In a world where you can choose to be anything, choose to be kind.
These days, it might seem like the world is a gloomy place but there is kindness everywhere if we keep our eyes open for it. We are wary of strangers from a young age because we are taught to be so, but there are moments when we are surprised by them. Recently, an American author shared an anecdote about a random teenager she came into contact with. While she was bracing herself for a mean encounter, it was quite the opposite.
"I was walking alone yesterday when an unsmiling teen on a bike whizzed by. Our eyes met. He circled back, and I couldn’t help bracing myself for our encounter. 'Hey, lady,' he said gruffly. 'Five ducklings. Under the culvert ahead.' Then he did a wheelie and sped off," she wrote on Twitter.
Soon after, other people started sharing how they were helped by a stranger and other instances when someone was incredibly kind to them. Some of those interactions were also funny, to say the least. These anecdotes prove that we shouldn't write off strangers yet because there is still lots of good in the world.
Taking my garbage out, dark alley, late at night. Shared the alley w. a dive bar. 3 drunk young men started yelling at me: "Hey! HEY!" I looked up, bracing myself. "There's an owl behind you!!" I looked up just in time to see the owl swoop by silently. A+ interaction.
— Margaret Shawver (@Magreader) April 30, 2021
Told senior Sikh Lyft driver how happy I was to get 2nd covid shot. He asked how could he get one. pulled up 2the medical ctr & I got him signed up for his 1st dose. When I called to get picked up to go home, he showed up. He had parked & waited 45mins for me. 🚖😷💉💛
— Deirdre L. Hall (@DeirdreLHall) May 1, 2021
Heading up the steps from the subway in Rome, my Mom trips and falls. I’m trying to watch our purses while helping her up. Young guy with huge, spiky Mohawk, leathers, piercings, stops and offers his hand up and to hold back the crowd while Mom gets to her feet. So lovely.
— TheJourneyGenie (@TheJourneyGenie) May 1, 2021
Got lost in Dublin w/ my 3 very drunk flatmates, trying to find our hostel - scruffy girl about 10 years old runs up to us, alarmed: “This isn’t a safe neighborhood!” in a thick Irish accent. Asks us where we’re staying, grabs us by the hands, & gets us back to the hostel safely.
— Tracy (@littlecrane) May 1, 2021
Was walking home 1am alone when I passed 3 hooded teen boys sharing a joint. I braced myself as they shouted something out. Ignored them, kept walking. They shouted again. "What?" I barked in my toughest voice. "Careful crossing on that corner," one said. "That roads dangerous."
— N J Simmonds 🗡✨ Pre-order CHILDREN OF SHADOWS! (@NJSimmondsbooks) April 30, 2021
Will never forget having a very bad period in a train and an older gent tapped me & said softly, ‘ma’am, you’re bleeding’. It was bad and we had reached our destination. He wrapped his coat around my waist. Escorted me to the loo as I DRIPPED. Waited as I washed which was ages.
— leone ross (@leoneross) May 1, 2021
At a campground, random lady, walking around with a garbage bag...
— uglyduckling movement studio (@angelabarsotti) April 30, 2021
Have you seen? She says
and I'm like (in my head) your trash?
Turns out she was saving these babies from having to cross roads to get to the river... pic.twitter.com/smfnKwt6Ra
In Philadelphia for a conference. Went walking & got lost at night. Nervously walked up to a group of teenage boys & said I was lost.
— cmdibley 🐀 (@cmdibley) May 1, 2021
‘Where you from?’
‘Tasmania.’
‘Hell, yeah, you lost.’
They walked me back to my hotel miles away. ❤️
Car broke down on Lake Shore Drive at night. Managed to get it to a parking lot, tow truck couldn’t come for an hour. A guy who’d been playing hockey said “I’m just gonna sit all the way over here in my car til your tow comes to be sure you’re ok” and he did! I’ve never forgotten
— BeReesieKat#Crouton (@bereesiekat) May 1, 2021
2/2 starts yelling at me saying something I don’t understand. He turns back to his friends and gestures wildly. Then a kid hangs his head out the window and yells, “DIESEL!”. Yes, I was about to put diesel fuel into my little Honda. They sped off before I could say thank you.
— Anne Plichta (@PlichtaAnne) May 1, 2021
Knock at the door, i look out the peep hole & see a little girl about 10. Think to myself ‘I am not buying anything from you sweetie.’ Open the door. “The door to your car has been open all day, just wanted to let you know since it’s starting to rain.” Hops on bike & takes off.
— Karen Brimm (@gishgirl13) May 1, 2021
When I was 13 I delivered junk mail in a not great part of West Auckland. Got caught in a really heavy unexpected rain shower so I sheltered under a tree. Dude from a nearby state house runs out to me and gives me an umbrella, tells me to bring it back next time I'm walking past.
— Matt (@mathewgrocott) May 1, 2021
Lost in downtown Vancouver with my 7yr old daughter near E. Hasting str;starting to panic. Trying to figure out which bus when a homeless man lying against a bldg tells me which bus sequence and times. That moment impacted how my daughter views homelessness; as visible people.
— Laurie Thompson (@kiprincipal) May 1, 2021
Age about 15, walking through Rotherham centre on a dark winter eve - two lads on bikes were harassing me & I didn’t know how to get em to stop- another guy same age told em to piss off and cycled with me to where my dad was waiting so they wouldn’t return, remembered it always
— Bella. (@bellalongdon) May 1, 2021
Car overheated on a hot day driving in the mtns. Locked myself in, no idea what I'd do.
— 🇨🇦 Pre-retirement Hippie (@forfsakes) May 1, 2021
Young guy pulled over within minutes, checked the engine, said he'd be right back, & drove off. Came back within an hour, replaced my thermostat, filled radiator & oil. Wouldn't accept a cent.
Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by Revolu7ion93
