To start a thread about random acts of kindness

[AsIfIWish]

I was reading another thread about bad things that have happened to people and it's just really upset me and reminded me how horrible people can sometimes be (and have been, in my own past!).

But. I KNOW random acts of kindness happen all the time - will you tell me your stories as a tonic to me and anyone else struggling in any way?

I'll start... The other day a friend of mine was in A&E with her 18 month old who had had a temperature over 40. He was crying for literally 3.5 hours even though his temp had come down, as he was clearly still feeling grotty. She wasn't on her own but I guess looked like it as they had been put by themselves in a little side room (and her husband arrived much later and was sat in the main waiting room instead). A lady who had been sat in the main paediatric waiting room with her teenage son from before they arrived came up and offered to take my friend's DS for a bit to give her a break, since they had also been there about 4 hours already and weren't leaving any time soon. Friend didn't take the lady up on it as she could tell her DS was finally getting to the point where he might sleep, but she was so grateful for the offer and the fact that the lady wanted to let her know she wasn't alone. That lady had been there for hours too and was fed up, tired etc. too. She didn't have to offer and my friend was really touched by the gesture.

A few years ago I was staying in a hotel for work overseas and woke up with an absolutely streaming cold and I felt dreadful. As I checked out the lady on reception asked if I was OK and then went and rummaged around in the back office and gave me a box with a packet of soft tissues, throat sweets, herbal teas, a tonic and some other bits. It was so lovely that I cried as the thought of sitting in all day meetings before I could pick anything up at the airport was grim.
Also, I have a disability and only have use of one hand. Work meals where you just get given food are a pain as although I can manage most things with the side of a fork, meat can be really tricky and I have to ask my colleagues to cut it up (which they about and very discreet). But one time I was sat away from anyone I know well enough to ask and was trying to think what to do with a steak, and the guy next to me who I only knew a very little and tbh I didn't think was the sort to notice, very discretely leant over and asked if I needed help and then pulled my plate over, cut my meat up neatly, pushed it back without breaking the conversation and like it was the most natural thing in the world. A real kindness

I was assaulted on Friday and my friends boss ( female ) came to my house today with a lovely bouquet of flowers for me 😭 she gave me her number and told me if I needed anything at all dont hesitate to ring her.

A few years back as I pulled up the drive from doing the grocery shop, I noticed an elderly lady looking lost and upset near the bus stop outside my house. She asked me for directions and turned out she'd got confused as to how to get to her family's on the bus. The address she told me was only 3 mins drive away so I unloaded my shopping quickly and drove her there myself. She reminded me of my grandma and I'd have hated if no one had helped her in a similar situation.

A few days later I got a lovely card and flowers from her, totally unexpected!

.. 20 years ago I was a teen travelling on a bus across north wales; the service had to stop because of flash floods and I was stranded with no money or family to help me. A kind lady with her kids( who was a teacher) I’d been chatting to on the bus clocked my situation and invited me to stay over at her home - I had dinner with them and the next day they helped me get the bus onwards. It was such a kind act by total strangers at a sad time in my adolescence.. I still think about it now I’m much older as ofcourse they must have fully realised my predicament that day but were sensitive enough not to say anything to embarrass me .. I wish I could tell them how well my life turned out and thank them ! X

Nc as a few people irl know about this.

My dd was seriously ill in hospital 5 years ago, she had sepsis, a lung condition, her organs were failing... it was fucking awful.

The hospital was about 100 miles away from my home and the rest of my kids.

Dd had an op and was slowly getting better, she was still 19 months old and really poorly though. I had been in hospital for 6 weeks with her by this point and hadn't seen my other kids (they had been passed between various friends for the time).

My other dd was turning 8 so I had to summon poorly dds dad to stay with her while I left to go back because I didn't want 8yo dd to miss out on having her mum for her birthday.

I felt so guilty, it was horrendous.

I got back to my (tiny) hometown, grabbed presents and a cake and a card. Realised at 9.45pm that I didn't have candles. I was already riddled with guilt and felt like I was failing everyone.

Dashed out to the only open shop and they didn't sell candles and were closing in 10 mins. I broke down on the poor shop assistant and snivelled my way through the story.

She gave me some water, called a couple of people who lived nearby and had 8 candles for me within 10 minutes 😭

It sounds like nothing but that was such a light moment of human kindness in such a dark time, I have never forgotten what she did that day.

Dd had a great birthday, my other dd was transferred back to my local hospital a few days later and made a full recovery.

It's only minor but once I was once just walking down a street and a woman came out of her house as I walked by, and she suddenly exclaimed 'oh my goodness' and I turned around thinking something terrible had happened, but then she told me how beautiful my coat was and how well dressed I was! It happened years ago and I still think about it because it was so nice to receive a genuine compliment from a stranger.

I have scarring alopecia and wear wigs because my boss told my colleagues I was a "baldy bitch", it knocked all my confidence. I was wearing a pink and brown ombre wig at a food festival this summer when a teenage girl told me she thought my hair was amazing. She'll never have any idea what her simple kindness has done for me 😊

So sorry. I hope you're doing ok 💐

I really to want reply to all of these. So many lovely stories of kindness.
I do think that the ones where people do things discreetly are really special, especially in cases like these...not making a big thing of it, not needing to seek praise or attention... Means a lot to me🙂

Love stuff like this.

I teach my children at school about random acts of kindness by reading "bucket full of kindness" it's lovely for little ones.

When my LB was poorly I drove him up to the hospital, parked up and took him in. We ended up staying in overnight as he needed oxygen and steroids, after he was discharged I went to pay for the parking (was £25!) And the kind parking attendant wouldn't take the money, just said not to worry.

That's so nice. To be honest, I'm still astounded that anyone has to pay for hospital parking, but there we go... Thankfully it was only £5.50 for us the other week when we had to go.

@IVFlife thanks, I will have to look that book up!