What is the kindest thing a stanger has done for you?

[grannyinapram]

I'll start-

When I had my first baby I used to avoid going to my local shop because the door was really heavy and I always struggled to push the pram through it.
One night I was walking with the pram toward the big heavy door, then a little girl got out of a car in the car park and she ran over and opened the door for me. Then she ran back to the car! She wasn't close either, she came all the way Iver just for me.
Beautifully kind little girl.

Another time I was walking with my baby and my toddler in the rain, it came down heavy and we were all soaked (except baby with the rain cover)
someone stopped their car and offered me their umbrella. They couldn't tell because my face was soaked but I shed a tear. Wonderful lady.

Another time it was quite the opposite- it was a boiling hot summers day and I was walking with my then about 1 year old in the pram again. he was crying because it was hot. We walked past a hand car wash place and the man washing the car sprayed the hose into the air and gave us a lovely cooling down.

I'm sure I have many more but those are the ones I remember most.

mellongoose
Hugs

mellongoose dammit hit send! That was so beautiful was what I meant to say too

I agree about Londoners. Whilst being pregnant and on crutches then struggling around with a newborn I was shown many many kindnesses.

Remember standing at the top of stairs on the tube with the buggy and a man in a suit just picked up the bottom and carried it form with me. He barely broke his stride or even said anything.

My friend moved to Paris and had her second child there and said the difference was massive there was none of that.

Many years ago my parents were killed in a car accident , we were at the hospital and went to the volunteers tea bar , I asked for a cup of tea and the lady looked at me and said you look like you need a decent cup of tea I will use one of my own teabags, I will never forget the kindness she showed me without knowing what had just happened in my family. It shows even a small act of kindness can have lasting memories.

When I was 23 I was on a flight for work. Just as the plane was getting close to the destination it was struck by lightening. It was really scary. An older businessman was sat next to me and asked if I would like to hold his hand as there was a lot of turbulence, we were coming into land and a lot of people on the flight were upset and panicking. I squeezed his hand all the way down and was just so grateful for someone being there and helping me calm down.

I was hiking in the Provence with a friend in the off- season and the campsite we'd planned to stay at (up a mountain, miles from anywhere) was closed. The wind was freezing cold and it drizzled. We had only a little bit of water left and were cold and exhausted. There were some holiday huts which seemed inhabited so we knocked to ask if we could have some water from their tabs and perhaps camp behind their hut to avoid the worst of the cold wind. Instead they invited us, complete strangers, to stay in their spare bedroom, made us a 5 star breakfast and even dropped us off at a more convenient location to continue the the next day. I still think of them fondly, about 15 years later and hope they have a very happy life.

Just to be nice to me . Like people who work in shops and cafes. Etc

A lot of people treat me like crap and give me dirty looks and call me names and point and nudge because I am a white muslim who wears a headscarf.

When I am being served at the checkout, it's usuallyme who says thank you and have a nice day. Rather than the cashier or server.
But its been going on for 8 years now so am used to it.

There are some lovely - and some very sad - stories here.

About 30 years ago I was going to a funeral. No one I knew was going from the same direction as me and I arranged to meet my sister at the nearest train station and to walk with her to the crematorium. Unfortunately we had completely misjudged the scale of the map, and after about 20 minutes of walking we were becoming concerned that we might not get there on time.

We spotted an elderly man mowing the lawn in his front gardening and I asked him how long it would take us to get to the crematorium. He asked what time the funeral started. We told him (about 10 minutes time) and he said we'd never get there in time and that he'd give us a lift. We got there with about one minute to spare, so we'd have never made it on foot.

More recently (just a couple of days ago) a woman gave me 5p in a car park as I was just short of the amount I needed (I don't use cash as much these days). I did actually have enough but it was in coppers rather than silver, so wasn't accepted by the machine). She refused to accept it, saying 'it's only 5p'.

If that was you - Thursday last week in a multi storey car park in Exeter - thank you!

Lovely thread!

Mine was many years ago, I was travelling with DH and my DS1 who at the time was maybe 18 months old, we were in Sydney, we booked into one of those hotels with no reception, we got in very late, past midnight, and it was pouring rain, middle of the Australian winter.

Our entry code did not work, and of course, our phones were dead! we walked into a pub nearby to ask if we could use the phone, the guy said yes, but that the baby could not be in the pub for health and safety and we had to wait outside, because that's so much safer!

So here I was, holding DS, sheltering under a bit of roof near the pub, with our bags, waiting for DH to get back with new code.

Road was empty except for this middle-aged man walking down, he passed us, then doubled back to come and ask if we were ok, and if we needed any help or money for a taxi or a hotel.

We must have looked really vulnerable, a woman with a baby, in the rain late at night with bags next to us, I thought it was so nice of him to check we were ok!

2 small ones; the guy who held my hand on a flight from Newcastle as we took off and again when we landed. He didn't look very comfortable but obviously decided that was preferable to me panicking!
The second; I was in a car park and reversed out of a space. My foot slipped and I slammed into a pole that I couldn't see in my rear view mirror! A guy appeared out of nowhere as I was crying on my knees looking at the damage and used my tow rope to tie my boot shut so I could drive home. Probably seemed like nothing but it was 7th July 2005 and I was waiting to find out if my dad had been on one of the trains. Fortunately, he had not been to London that day but was in meetings so hadn't heard to let us know he was 100s of miles from it all!

@Mhdix

My son and I, he was 6 or 7 at the time, are season ticket holders at Man Utd. We live 90 miles away but never miss a game.

We’d lost 1-0 at homer to West Brom, and stopped at services on the way home, we never do this.

We went to the toilet and passed a family stood by a vending machine. When we returned they were still stood there. They all looked very distressed, as we walked I smiled and said hi to the man (they were Asian, the lady was in a full,length veil sorry I don’t know the correct term). The guy said I’m really sorry mate but could you change a £2 coin?

We were born in our united shirts and he was in a very expensive looking suit, his kids well dressed and she had expansive looking jewellery on.

I said sure, and just gave him the coins for the coffee machine. He said thanks, and paused and said no really, thank you. We’ve been stood here 20 minutes and you’re the only person to even acknowledge us. I said don’t worry about it, is everything ok. The lady and kids started talking to my son and the man said my wife’s dad has just died, we set off from home in Devon this morning to get to (I can’t remember where he said but north) to say goodbye and we got a call an a hour ago to say it was too late.

The lady was clearly upset but spoke to my son about football and her kids were asking him about it too.

As we said goodbye the lady said wait, please.

My dad used to love football but rarely went to a match, he used to hear things he didn’t need to hear so mostly watched it at home. (Needless to say allowing for the era and his background it probably wasn’t pleasant) She then opened her purse and put £80 in my hands, I immediately said no no take it back. She grasped my hand with both of hers and said please, for my dad, take this and buy your son the new kit when it comes out.

He wasn’t a united fan, it doesn’t matter who he supported, but please take it, it’s the last thing he can do to help someone and he’d be happy helping a young football fan, he would want me to do this.

Will never forget that moment. I am not religious etc etc but I like to think he would have known about that moment and enjoyed it from above.

Although football has its critics, we have had many other moments to remember, but this will live with me forever

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Someone begging on the street in Vancouver gave me money for the bus when he asked me for money and I said I'd lost my wallet.

Another one. Our pram broke with dd sleeping in it when we were on a rural walk. A man stopped and helped us carry it about half a mile to to road. He then drove dh miles back to our car.

I was driving on the way to work
Saw 2 people carrying a mattress in the rain with no cover on it
I stopped, put everything into the car & took them to the property that they were moving to. Bit random

In turn, I was driving fast & saw smoke coming out of the front of the car.
I pulled over to hard shoulder. Very kind man pulled over in his van. He shouted get out ! He sprayed my car with his fire extinguisher, but it went up in flames immediately. Nobody hurt. Emergency services amazing too

Not for me but for DS. He was about 3 at the time and wanted to go on one of those large inflatable slides at a fair. Only when he sat at the top, it was quite high up and he got scared and froze. It was crowded and all the other kids were getting impatient and pushing past him. Absolutely nothing I could do as it was for under 8s and too far/noisy for him to hear me. Then this little girl, aged maybe 4 or 5 instead of pushing past like all the other kids, sat down beside DS, put her arm around him, held his hand and they went down the slide together. It was such natural kindness and so lovely.

I was travelling back up to south London on the train one night after spending the weekend at my parents house when I was a student. As the train approached my station I noticed a man looking really oddly at me. Something about him worried me so I made sure I got off the train behind him. I lost him in the crowd initially but as I came out of the station building I saw him waiting just outside the door leaning on the wall and as I walked past he started following close behind me. I was heading down to the bus stand trying to convince myself I was being paranoid but just to check I decided to cross the road and head back up toward the station. The man did the same and I started to feel very panicked as the area was much quieter now that most people had left the station. Just then a black can swung into the station and I waved frantically at the driver. He stopped and I jumped in and told him that a man was following me. He was so kind and reassuring and drove me back to my flat, refused to take any money and then waited on the street while i walked right to the front door to make sure I got in ok. I was so grateful to that cab driver and I sometimes think of that old adage that it takes a village to raise a child as he certainly took on the role of a substitute father that evening.

A very small one but I have never forgotten.

I was 18 and interrailing around Europe for about 6 weeks, my train got into Amsterdam in the late evening and I could not find the hostel that I was booked into. It was getting dark, there were plenty of lads holidays/stag dos running around and getting lairy, nothing untoward but I was starting to get worried and tired and was effectively walking in circles for about an hour and a half. Everyone I asked hadn't heard of this hostel or just shrugged and walked off and I was on the brink of crying. A sex worker who was having a cigarette out of her doorway asked if I was OK, when I explained she immediately grabbed her coat, shut up shop and walked me about 10 minutes to my hostel. (I was very close I just kept on missing the turning for the street) I was so grateful and did some relieved ugly crying but she just shrugged and said I looked lost and she was worried about the party goers on the streets overwhelming me.

I had a nervous breakdown when I had DS, he was very early and it became too much
I was suicidal but hadn't said what my intentions were. DHs brother came up for the afternoon and wanted to meet in town and take us for dinner so I said to DH I didn't really feel up for it so could I stay home and catch up on sleep. Of course he said yes.
About half hour after they'd gone out, o got carefully dressed, walked in the pouring rain with no coat on to a local bridge about a 5 minute walk away, over a railway line.
I stood for a bit, in tears and waited as I saw a woman of about 60 walking towards me with a brolly. I remember I didn't want to upset her so I stood still.

She came over, and she put her arm round me and her brollly over both of us. She said "oh dear, you've forgotten your coat my love, why don't you come and sit down for a bit with me". She then didn't wait for me to say no but with her hand now on my arm, she guided me to a bench further up the path.
I burst in sobs. She hugged me. She got drenched as well. I explained that I was a terrible mum, it was my fault my DS was early, I knew everyone hated me and blamed me. It all came tumbling out of me. And she just kept cuddling me, and stroking my hair.

She asked did I live near and I said yes. She walked me home. She took my key and let me in the house. She didn't leave until she knew I was indoors

I never saw her again, never got her name. I wish I had. 13 years on nearly and I still thank that lady for what she did. She just knew.

I got help after that and I'm now well. I don't think I would've been if I'd missed her.

Many years ago my car broke down in the most inconvenient place possible. Historic small city with roads designed for horses and carts rather than modern traffic. I was blocking one side of the already narrow road and couldn't do anything about it. This was pre mobile phone days. So I sat for what felt like an eternity working out what to do with irate drivers beeping me etc. Out of a little flat came a little old man and invited me in to use his phone. He assured me his wife was there too so not to worry (she waved from the window) and I just knew I could trust him. I phoned the breakdown and his wife made me a bacon butty and copious mugs of tea until the truck arrived. They will both be long dead now but I always smile and remember their kindness every time I pass the flat.

The thread is so moving such tragic heartbreaking stories but the strength of human kindness Is always there I do believe far far more people are kind than not

I have a few I was knocked over by a car on the way to work and people stayed with me and let me work know (before we all had a mobile) I was so moved by their kindness I started to cry they then thought I was crying because of the pain (that came later) and that made me cry more

Outing, but my brother was killed in a car accident.

When the emergency services realised nothing could be done they all stood back, removed their hats and bowed their heads for a minute.

On the first anniversary they offered to close the road for us so we could let of a lantern (years ago before anyone realised the damage lanterns do!). I will never, ever forget their kindness.

@Firefliess

Not for me but for DS. He was about 3 at the time and wanted to go on one of those large inflatable slides at a fair. Only when he sat at the top, it was quite high up and he got scared and froze. It was crowded and all the other kids were getting impatient and pushing past him. Absolutely nothing I could do as it was for under 8s and too far/noisy for him to hear me. Then this little girl, aged maybe 4 or 5 instead of pushing past like all the other kids, sat down beside DS, put her arm around him, held his hand and they went down the slide together. It was such natural kindness and so lovely.

This is so so lovely to read, I actually feel my heart lifting. You must remember to tell him about it when he is older. I really really love this.

I burst into silent but unstoppable tears on a busy train. The man opposite just quietly handed me a packet of tissues, nodded, smiled and said no more.

When I was doing a job I hated on Tottenham Court Road. I got out the tube station and couldn't go a step further. Started hyperventilating, crying, couldn't move. A lovely lady came and stood with me and talked to me and helped me calm down.

Everyone who has ever stopped to help me with heavy luggage or has stopped to help me up when my wrecked ankle joint has given out and I've fallen.

Mine are really small ones.

When I had my eldest, 20 yrs ago, I was young, had a traumatic birth and ended up staying in hospital for a week. Visiting was stricter then but dad's generally were allowed to stay most of the day. My then partner only visited for an hour or so though and I spent most of the day alone with baby surrounded by couples, feeling scared and lonely. You had to collect your dinner from the corridor but weren't allowed to leave your baby, so I resigned myself to no food, because there didn't seem any way to get it. Anyway the dad from the next bed went and got me some.
It was a totally small thing but stuck with me for 20yrs.

Same time I was really struggling to feed DD. Breastfeeding was AWFUL, I cried every time she woke, my nipples were in shreds. I had little support. Anyway a HCP said to me "you only have one or two babies, enjoy them" I just needed someone to say it was ok to stop. And funnily enough I have had 3 more babies and breastfed all of them.

I mentioned my dad being in the receiving end of a stranger's kindness upthread when he was terminally ill, but my dad did something very kind for strangers once which always sticks in my mind. It was the 1970s, racism was rife (my dad was very outspoken against it). He was driving to an appointment, and spotted an Asian couple at the side of the road looking distressed, trying to wave down passing cars. My dad of course stopped, and it turned out the poor woman was haemorrhaging due to having a miscarriage. He drove them straight to the hospital.

The husband told my dad that they had been trying to get someone to to stop and help for ages, but no-one did

This bit isn't the main point of the story of course, but that car was his absolute pride and joy, and the interior was damaged by what happened to the poor woman; he never mentioned that, he just cleaned it as best he could and said he hoped that she was ok.