Thank you for this thread- the other one was upsetting to read (but important and valid of course).
When I was heavily pregnant at 20, and had left my handbag on the train on my way to work. Had a tough day with a nursing exam and was weeping quietly in the train on the way home, trying to hide it. An older woman sat beside me and patted my hand gently, saying that things would get better.
(My bag was handed in with nothing missing and I passed the exam. A few weeks later I had a beautiful baby, now a lovely adult- so she was right.)
When my son was tiny, a few weeks old, I was trying to shop when he woke up distressed. After paying for the shopping I realised I’d have to feed him or he’d cry all the way home (long walk and no car). So I breast fed him as surreptitiously as I could on the chairs by the checkout, bracing myself for tuts and dirty looks (this was in the early 80s) I didn’t really have much confidence as a mum. An older woman came and sat with me - she told me how wonderful it was to see a baby being breast fed and how she could tell I was good mother by the way I was handling him. Changed the whole way I saw myself as a young mum. Such a kind thing to say. I will never forget her.
And recently, now I’m nearing 60 - a couple of days ago I was hurrying and tripped on a kerb, falling smack on the ground. Completely my own fault for not paying attention. A very scruffy man who looked like he may have been homeless rushed over, helped me up and wouldn’t let me go until he was sure I was ok. (My leg, hand and arm were grazed and bleeding). I collected myself and limped off after reassuring him I was ok, walked round the corner and leant on a wall to look at the damage on my hand. A group of young lads came over and said they’d seen me fall, was I sure I was ok? Asked if they could do anything to help and checked I was walking ok before they left.
Not that it’s relevant but the man was perhaps North African or Syrian and the boys were Black (I’m white) so it’s unlikely they were helping me because I reminded them of their mum!
Some people are so kind.
The other thread described some deeply unpleasant experiences of the type most woman have had, unfortunately, including me, but overall I’d say I’ve had more kindness than negative encounters from strangers throughout life.
It takes so little to be kind and can make so much difference. It’s worth remembering that as you go through life - however you see yourself, you can make someone else’s life a bit better by an act of kindness at a critical point for them, which they probably won’t ever forget.