to ask if a stranger has ever been kind to you?

[Penguinsarethebestest]

On the back of the negative thread of 'nasty to you'

Standing at the toilets at a station, bursting, no coins on me, about put a £20 note in the change machine that would had given me £19.70 all in coins. Nice random bloke pays the 30p for me to use the loo...

Student, broke, knackered, walking home up a big hill after a shift in late night takeaway 3 am, Cabbie stops, insists on giving me a free ride home the last mile and waits til I'm safely in door.

[TheSecondMrsAshwell]

On the flipside I always try and be nice to strangers, whenever I go out I always compliment strangers etc. One mum burst into tears when I complimented her dress and told her she looks lovely, said she'd been feeling horrible and frumpy since giving birth and I'd made her day!

If it makes someone's day a bit less crap, it's a good thing to do. Like this pp, you may hit the jackpot and find someone who really needs it.

A friend of mine lives with his elderly DDad. He and his DDad have some neighbours with whom they're on nodding, take-a-parcel-in terms. When lockdown started and we had all that nuttiness over toilet rolls and other essentials, my friend had a knock at the door one evening and it was one of these neighbours with a shopping bag of goodies - a couple of toilet rolls, onions, flour, a couple of tins of toms, potatoes etc. The lady said that they had to take care of the "older ones." My friend was so touched.

[francienolan]

My first time in London was when I was 16 and childminding for a coworker of my dad's on a business trip--the one she hired locally fell through at the last minute. The mother really wanted me to take the little girl to the museums etc and every time I approached the stairs of the tube at least one (but normally more than one) person would just wordlessly pick up the pram with me or for me and take it up the stairs. It was really lovely and I make sure to keep an eye out for anyone who might need similar help when I'm out and about.

[BinkyBoinky]

Yes - I remember being one of the last 3 people left in a train carriage sitting opposite a drunk old man who started ranting aloud. A woman came up to me and said quietly 'I'm getting off now I think you should get off with me and get the next train'. She said it so urgently that I got off with her, and on the platform she said she thought she saw a knife on him and wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything had happened to me. What a kind lady, I will always remember that.

[Ori37]

Once, when my boys were little I fancied a takeaway after a hard day mummying. It had been a particularly tough day & I remember feeling shattered. I was too tired to cook for myself. I had no money left on my card but didn’t realise it, so popped over the road to pick up a curry for one. Whilst waiting for the food to arrive, I got chatting to an older couple about the joys & rigours of parenthood.

My food order was called & I went to pay, only to have my payment declined. Embarrassed I told the staff member i’d nip home & return with payment. Muttered some weak joke about how poor parenthood had made me as I left the premises. The older couple laughed gently in agreement & nodded. They could see my shame but they understood.

Got a tenner off DH & went back to the restaurant. The couple had gone. As I collected the food, the staff member said “it’s sorted.”

I was confused & must have looked it so he then said, “that man & woman paid for you.”

I left feeling very humble & full of gratefulness.

[2020in2020]

Last year I was driving (very slowly) along in the snow and ice on our rural windy roads taking DDs to their dance class. Suddenly the car swerved completely out of my control on black ice, spun around 3 times and nose dived into the hedge. Miraculously no one was hurt, but I got out and saw a lady who was coming the opposite way had pulled up on the other grass verge to help. A huge tanker lorry was coming the same way I had and slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting the lady, he swerved on the ice also and jackknifed across the road. Again, he was unhurt thank god.

The lady came up to me and helped me get the DD’s who were obviously hysterical out of the car. She gave them sweets and let them sit in her car to keep warm and gave them her phone.

Next, a farmer with a trailer came along, stopped and began stopping traffic approaching, the first car that came down he told them to go to the top of the hill and block it with their car to prevent any other accidents. He then used his winch to pull my car out of the hedge. I called my husband who came up with our neighbour, my husband drove us all home while my neighbour drove my car.

It was the scariest thing, but what I will always remember is that every single person who passed stopped and helped.

[2020in2020]

Another less scary one, I was on holiday with my relatively new boyfriend in Paris, very young and really into each other, really romantic trip etc. We sat outside at a bar to have a drink, a little while later a waiter brought a bottle of wine over. My boyfriend told him it’s a mistake as we didn’t order a bottle. The waiter explained the gentleman sitting a few tables away from us had sent it over “as we were so in love” very french!

We broke up not long after but it’s a lovely memory!

[Penguinsarethebestest]

Not me but my grandfather, who was a gruff old Victoria bugger, his way or the highway kind of bloke. Several years after he died my uncle bumped into to an old neighbourhood friend of his who told him that for a whole YEAR when friend was 8 or so my grandfather had brought the friends family groceries, gas fuel and clothes. The dad was an out of work alcoholic and the family were so badly off the kids were going hungry. Apparently GD used to rock up in his old lorry and just give boxes to the mum claiming they were old
clothes that no-one needed, or that he’d got too much milk ( he was a farmer/builder type) or too many spuds or that they had a spare chicken and then drive off before anyone could protest. Sometimes there’s be some cash in one of the boxes too.
According to friend without GD the kids would have been in care or worse, ( this was in the 60s)and that time gave the mother time to sort the family out.
Uncle and his dear sis were stunned, GD hadn’t breathed a word to anyone.

[AnotherBoredOne]

When I was pregnant and catching London tube always offered a seat. Always declined as I was only going a few stops. But very sweet that most people would offer.

And prams on stairs - always always had people offer to help.

[Quarantimespringclean]

People are often very kind. I have weak ankles and occasionally fall on uneven paving stones. People always rush to pick me up and dust me down. Including one elderly lady in a wheelchair who made a massive fuss of me.

The time we lost my 3 yo in a busy height street and the kind lady who held her hand and stood with her for the frantic 80 or 90 seconds it took to find her.

And very recently I had some very bad news whilst on a long train journey. I held it together until DD rang and after talking to her I started to cry. I tried to be discreet but the lady in the seat in front heard me. She came and sat with me, gave me some tissues and didn’t say a word. Just held my hand until I stopped shaking and then went back to her own seat. I’ll never forget her.

[exiledfromcornwall]

I seem to be particularly prone to tripping and falling outside on pavements for some reason (while totally sober in case you were wondering!). Almost every time it has happened someone nearby has rushed to my aid, even on several occasions when my DH was with me. Restores my faith in people just thinking about it.

[AlternativePerspective]

I have several.

Nearly four years ago I was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. This meant I was often left breathless and unable to walk very far. I went to the hospital once, bent down to put the harness on my guide dog (I am VI as well,) and became completely dizzy and out of breath. I was embarrassed and just pretended to take longer to do up the harness in the hopes the breathlessness would pass. A lovely man came over and asked if I was ok, I said that I would be it just needed to pass..He helped me up, took me into the hospital and sat me down, then went over to reception to make sure that someone helped me to get to the right department, even though it’s a hospital I know well and knew where I was going....

This one has a slightly mortifying ending. I got on a bus and was only going one stop so happy to stand. A lady offered me a seat but I politely declined as i would be getting off at the next stop, but she insisted, and then told her husband to get up and give me the seat. He got up and it was then I realised that ... ... ... he was on crutches.

[mummyof2boys30]

I drove into the back of a car 3 days before having my son. Got out of the car and the lady seen my bump and said don't worry about it love, you have enough to deal with at the minute.

[PhantomErik]

Years ago I was letting my DC (3 under 5) choose a treat from the vending machine at the leisure centre after a swimming lesson. Just had enough change - excellent!

Then just as my DD opened her Jelly Tots the pack ripped open & they scattered on the floor. Managed to save a few that were still in the pack but most no good & had to be put in the bin. DD most upset, no tantrum just a bit weepy (she was only about 5yrs old) me frantically scrabbling in my purse & pockets but sadly not enough money on me - lovely kind lady asked if she could buy DD some more.

I was actually quite overwhelmed & a bit teary myself. I hope she had some good luck herself.

[StCharlotte]

We were in Athens and wanted get a bus back to our accommodation. We were trying to buy a bus ticket from a kiosk but they only sold carnets of 10 and you had to have one each. Annoying but fine. But then the kiosk owner insisted on driving us himself and wouldn't take any money. I've experienced wonderful kindness in Greece over the years.

Another little one yesterday. DH works in the local post office and one of his regular customers brought him in a packet of masks she'd made.

[Swiftier]

Yes, and it always makes my day.

Recently the local greengrocer gave me a massive watermelon for free with my shop, we always have a chat and I go there regularly and he just said it was a thanks for being a good customer. Really made me smile though!

I’ve also had times where someone has said they like an item of clothing or something and that’s lovely too.

And I do find generally people will hold doors open/help out on stairs if you need it.

[Swiftier]

I would also say I’ve done things to help other people, like recently I sat with an older man who was feeling unwell and then walked him home and carried his shopping. Generally I think most people are really kind.

[Enchantmentz]

Yes, when I was pregnant with dc I had a bleed at work. I had told my supervisor but didn't get any kind of response that you would expect. I went back to working but was clearly upset so a passing office worker I didn't know gave me a hug. I couldn't tell her what was up as I was too upset and it was sensitive information for obvious reasons.

Supervisor later found me again and went to hospital to get checked. No drama in the end but required jags as O-neg bloodtype can cause bleeds etc for reasons I can't quite remember.

I remember it as I felt so alone and scared and not equipped to deal with it at all.

[crosstalk]

I've always wished I could have thanked him properly. I caught the wrong bus late at night to my BF's home in north London. Young lads were joshing me (only girl on bus) very unpleasantly, suggesting what they'd do to me if I was alone. The driver told them off but seeing they would get off at the same final stop he told me to wait on the bus. He then drove me to the depot, got his car and took me well out of his way to my boyfriend's house and waited till I got in. Bless him.

[Goslowlysideways]

I was in a shop with my three kids. Holding the baby in my arms she did an explosive poo and it escaped the nappy and went all over the floor and her. My other two kids started shouting and crying. The baby was roaring and the staff were running around calling for a cleaner. I was holding this poo covered screaming child.
When out of the chaos came a woman. She said where are your wet wipes and nappies. She then took my nappy bag, handing me slowly everything I needed just as I needed it. Then once the baby was clean, fully changed and happy again she smiled, I thanked her and she vanished.
I don’t think I thanked her enough....!
The shop staff were still running around like headless chickens and she saved me.
I like to think she was my fairy god mother...!

[WendyHoused]

Coming home by train with DD (9) after a special Mum-Daughter day out in London. Busy train, long journey at night. Football fans in the carriage got drunk and aggressive to each other so we were stuck in Stevenage for 45 minutes. We’d got soaked in a downpour and she was tired and scared to the edge of tears.
The lovely man sitting opposite us got some games on his brand new boxed tablet and let her play on it for the two hours it took to get home. She was so happy, distracted from the fighting and how late it was.

He said the price of the loan was to answer “which team do you support?” with “Huddersfield Town” until she had the chance to go to a match and choose for herself.

What a hero!

[Fleamaker123]

I like to think there are more kind people out there than not. Kindness is everything.
I remember years ago my car conked out at some traffic lights, i was first in the queue and all the cars started beeping/overtaking. I felt completely panicked. I'd only just passed my test, 30 odd years ago so no mobile phones.
A lovely elderly chap stopped and told me I'd flooded the engine, sat in my car and talked me through what to do if it happened again. Got my car going and I was on my way. Just so kind.

[WendyHoused]

Another train one - I went faint from dehydration and had a funny turn on a small train with no facilities.
I was desperate for some water, hadn’t got any.
The ticket collector radioed ahead to the next station with a kiosk and had them hand her a bottle of water to give me. Wouldn’t take any money for it.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Ds was in NICU and I'd had a break from reality after a horrendous birth and though my baby was dead/they'd put a doll in an incubator. I was walking put of the maternity hospital in the early hours of the morning with a view to ending it all. There was a bloke out there having a cigarette whilst his girlfriend was in labour. He took one look at my face and asked what was wrong. He managed the right mix of understanding with a gentle firmness that got me back inside. I honestly think he saved my life that night.

[SwelteringInTheHeat]

Many times. The one that stands out most is when I was going through a very tough time. I went on a very, very long walk and ended up several towns away. I sat on a wall and must have just looked awful, because a lady came and sat with me and asked if I was OK, and said that in all her long years, she'd never known a situation that didn't get better somehow, even if it was just that you learned to live with it after some time.

It really helped that a stranger took time out of their day to make me feel a little bit better.

[zingally]

One that particularly sticks in my mind was from when I was in my late teens, early 20s.

I was on holiday down in Guernsey, and had taken a boat trip to the island Herm. We'd hiked all around the island, and had just arrived back at the touristy bit, where there was a couple of steps down. I missed the last step, stumbled, and planted my bare knees in a pile of gravel. Blood started to POUR.
An old man helped me get up and get situated again, then helped me down to and onto the boat. I sat down on the boat, and a woman looked me up and down, looked at my bleeding knees and dug a travel pack of wet wipes out of her bag, and helped me clean my legs.