Kindness makes the world go ’round, friends.
And sometimes, when you’re really down and out and you think there is nothing good left in the world, a complete stranger does something nice for you and it totally changes your perspective.
What random act of kindness in your life has stuck with you?
People on AskReddit shared their stories.
1. Hold on.
“When I was maybe 19 I was flying back home to see family. I had a layover in Atlanta, it was short. I had to absolutely haul *ss to make my flight.
I managed to get to one of the trains that take you to the next terminal. I had never been on one before and had my ear buds in so I didn’t hear the automated voice telling me to “hold on”.
The train lurched forward and before I could fall on my *ss, a guy next to me grabbed my arm and stopped me from falling. I thanked him and he just nodded.
That was a decade ago and I am still appreciative.”
2. That’s awesome.
“A few years ago, living in South Korea.
Just gotten back from a trip, and was trying to get a taxi from a highway rest stop at like 2am (aka, very difficult). Finally managed to book a taxi, but I couldn’t find the driver when he got there. He was calling me and getting frustrated, and I was getting overwhelmed.
I don’t know if you’ve ever had to exist in a language that’s not your native language, but there usually comes a point where you’re so tired, you just can’t anymore, and even if you know you understand, it’s just not making sense. I had reached that point, so I sat down and resigned myself to losing the taxi and having to camp at the rest stop for the night.
Some random old Korean man saw me crying and saying “I don’t speak Korean well. I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” and grabbed the phone, got me to the taxi, and his wife (I assume) handed me some candy and patted my arm and told me I’d be okay. And then the taxi driver was super sweet and was all like “It’s okay. You’ll be home soon.”
All of them could have very easily ignored me, but were just like “Here’s a person who obviously needs help, so I’m gonna help.””
3. A ride home.
“In 7th grade, I wasn’t allowed to board a bus for one reason or the other, I forget.
So I’m standing outside in the dark at 7 in the morning quietly crying when this kind old lady who just dropped off her grandchildren offered to take me home.
I’d seen her around before so I knew she was safe. We talked for a bit and she let me off at my house. Never forgetting that.”
4. A real saint.
“Ran out of gas on a large interstate in the midwest in the middle of the day.
I was headed home (3+ hour drive) for the weekend with my fiance for wedding planning stuff. Got out and hoofed it with a makeshift container in hand to haul gas back to the car and asked my fiance to stay seated with the only cell phone between us.
As I walked up and got gas a mile down at a major interchange, a skeezy looking dude rolled up in a Thunderbird. He says, “Hey man, can I take you back up to your car?” I must have given him a look, he’s dismissive, waves off my concerns and and says I can trust him.
I don’t want to walk but I figure it’s broad daylight, so we leave and he’s going off on a state highway in the literal opposite direction I need to go. I’m sweating my a** off and it is not hot out.
He asks about 5 minutes in where I’m coming from and where I’m going. I give as little info as possible and mention that my fiance has a phone in I don’t show up soon. I am absolutely shaking at this point.
The guy says, “Hey, man, you seem nervous….what music are you into?” I tell him I’m honestly open minded, which I’m sure doesnt mean a thing. He hits the power button on the cd player and, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, the cd player plays the same d**n record on the exact same song that my wife and I were playing when the car ran out of gas.
This dude takes a few quick backroad turns and pops out on the interstate behind my car in no time. I ask him why he helped me, he says he’s a dishwasher at the Cracker Barrel next to the gas station. He was on smoke break and saw me coming a way off.
When he pulls up, he refuses any acknowledgement of his good deed and literally pulls off when I say “hold up, let me throw you a five for your troubles”. Probably sounds stupid but I just want to be as anonymously awesome as this dude was.
He saved me from suffering just to save me from suffering. I don’t know what saints are, but this felt saintly AF.”
5. Heatstroke.
“On a very hot summer day, I passed out on the sidewalk from dehydration/heat exhaustion.
Two older women picked me up off the ground, carried/dragged me into a nearby Chipotle, and sat with me while I drank water.
They were really nice about it.”
6. Ouch.
“When I broke my ankle, every single person looked at me on the ground bleeding and walked on. It was really strange to experience.
One guy saw me, brought his whole truck around and offered to take me to the hospital. There was already an ambulance coming so I declined, but he sat there and talked to me and told me it’s going to be okay.
He really sticks out. Almost 10 people walked by and minded their business while I was on the ground, my bone sticking out of my leg. He came up and helped. I really hope he’s doing okay.”
7. Grateful.
“My husband and I were in a car accident where a drunk guy ran onto the highway and we hit him (in the middle of the day, just bolted in front of the car).
We sat there in a smashed up car with a d**d body lying behind the car for 15 minutes before a car stopped and helped us. Neither of us could speak because of the shock. This lady saw us in the car and made her husband come back around so she could help. Hundreds of cars passed, she was the only one who stopped.
She called the police and ambulance, and waited until they arrived. Really grateful for her and her husband.”
8. Really nice.
“Working the register and a guy’s car battery was shot and his bank froze his card so he couldn’t pay.
This other guy sees what’s going on walks up and pays for the battery then walks out.”
9. An awesome day.
“I was backpacking in Central American and ended up on the island Flores in Guatemala. My travel buddy and I wanted to see ruins nearby.
We took a bus out there, got lost a little, but eventually found the trail to the town(ruins). So we’re walking for about 3 hours and realize once the we get to the gate of the ruins we may just have to turn right back around to catch the last bus back. We decide to move forward and try to hitch hike our way back since we really wanted to see these ruins.
Right when we finally reach the gate a truck pulls up and offers us a ride in, we decline saying we’ve already made it so we were good. The guy informs us it’s about another hour or so walk past the gate to even get to the town so we take him up on the offer. We find out he works for the government and he gave us an hours long in depth tour of this historical site.
This was especially awesome because it wasn’t a popular spot so there wasn’t a ton of informational placards around. Then at the end he asked us where we were staying and he told us he was also staying on Flores for a few days so he offered us a ride back. On the way back, him and his wife bought us dinner and then dropped us off and gave us their contact in case we got lost somewhere or needed suggestions on places to visit.
It really made me feel like there is always help out there for you, sometimes you have to search and sometimes it falls into your lap. It was an awesome day I’ll remember forever.”
10. Christmas Eve.
“I was working a seven hour drive away helping to open a new location of our business I got a flat hours from home.
I pulled into the shoulder and started limping my car to a nearby petrol station. I usually had chocks and a full tyre change kit but I had lent them to a friend only a few days earlier. It was about 11pm. It was raining. I had just worked a twelve hour shift and was desperate to just get home. It was Christmas Eve.
I struggled to try and get my tyre off with the limited tools I had. I tried re-inflating the tyre but that didn’t work either.
I asked in the shop of the petrol station if they sold tyre change kits and they didn’t. I rang my roadside assistance company and there was a three hour wait for a truck.
I went back to my car and cried. I was tired and drenched and just wanted to get home for Christmas.
Suddenly there was a knock on my window and a man waving at me. He held up a jack and a tyre iron.
He said he heard me asking for help in the shop. He helped me change my tyre in the pouring rain and had bought me a coffee. He gave me his number and insisted I text him when I was safely home.
When I asked if I could give him money for his time he just said ‘ My girl is about your age. I would hope someone would do the same for her if she were in your position.’
All I could do was hug him in thanks. He wanted to get home for Christmas too but stopped and helped me.
I did text him when I got home. A picture of my family with a sign saying thankyou. They were extremely grateful.
I learned a valuable lesson that day about lending out essential tools but also about kindness and the impact it can have.
Random man at the servo who helped a twenty odd year old girl sobbing in the rain get home for Christmas, your kindness has stuck with me for nearly twenty years and I think of you every time I go to walk by someone in need and choose to help instead.”
11. Almost stranded.
“I was almost stranded in a small town where I knew no one as an international student in Scotland.
I had just finished hiking when I discovered that all trains heading back to my city got cancelled. I was in a resort kind of town where they had no taxi services and it was already cold and dark. My phone was also d**d by this point.
The people waiting with me at a bus stop were very kind tho and started ringing different places until they finally found one with a vacant room (it was peak season). They were employees who had just finished their shift at the “Oak Tree Inn”.
Go there people! The least I could do is advertise them when they saved my life 🙂 I could’ve slept in the forest that night.”
What’s a random act of kindness that’s stuck with you?
Please share your stories with us in the comments.
We’d really appreciate it!
