They say, a little goes a long way. And just imagine if you were to pay your 'little bit' forward and have it propel even further. The possibilities are endless. So, play your part and like Ellen DeGeneres says, 'be kind to one another'.
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Followed On A Train
“When I was a teenager, I was being stalked by a guy in his 20’s. He followed me onto the train. He stood very close to me and made me uncomfortable, but he wasn’t touching me. I was young and not outspoken. I didn’t know what to do and I was too embarrassed to make a scene. So, I moved to another area, but he followed there too. An older guy in his late 30’s or early 40’s noticed. He was tall and well built. He was going to say something to the guy, but when he looked at me, it’s almost like he understood I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. So, he shielded me with his body and stood between me and the guy the whole way looking at that guy like he was going to beat him up. The stalker left after a while and I said thanks to the older guy. He nodded and left too. Then he walked in the opposite direction to take the train back to the previous stations. And all I could wonder was how many stations he rode along with me and the creepy stalker guy.”
‘Bless His Heart’
“A homeless dude in New York saw me sitting on a bench in a small park in Manhattan. I had my bags with me but I looked terrible as I had a missed a flight two days before. I was only 19 but in that summer heat, I was messed up and trying to figure out how to get to John F. Kennedy International Airport. He assumed that I was homeless too and said to me, ‘I got a bag of cans, I’ll split a couple of dollars with you and we can both get bread, and if we hurry I know where we can get soup.’ Bless his heart, I had plenty of money but it was such an act of selflessness. I explained that I was on my way to the airport but was just taking a break, I gave him twenty bucks and told him to get a good meal.”
You Just Never Know What Your Kind Act Will Do For Someone Else
“I used to work at a grocery store in high school and was on the skeleton staff for Valentine’s day evening. There were lots of people running in and grabbing things for a homemade dinner and lots of last-minute flowers. Then comes in one gentleman about 10 minutes before close, scrambling to grab things for a last-minute meal. He had me choose a bouquet for his wife. All of the red roses were gone by then but there were still some yellow roses left so I grabbed those for him. He asked me why I chose that color and I just explained that is seemed happy and beautiful. As I was ringing him up, he grabbed a second bouquet, allowed me to bag it up for him and before he walked out, handed me my own approximately $50 bouquet.
Here is the girl who had big braces, no name glasses, never had a boyfriend and was finally being given flowers. I cried the whole walk home.
No one had ever given me anything like that before and I am sure that I still have that dried up bouquet in storage somewhere. That was the single kindest thing someone has ever done for me on a whim.
Be good to everyone, love them when you can. You just never know what it’ll do for them.
And now, I’m crying at work.”
‘No Need To Thank Me’
“I was driving back from the emergency room in San Antonio, Texas in the middle of the night with my toddler son when I got a flat tire. I pulled over to the side, but it was a very quiet and dark part of the interstate.
At that time I didn’t know how to change a tire, and it was before cell phones. I had no choice but to start walking, carrying a pretty big toddler who was medicated and out for the count.
I had probably gone no more than 100 feet when a big rig truck pulled over. He told me to go sit in his cab to keep warm (it was winter and, being San Antonio, we weren’t prepared for the sudden drop in temperature that night), and he would change my tire. I guess I was pretty trusting, but I was also desperate knowing I had a long walk ahead of me on a very cold night carrying a sick child.
Thankfully, he was as good as his word and quickly changed the tire. When I tried to thank him, he said he just hoped someone would do the same for his mother or sister.”
Straight Out Of A Movie Scene
“Some dude gave up his seat on a plane for me. It was like something out of a movie, but unlike the movies, it seemed to be a lot more difficult than I would have anticipated.
There was a hurricane or tornado or something similar that disrupted a ton of flights. I can’t remember the exact circumstances now as it was years ago, but I remember it was my son’s birthday the next day and I was supposed to connect through wherever the problems were.
I lined up as soon as my flight was canceled to rebook as you always do. Waited for an hour, then the guys at United told me there was ‘no way they could get me on any flights that night, or the next day’ then maintained that when I said I’d be willing to CONNECT THROUGH ANYWHERE, or even 3 or 4 whatever connections it took to get home cause it was my son’s 1st birthday.
But, they would not help me. I even looked at other airlines and flights on my phone and saw there were direct flights to my home that night and I offered to pay any upgrade fee it would take, and they still denied me. They said there was no room and no possible way to get me home.
I was seriously going to cry. I think everyone could see it.
Then this guy walks up out of nowhere (and I mean nowhere, I don’t know how he would have been in the line or why, his flight was fine, and the gate for the flight was like the other side of the airport, so seriously, like some angel that materialized) and he announces he has a ticket on one of the direct flights, and he’d like to give me his seat.
I’m like, ‘No way, thank you,’ and the dude who smiling and all happy. He was an older dude and insisted that he wouldn’t have wanted to miss his kid’s birthday. I was ecstatic and just so thankful for that stranger.
Then the United guys said that they couldn’t swap the tickets.
I was literally about to lose my cool, but thankfully I didn’t have to.
The dude straight up told them how it was going to be, and that they were going to get a manager and make it happen for him cause he’s… (and I have no idea what he even said, it was like super gold emerald elite and actually an important person and you’re going to do what I say).
So it took like a half an hour, but they canceled his ticket, let me buy his ticket somehow (I paid some fee but it wasn’t that much, I don’t remember how it worked) and then the dude bought some other ticket.
And the thing is, dude wanted to stay a stranger. I asked for his number and said I’d text him a birthday picture and he said no. I gave the dude the biggest hug and said thanks. I even tried to look him up but googling there were a ton of dudes with his name and I felt creepy almost immediately so I just let him stay a stranger.
But yeah, I try to do that same sort of thing for strangers when I can.”
‘You Remind Me Of My Son’
“A stranger gave me a hug when I needed one.
I was waiting to catch a subway while living abroad – seriously homesick. An older lady who was also waiting smiled at me, then proceeded to tell me that I reminded her of her own son.
It turned out that she hadn’t seen her son in quite a while. I then told her that I hadn’t seen my mom in quite a while either. We then shared a big heartfelt hug before going our separate ways.
Later I realized it had been exactly six months to the day I’d been living abroad.”
Just Like City Tour Guides
“In a new city when I didn’t speak the language and had no idea what I was doing, I called my ex (she was my ex at that time as well) and she was in another city, but she called some of her friends that I had never met and never spoken to, and they came over to take me around the city. I never saw them or spoke to them again.
I just think about if one of my friends called me and said: ‘Yo this guy I know is in your city and he’s an idiot, can you go help him out?’ I probably wouldn’t be too eager to help out. But after that experience, I try to be a little more willing to help strangers out.”
Thanks To That Homeless Man
“The first trip my wife and I ever took together when were dating was out to New York City for a weekend. Our plan was to be centralized around Columbia University, but that got botched, and so we wound up at the transit terminal needing to find our way across the river into some nothing town in New Jersey where our booked hotel actually was. We must have looked completely out of our element, because out of nowhere, a homeless man appeared, introduced himself as such, told us we looked lost and asked where we were trying to get.
No sooner had the name of the town left our mouths, he took off through the station like a bat out of the night, ducking and weaving between people and around corners, the two of us hauling butt behind him trying to keep up.
This goes on for about five minutes before he stops, pointing us to a window where we can buy bus tickets that would take us right to our hotel for $4 each, says his goodbyes, and walks off like it was just a thing to do. I had to chase after him just to hand him off a bit of cash for, quite frankly, saving the two of us from certain panic. I think about that guy a lot. This was well over ten years ago, and whatever it was that led him to that place in life, I hope the world’s been treating him a bit more kindly.”
That Was The Day he Learned Of His Mother’s Fate
“I’m a 48-year-old male.
18 months ago, my mom was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. She had days to live. This news was delivered to us there in the emergency room where her doctor had us take her after he received the results of a blood test.
I had just received the news. I was walking aimlessly through the halls of the hospital like a zombie.
A woman in civilian clothes (not dressed as a nurse or anything) was walking down the hall in the opposite direction. I had never seen this woman before in my life. But she must have seen the look on my face.
She altered her path to intercept me. Without a word she stopped dead in front of me and opened her arms. She embraced me and I lost it, crying like I haven’t cried in 40 years.”
A Thoughtful Elderly Couple
“My dad dropped my brother and me off at a local museum/IMAX movie theater to watch some educational film. When we went to buy tickets they said we needed a guardian with us (we both must have been 12 years old or younger).
We asked an older couple if we could use their phone to call our dad and have him come back, but after they asked about our situation, they just bought the tickets for us and invited us to watch the movie with them.
They were so sweet and I remember the woman grabbing my hand when there was a moment of surprise during the movie.
It feels silly to look back so fondly on spending an afternoon with this couple watching a Titanic documentary, but it makes me smile and I hope they’re doing well.”
Much More Than A 10 Dollar Tab
“When I was 19, I took my dog to Dairy Queen. I was really depressed. I just found my dog and she was helping me a lot. I figured something sweet would be nice even though I couldn’t really afford it. I made $200 every two weeks and I had student loans, car insurance, groceries and a load of other things I needed. I ordered and while waiting in line, I really contemplated driving away because I wasn’t sure how far back a blizzard and a small cup of soft serve would set me.
Anyway, I pulled up, pulled out my card and the kid working goes, ‘Oh no, the guy ahead of you paid for you, you’re good to go, here,’ as she handed me my stuff. I almost cried then and there. It was the first time a stranger did something like that for me. I know it was just a $10 tab, but that gentleman had no idea what I was going through. He had no idea the dog beside me was the only thing keeping me from taking my own life. He didn’t know how miserable I was. That small act made me happier then I had been in weeks – maybe even months.
I try to do as many good deeds as I can because of him. You never know how much something small can mean. That ice cream was my dinner that night and things finally kinda seemed like the world wasn’t so bad anymore.
I still think about it and smile sometimes. I wish I could thank him.
My dog and I are doing much better now. She’s still absolutely spoiled, and rightfully so.
That dog saved my life. If I get fast food, she gets a little something too. I even home cook doggy safe meals for her at least once a week now that I have a good paying job.
I swear she’s the most spoiled, loveable little thing.”
Rainstorm In Texas
“One summer my friend told me we could hold signs outside for six hours a day for two days and we’d make $120. I agreed because it was the summer and we didn’t have jobs. I live in Texas, the weather was either scorching hot or it was pouring rain, there was no in between. So, we sat in a busy intersection holding signs and behind where I was sitting was a long road going into the next city. The first day was balls hot and then eventually the sun was covered by clouds, I turned around and it was just pure DARKNESS. It was raining in the city behind me and it was coming towards me. I had no umbrella, no jacket, and my friend was nowhere near me because she sat on the opposite side. I watched the rain come and eventually it started to pour on me as I just sat there. This intersection was always busy. It went all through the city and was kinda like a highway but isn’t. The speed limit is 55 but people usually drive faster than that. Finally, a car pulled over and a man ran out of it and ran up to me and gave me his umbrella. I told him it was fine but he insisted and said for me to keep it as he hopped back into his car and left.
I will never forget you, handsome man that gave me an orange umbrella. Thank you.”
Free Of Charge
“My family’s car broke down in the middle of Montana during a blizzard. A guy picked us up and took us to a closed hotel in this tiny town. The owner showed up and she got a room ready for us. Then the local shop picked up our car and towed it to his garage. They brought us food, ordered a new radiator and installed it, the whole thing took three days.
They all refused payment. The hotel, the restaurant delivering meals, the auto shop. They wouldn’t take anything.
We were dirt poor at the time and the car was a beater. It was the kindest thing I have ever been a part of.”
‘You Bill Is Taken Care Of’
“My family and I were eating at a restaurant once, and I noticed a woman sitting across from us eating by herself. None of us thought much of it, except that she seemed to be looking at us. When we got up to pay, they told us our meal had been taken care of.
The woman was apparently a teacher. She was touched by how my family all got along and really enjoyed each other because she didn’t always see that. I’ve never forgotten what she did (especially on a teacher’s salary) and she didn’t even hang around so we could thank her.”
All BMW Drivers Are Not Jerks
“We’d broken down in the middle of nowhere late at night and we didn’t have cell phones back then. Neither of us had any real idea how to even troubleshoot why the car was overheating and leaking water, but we knew it wasn’t going anywhere.
After a few minutes of trying to weigh out our options, we were getting ready to just walk to the nearest gas station about five miles away to call for help. Just before we did, a guy in a BMW pulled up. He’d passed us before and saw we were still stuck. He asked what the issue was and we told him. He looked the car over and figured out what the happened (freeze out plugs blew) and said, ‘Okay guys, I’ll be right back,’ then drove off.
A few minutes later, he showed up with a bucket of water and filled up the radiator, then told us to get to the gas station with due haste. He followed us there then waited with us until my father-in-law showed up. He brushed off our thanks for the help and refused payment for the bucket and the gas he used (not to mention his time).
So, next time you curse out that BMW driver for merging without signaling, remember some of them are not jerks.”
One Single Dollar Can Go A Long Way
“This is a memory that has really stuck with me throughout the years.
When I was a kid, we didn’t have a lot of money, so we often shopped at thrift stores. What I loved about that was that you could get 10 books for a dollar, so I would plant myself in front of the book section and make piles of which ones I wanted to get and then decided after I’d gone through them all.
One day, an older lady saw me sitting with my piles and asked if I liked to read. I told her I did and showed her a few of the books I found that I liked. She smiled and then pulled a dollar out of her purse, handed it to me and said, ‘Promise me that you’ll keep reading.’ I was so happy and immediately stood up and said that I would. She smiled and walked away and I went back to my piles able to pick out an extra 10 books to take home.
It was just a small act of kindness for her, but for me having a random stranger encourage my love of reading and making me promise to never stop definitely had a lot to do with my continued love of reading. This was over 20 years or so ago, but I still think of her whenever I buy a new book.”
‘Thanks To My 1-Year-Old Grump’
“Once I was having a really hard day, but decided to try grocery shopping anyway. I took my grumpy 1-year-old and my sweet little 3-year-old to the small locally owned grocery store and treated myself to their half-off drink of the day at the coffee stand. After a tough trip through the store, we finally got to the checkout, and my toddler got mad I swiped my card when he wanted to, and slapped my coffee out of my hand onto the floor. It was all so much that I just stopped, bent over, and took a giant breath before dealing with the mess. Before I could get upset, one checker came running over with paper towels, another got stickers to distract the kids, and a third person went to get me a fresh coffee. It was the nicest thing any strangers have ever done for me and it always makes me smile to think about!”