'd better clear to their car in case they needed to drive somewhere, then i got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about it and cleared the oath of everyone in our close and thr main footpaths that joined thrm all. Then dh saw what I'd been doing and walked to tje nearest salt/grit bin to fill a bucket and gritted all my cleared paths.
Only one neighbour thanked us but it felt nice to do something considerate so tjat was just a bonus

@PanGalaticGargleBlaster I do this, or write a letter or send a tweet.

I recently got a new mortgage at NatWest and the lady that handled my case was amazing. We only ever spoke on phone or email, but she was a star and people are too quick to complain. So I asked for her manager's email address and sent him a glowing and praising email. She emailed me after to thank me.

@1MillionSelfiesTakenByMyKids Bless you.

Our cul-de-sac is on an slight decline down a small hill. So if it snows it's impossible.

The grit bin is our close and the men folk in the street all get out together to clear the paths and road. Every time. I would help, but have a slipped disc.

@IchWill I mean their dogs poo on the graves, not that they put it there. I don't think!

@mycatistoo I got that, still shocked though.