What's the kindest thing a stranger has done for you?

[GimmeDaBoobehz]

Equally, what is the kindest thing you have done for a stranger?

My dd took ill on holiday we were in orlando I was in the tolet with her this lovely woman took over helped me with her and diagnosed heat stroke went to get her some water and just generally was great she was a nurse DD was fine one minute and looked awful the next ,

I open doors and stuff I do little random acts of Kindness not anything huge that i can think of,

Whenever I take dd out in her wheelchair so many people help me lift her over tricky bits etc and I appreciate every single one of them, it means so much to see them getting to grips with big dirty heavy muddy wheels.

I also remember the anaesthetist who sat by me throughout the twins being born by emergency section - it was chaos and such a worrying time and as well as whispering reassuring words she stroked my hair and congratulated me as each baby was delivered.

I always help pushchairs off trains as I have been in that sitution with no help

Seen a few car bumps and always help Last one poor girl was shaken so much she couldnt use her phone so I called her mum it was her mums car and was saying oh God they going be so cross I just kept saying they wont and they be worriedabout you and a bit of metal

On a packed train a lady got a phone call became upset call ended I offered my packet of tissues sometimes its the very little things that count

stars yes it is the little things that mount up ,

When I was heavily pg with one of my DDs, I ran into the back of another car. Didn't do much damage to the other car but knackered the radiator in my own. Sat waiting for the pick-up truck to arrive, bloody hormones meant I couldn't stop crying. Pick-up truck arrives, driver gets out and I get out of my car. The big burly driver takes one look at me and says 'Oh sweetheart, it's only a car. As long as you and the baby are OK, then that's all that matters.' And he got me into the cab of the truck, gave me a tissue and a bottle of water before he started getting the car onto the back of the truck.

He was so sweet and kind - he said to me that he had a 6-month old baby and he'd like to think people would be kind if it was his wife who'd crashed her car.

When I was about 17 and on a late night train back from a strange place after being dumped by my 'boyfriend' - who was just a lad I'd met one day in London, and we had had a few phone calls, but I thought he was great and suddenly found out he wasn't - I was sobbing quietly and really upset, and I went to sleep sort of and when I opened my eyes, there was a crumpled up bit of paper stuffed down the side of my seat - I opened it and it was a long, long message written by the guy opposite me, who had now got off the train.

It was in faint blue biro on a typed letter about something else - he had written all round the edges and on the back and so on. I couldn't make out that it was written to me, for a few minutes.

But it was. It was all about how I would be Ok, and that life is really shit sometimes but everything would be alright and that even though I felt so hurt now, I would get past it.

It was such a lovely thing of him to do that and he was obviously embarrassed about it and not sure if it would help - but it did. He must have been about 25 I suppose.

Whoever you were, thankyou.

I always try to do little acts of kindness where I can - though I often feel I'm not doing enough!

I will never forget my new next door neighbour who heard my collicky DS1 screaming for hours and came over and made me a cup of tea. She stood in my living room for over an hour, rocking DS until he went to sleep, and chatting to me about all kinds of inane rubbish. I had PND and was at the end of my tether. She really rescued me that day!

The one that will always stand out for me was the day I saw an elderly lady fall during a nasty winter storm (gale force wind, sleet, icy patches) and lose her shopping. I was about 300 yards down the street but was the first one to stop ( ). A man coming from the other direction went and rounded up her shopping while I sat with her. She'd broken her wrist and (though we didn't realise it then) fractured her hip. We sat with her until the paramedics came. She got really cross with me when I insisted she put my coat on in addition to her own, but I was worried about her getting cold. The man lent me his phone so I could call work and explain why I was late. My boss told me not to come in; he said when I was done I should go home and get warm. He still paid me for my shift. My mum ended up being her physio and when she saw my photo on the office wall said "That's one of my angels". She turned up for her next appointment with a scarf and gloves she'd knitted for me so I would always be warm when I gave a frozen lady my coat. We all gave and received kindness in equal share that winter - lots of little thing adding up to a lot of good

On the bus bursting for a wee. Thought I was going to wet myself. Got to the bus station and the loos were 20p. I only had a tenner on me and the girl in the shop had no 20p pieces. A bus driver standing nearby gave me the money and I ran off as fast as I could. It was the longest and most satisfying wee of my life

When I was 14 years old, a friend of mine used to babysit for a couple's 3 young children. One night they'd asked her to but she couldn't, so my friend asked me if I would do it,saying I'd earn £20 (quite a lot of money even now to a 14 year old!) and the guy would give me a lift home afterwards.. and I did. I was shocked at the state of the house, and how dirty the children were, and how the couple seemed to be really a bit strange, but that was that, I tried not to judge. After that I babysat for them again. The third time I did it, the Father gave me a lift home as usual but said he was going to drive a different way. Red flag to me immediately, I was 14 but I was damned if I was stupid!Lol.

I knew not to act as if I knew something was up, and when he went down a remote, dirty track type of road he pulled up and said he was just going to stop and talk to me. I cannot remember what I said, but it was to the lines that he was scaring me and I was leaving. I leapt out of the car and ran and ran.He chased. I was in the middle of nowhere, NO idea where I was. I jumped over a field gate and he caught my wrist. I calmed him by saying if he let go of my wrist I would get back in the car with him and not tell anybody. He let go.

I ran and ran again, and saw a light in the distance, got to a large farmhouse and rammed on the door so hard I'm surprised I didn't break it.

An old lady came to the patio doors. Now if that was me, or many other people-seeing a teenager on their doorstep they would have been wary in the middle of the night. I screamed to please let me in a man was chasing me, and she did. Hell knows what would have happened to me if she hadn't have. She could have put herself in danger of him, as well.

She let me call my parents, and the police. My parents sent her a box of chocolates, but it wasn't enough-I wish I had have done more for her or could see her again.

I went to visit a friend who was living in Paris for part of her degree, and was there for the end of her trip. She lived in a little apartment block which had a big heavy security door just inside the front door, but there was one apartment which was in front of it, so not as secure as the rest. My friend's DM had spoken a bit to the lady who lived there (she spoke a little bit of English) when she had visited and had found out that she had 4 children. Friend's DM rang and suggested we gathered all the toiletries and tinned food we had left (there was quite a lot!) and take it down to her instead of wasting it all and throwing it away. My friend was quite shy when it came to speaking to strangers so I agreed to take it down. I explained in rather nervous French that we were students who we're going back to England and asked if she would be able to make use of our leftover things. She looked so so grateful and I still remember her smile as I gave her the bag.

On the same day two very kind men came back up and carried the two suitcases I was wrestling down the mahoosive staircase at the Metro, it genuinely made such a difference, and probably stopped us missing the train to the airport. A small gesture can often make such a huge difference!

puts hand up

This has to beat them all - this morning I discovered a dead magotty mouse in the washing machine cupboard next to the washing machine. I was being very brave dealing it it - the shell was horrendous.

I dismantled the kick board and was really from the smell just about holding myself together when the doorbell rang - it was the plumber (who was due to call).

I burst out crying - felt rather stupid about that - he was so sweet and just took over and dealt with it got me. Even to the point of using own Hoover. Pulled everything out to check nothing rise there.

So very very kind.

When at the supermarket and I have my full shop to put on the belt, there was a lady with I think a max of 5 things I let her go before me, I swear I seen a teAr with her gratitude !

Some lovely gestures in here :-)

I took my DS, nearly 3 at the time, into to town to open a bank account.

He was in a grumpy mood. He kicked his welies off every time i put them on. It was raining he had to have them on to walk. He would not keep them on. With rising stress levels and that 'panic' when you feel you cannot get a grip of a situation and people are starting to stare....

I sat down on some cafe pavement chairs and I remember a couple of mums walking past looking and smiling, one said 'oh we've been there' as I wrestled on/off with the wellies.

I gave up and carried a heavy DS like a roll of carpet to the carpark. I needed to pay the ticket at the machine. I got there and I was short. i bust into tears. The women behind gave the £1 I needed to pay and get DS into car.

Rainy, wet, screamig and crying I was overcome with gratitude to the kind stranger.

Made me a map for idiots when I got hopelessly lost picking my husband up from a course and my phone was dead and my satnav couldn't find the place because it wasn't updated. She actually let her meal go cold while she carefully made sure I knew where to go. I was four hours from home with 3 kids and very upset. She even let me use her phone to ring my husband and let him know what was happening because I was 2 hours late picking him up. Thankfully the map was perfect and I found him in under 20 minutes. Never been so grateful for anything in my life. Super lady

This is such a lovely thread, but you've almost got me blubbing at college! I'm a pregnant emotional mess as it is!

Yesterday I was standing on the packed tube, super hot with all my bags and just panicked, could feel myself welling up and the lady next to me asked if I was ok, helped me get my coat and bag off and asked if I needed a seat etc. I said I was ok, but clearly I wasn't, by this time I was almost sobbing I was such a mess! She asked someone to let me sit down and made sure I was ok before she got off the train- I was so grateful She made me realise that it's ok to ask for a seat in future if no one stands up!

Did some shopping in town and was at the end of my tether, had 3 whinging kids under 4 and needed to feed baby. Got to car park pay machine and it wouldn't take a card, which meant getting back in the lift then walking to the cash machine, when the guy behind reached past and paid the fee. It was very kind and made a lot of difference to me. That was over 2 years ago now but I still think about it and makes me try and be kind to others.

My DS fell in a freezing lake and a complete stranger who was standing slightly closer to him than DH leapt in after him. Amazing!
I've been rescued when trying to pay for parking without enough change in a hospital car park by a stranger - I try and pass that one one whenever I can.

My knee gave way and I fell over in the supermarket. One woman ran around picking up my shopping and put it all back in the basket and another helped me get up. Both of them waved away my words of thanks.

A couple of years ago I was driving home from where I then worked and saw a a woman fall after getting off a bus which pulled away leaving her there. I pulled over and went to help her up and quickly realised she'd broken an ankle. I supported her as she hopped to my car, took her home to pick up her teenage son and drove them to A&E.

I try to carry out little acts of kindness whenever I can.

Oh you lovely nest of vipers, you've made me cry with all your beautiful stories!

Random act of kindness towards me....

Last year my dad was ill on a cruise and we were offloaded in Lisbon. 2 days later he had a heart attack and was rushed to hospital at 4am, he was there for 8 days. During that time I did what I could to not spend large amounts of money on frivolous things (you know, like eating!!) so I was going to a cafe across the road from the hotel I was staying in, they did an offer of soup, sandwich/roll and coffee for €3 or with beer for €3.50. I would eat the soup then ask him to let me have the sandwich/roll to take away and would have that in the evening in the hotel. After the first couple of days we got chatting and he found out why I was there, from then on he offered me 2 bowls of soup and would package my sandwich up for me - as the days went on he would include a piece of fruit or cake in the bag with the sandwich and a bottle of beer to take with me - but only charge me €3/day.

Another day, when he was closed, I went to a restaurant down the road; sat by myself at a table but was asked to join a chap in a suit at his table. He said he couldn't bear to see people sat alone in restaurants if he could offer them a seat. He offered me some of his wine and asked the waiter to get a second bottle. I ordered my food and, when it arrived, he was finishing his dessert. He asked the waiter for his bill and asked him to add my meal to his bill as well!! When he left he'd not touched the second bottle of wine and told me to take it and have a relaxing evening and hoped my DF recovered soon so we could get home. All I know is he was Norwegian and was in Lisbon for 2 days on business and chose to eat at that restaurant on a whim as he usually ate further down the same road.

Both those kind men wanted nothing in return and I don't even know their names.

As for paying it forward......

I have a friend who is a single mum and finds it a struggle sometimes to stretch the money as far as the month goes. I always tell her she can ask me when she needs money or shopping and I'd do what I can to help. On one occasion she asked me if I could loan her £30 to be able to do some shopping, I was happy to and arranged to meet her for coffee during my break at work. I got the cash out and folded it up but, while doing it I had a strong feeling I should give her £40 even though she'd not asked for that much. When she came I gave her the folded notes and she put them straight in her bag, we had coffee and then she went to shop while I went back to work. Speaking to her that evening on the phone she told me that she'd picked up just the bare essentials but, when she got to the checkout, the shop came to just under £40 not the £30 she knew she had; she got her purse out and was about to look to see if she had enough in change to pay the rest before working out what she could leave behind. She opened out the notes and found I'd given her enough to cover the bill and her parking!!

I do find that one super special as I felt so strongly that she needed £40 not £30 that day.

Fionar71

Drove into the local town in a bit of a panic with a child with toothache - the dentist gave me a last minuted appointment and I would only make the journey by the skin of my teeth. Made the appointment only to get back to the car and it wouldn't bloody start! I'd dashed out so fast (crying child, brain vacates skull) and hadn't brought my phone or my purse. Scruffy guy had just parked his heap next to my car, asked if I was OK. I explained the predicament (including now the child needed the loo - oh, and not just a wee, you understand and the only public loos needed 20p!!). He fished around in his pocket for a 20p and handed me his phone so I could call for help. It was only when I finished the quick call that I noticed I'd used what was left of his credit. I tried to get him to give me his name/address so I could pay him back but he wouldn't hear of it. Hmmm, Purple, the words 'book' and 'cover' came to mind.

On another occasion, I was in a well known bakery chain and the elderly woman 4 people in front of me had requested her bread and was delving in her purse to find the funds to pay for the 2 loaves and some rolls. She took ages, bless her, and, whilst frantically searching, was telling the bakery assistant how she'd been robbed a day earlier. She was 20p short for her bill. People in the queue were tutting. I handed over £1 and said I didn't need the change. She was so grateful, embarrassingly so. I read the story of her mugging in the local papers the following day.

Pay it forward.

I always try and pass on parking tickets if there's more than 20 minutes on them and I've helped other people in car parks when they haven't had the change. I like to think that is why, when at Chester zoo over the summer with ds and dd a lady rescued me from a most embarrassing situation. Ds wanted his face painting and I agreed knowing I had about £6 in my wallet, when it came to paying though the money wasn't there! I was searching everywhere for every penny I had all the while being watched by some young scrap of a girl who seemed to think I was trying to pull a fast one! Cue lovely scouse lady and her dh quietly asking me if I was okay and how much I was short by (£1.20 as it happens). They didn't have the 20p so gave me £1.50 and told me not to worry about it. I paid the young scrap of a girl and thanked the lovely couple who'd helped save me from a major embarrassment! Where had the money gone? DH had raided my wallet the evening before to pay the window cleaner and hadn't told me . If you were that lady, thank you so much, you saved me from making a complete idiot of myself and blubbing all over the place. I hope you're happy to know I always try to pay it forward.