Air for you....
cars shot GIFGiphyWhile working hotel security I often put air in very low tires of guests vehicles in the parking lot.
That's such a nice thing to do! Nothing worse than coming out all set for your day and you have to deal with a low or flat tire!
Those 3....
I saw a lady struggling with 3 children in a grocery store. She showed great love to the 3 even though they were giving her a hard time. I eavesdropped enough to learn that she couldn't afford half the stuff, if any, she was putting in her cart. She was so loving to those kids. Every word she said to them was soft and kind.
I knew the manager of the store very well. I went to them and told them about that lady. I then pointed her out discreetly. I gave the manager two hundred dollars and asked them to give it to the lady. I often wonder how things worked out for her in life.
Paul Young
I have an unusual first name. Many years ago I got a signed photo from 1980s pop star Paul Young. I was having a clear out and so I googled someone with the same name as me. It wasn't easy but I found someone who was, fortunately, an academic at a university here in England. I posted the photo to him at his uni. Hope he liked it.
Merry Christmas
merry christmas GIFGiphyWhen I was a kid (probably 12 or 13), I gave up my Christmas presents for a friend. I grew up upper middle class, not rich, but we were comfortable. My best friend wasn't as fortunate as I was.
One year when my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas, I told her I didn't want anything and instead to give the money she would have spent to my friend's parents. She bought a Walmart gift card (or something similar) and left it in their mail box. To my knowledge, my friend never knew this happened and I would never bring it up. I'd be willing to guess his parents knew the money came from us, but not the circumstances surrounding it.
I accidentally discovered.....
I had an acquaintance whose reddit account, I accidentally discovered. There she had a confession post of how lonely, friendless and depressed she was and how she used to cry to sleep. For the months following, I would try to talk her to sleep online so that she won't feel lonely or cry. Most of the time, I ended up sleeping first though lol. I introduced her to online gaming and used to play a lot with her. I tried to support her to be herself more and be more open. We are not friends anymore but I hope she is happy and doing better.
4 years straight...
Every day I used to walk past this old guys house walking home from high school. I read about old age and depression so I figured I'd be nice. I went and looked after his front yard (all overgrown) i planted flowers etc.
I would successfully do it for 4 years straight and one time he caught me and thanked me and told me about how his wife died and how he had no family etc.
Now in collage, the man died and I was lucky enough to go to his funeral. His lawyer told me that he left most of his estate to me. (Wasn't much but for me growing up poor it was everything)
It was a lesson to me about positive karma and to pay it forward. Answering any questions in the comments.
"Oh my god, who left this here?"
They stole 350€ and a phone from the dog shelter a few months ago, that all the money they had to feed the dogs for an entire month so they had to pay from their own pocket (which they couldn't because their job doesn't pay and so they has to skip meals because of it). So I bought a 250€ brand new Samsung Galaxy A30s, put it in a box with another 350€ in it, went there to do some voluntary work like I always do and left the box in their office and put a note on it saying "For the doggies at Akira", a few minutes later I heard a "Oh my god, who left this here?" And I was just saying "I don't know, it was there when I arrived"
Now the donations have to be supervised so I have to say this is a donation and sign a paper so I can't do secret donations anymore. I think that I've donated around 700€ there even tho I rarely earn money and I was planning to go on a little vacation, but the doggies are more important.
Being a Mover....
friends moving GIFGiphyNot per se secretly, at least I didn't mean it to be a secret, but:
Was at a friend's birthday party. Friend lived on the fourth floor, no elevator. New neighbors were moving in right under his apartment on the third floor.
I smoke, but I won't do it inside a non-smoker's home (that's just rude), so every time I wanted to smoke, I had to go down the stairs and smoke outside the front door, which was fine.
Every time I walked back up, I took a bag or a small piece of furniture of the new neighbor's stuff with me and placed it beside their door.
Add More....
When I was in high school I have some friends who cannot afford to textbooks. Their parents were farmers and they do not do well. So I gave my saved money to my homeroom teacher to buy them books and never speak about this. If I directly give books to them they may feel bad. Having get books from your teacher or from your classmates makes difference I believe. My teacher add more money to my money and buy-give them in other students in need I do not know.
Good Luck Mate....
Morgan Freeman Good Luck GIFGiphyNot really secretly, but spur of the moment. Few years ago I had swung by the grocery store to pick up a couple things after a long day, it was nearing 10pm the store was fixing to close.
So, there was only one checker open, and an older gentleman with a cart full of groceries ahead of me. After what felt like an eternity, his credit cards were being declined. And i overheard him tell the check he didn't have enough cash on him to pay for everything, so just before they were going to sort his groceries I spoke up to add it to my tab and ill pay. He was dumbfounded and nearly in tears. We shook hands and exchanged names. Never saw him again, i hope he landed on his feet.
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Salty Salt...
Happy Hour Drinking GIFGiphyWorked 70+ hours a week from March through May to put 3000 student's classes online at the beginning of the pandemic. The president of the university I work for regularly thanked literally everyone else under the sun in the weekly campus updates.
Not salty at all.
My Wife's Betrayal
I got one for my wife. My wife and her coworker (both have doctorates in the medical field) were asked to be part of an official task force to help manage the Covid epidemic in our area. They both agreed and their employer let them keep their jobs for when they return. She was tasked with tracking patients waiting on test results, also tracking any that tested positive and who they came in contact with, and then organizing all the data coming from all the separate teams into safety guidelines for the public.
She was working 7-6 for 4 months straight, and some weekends.
Her work has annual, and quarterly awards that comes with a lot of great perks. This quarter they wanted to award it to one of the people who were removed to work on the Covid teams. Everyone knew my wife would get it, all their coworkers knew what my wife has been doing. In the end, the administration picked her coworker instead.
What was his role you ask? He worked 3 days a week, answered phones, and gave a 45 second briefing to public officials every other day using the data my wife and others gathered. He simply got it because he was more visible.
My wife is still really salty about it.
HIM?!
I wrote a poem for a "Why my mom deserves a diamond" contest which the class bully promptly took from me. He ended up winning with it out of the entire county and I didn't say a thing.
How proud his mom and our teachers were of "his" accomplishment was what pissed me off the most.
The 4th....
I placed 4th in state at a high school FBLA convention and they called the wrong name. I got to watch someone who didn't even compete in the competition I was in go up on stage in front of thousands and get my award.
Some New Girl...
Pretty small compared to other in this thread but at my work we have essentially an employee of the quarter award (given out every 3 months) that comes with some nice benefits: extra annual leave days, stay at a nice hotel on the company's dime, free lunch with the higher ups at a fancy restaurant, etc.
One quarter the company was falling apart and I did a bunch of overtime, held my team together, trained new employees, and had to do my bosses job too when he left the job. i'm usually pretty humble but this one time I was certain I had worked harder than anyone else at work and that i'd win the award (this was a large workforce too like 500+ people) and everyone that saw how hard I was working was telling me how much everyone appreciated it and my hard work wasn't going unnoticed.
Anyway they gave some new girl the award the award because she always walked around with a smile and kept everyone's spirits up in during a difficult time (the boss's words not mine) a bunch of the higher up talked to me afterward and told me that I had actually won the award after they voted on who should win but I was vetoed because the big boss liked the new girl (she was way more popular than me) and didn't even know who I was.
That's when I learned not to break my back for my company because forget the little guy right?
In the Nick of Time....
Saving a friend's life. We were in a car together, I was the passenger. Had a rollover accident into deep snow. She was thrown through the windshield, I was still in the car. I crawled through the window, found her trapped under the car, she couldn't breath and was in extreme panic. I pulled her out. After ambulance ride, police reports etc. not one mention ever about how she was still alive. I had nightmares for months.
"that sounds like a lot"
As a child I took care of my mom who was a wheelchair user with MS. From 10-16 years old, I would lift her out of bed, into bed, toileting, dressing, each year she got less mobile. No one in my life told me how much work I was putting in. I'm real tall and was pretty strong, but it was a big job on top of school. The first time I was told "that sounds like a lot" was by my therapist this year now that I'm 25.
My mom tried her best to minimize the work and eventually got homecare, and she tried to keep me smiling and laughing, normalizing it to keep me afloat. Looking back everybody, teachers, friends parents, my mom's friends tried to take care of me, but nobody would admit to me how big of a deal that was, because if they did, I'd probably stop smiling.
And that woulda been okay. I'm grateful either way. They were doing their best. And so was I.
Edit: I'm a woman, just cuz it's becoming relevant in replies. Sadly my username having lady in it isn't the quickest give away!
Covert Ops....
George Clooney Reaction GIFGiphyCovertly provided information to the EPA that contributed to enforcement actions resulting in a substantial reduction in industrial sulfur dioxide pollution.
Underwater....
Saved a family friend's daughter from drowning. I almost went under as well as I was only a few years older than her. I am not looking to get a celebration every year or anything but quite literally what I got in response was "She should have known better."
Meh not the biggest thing but the first thing that popped into my mind.
Intersections
knock knock door GIFGiphyI sent a 265-signature petition to my city council at the age of 14. I went door-to-door instead of online. It resulted in a set of city ordinances which added flashing stop signs at 3 intersections in town.
A Childhood Lost
That I took over the role as mom to my 10 yo brother, 5 yo sister, and 10 month old brother at age 11. My mom was really sick and in the hospital. When she wasn't, she was in bed. I still went to middle school everyday, while a family friend would watch the two younger siblings, and then I'd take over after I got home. This included watching my siblings, making dinner, doing homework with my brother, and putting everyone to bed. My dad worked and was at the hospital a lot, and I know he tried to be home more, but he almost lost his job.
Our extended family (my dads siblings, grandparents,etc) never reached out, and to this day, I am still dumbfounded how no adult stepped in. It was terrible and it made me grow up really fast. After 13, I still served as a mom, but I was bumped to second mom when my mom would just disappear and ignore her responsibilities. She was never mentally herself again and was very negligent when she was physically well again.
Now I am 30 and those days still haunt me. I think it's because my mother and father never acknowledged my lost childhood. I've tried explaining what I went through to my mom, that I don't blame her for being sick, but that it was really hard and I need/needed therapy. My 5yo sister used to cry at night asking if my mom was going to die. My mom refuses to listen until this day, so I stopped trying.
Thanks for letting me rant and reading my story. I really needed this.
weight loss GIFCollege Daze
Studying broadcasting in college. The program ran the college radio station, and we were all given shifts that changed on a weekly basis. All to give us that real world experience, they ran it as close to a real radio station as possible.
It was Friday night. I was the last shift for the week. On the weekends, the station is on autopilot... runs nothing but a playlist fed into the computer. Now the person in charge of playlists that week was the class screw-up. As I was getting ready to leave, I thought, "I wonder if they remembered to make playlists for the weekend."
I checked the computer and they didn't. This was bad. No playlists in the computer meant the station would be dead on Saturday and Sunday. And since it was Friday night and just me left, I sat down and cranked out some playlists for Saturday and Sunday.
Station ran smoothly all weekend, the class screw-up still passed, and I haven't told anyone until now.
YA Days....
I was offered then given a job by a publishing company in New York to read YA novels and give my opinion. I'm not even into YA, my dad was just at their office for business and I was there for a tour and you know how sales ladies are. She was like, "Yo, you're a young adult! How would you like a job?!" And I, a jobless teen, was absolutely willing to read some shitty ass YA for a couple bucks.
So I do what I gotta do to get the job, and as a dumb fool teen I ignore the big butt red flag "So, we're a little backed up with all of our readers information, but we'll definitely send you the forms to get payment set up soon!" Several months later, they owe me like 130 bucks at this point (I know, crap for pay. What do you do) and I'm just... Exhausted. I'm reading these freaking things all the time, and they are just crap. So crap. I wanna die, they are so crap. But I keep thinking, if I just stick it out a bit more, I'm gonna get my money.
Until my mom just said no more. I was doing poorly in school, and the disappointment that my very first job was a bust was eating me alive. So I stopped sending them in. And a few weeks after my last assignment was due, I get an email for my freaking forms to be paid. And I never filled them out. And those buttheads made out with like 15 of my freaking essays. Which I know was my own fault, but I was a kid.
To the Grape
Will Grace Megan Mullally GIFGiphy2 majors and 2 minors in 4 years of college while working 3 jobs. Family was late and missed my graduation and drank all the wine they bought me as a present.
I just want help.....
I'm currently taking care of my 96 year old grandma. She has 4 living children, 10 grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren. With the exception of one of my cousins, none of them give any care or are geographically close enough to her to do anything but call her on the phone once a week. When I was 22, I took care of my mom for years, while she was ill, prior to her passing and got shit on by her family before and after she died. Now my moms mom needs help and again no one can be bothered to show up. It's infuriating. I don't even want recognition, I just want help.
Damn Covid
Finished my sophomore year taking both high school and college classes (I go to an early college and this is pretty much known to be the hardest year at my school). At the same time COVID-19 had just hit and no one else is home but me. My grandmother who has been bedridden for five months at that point needed a full-time care service. We could not afford having a specialized caregiver around the house, so there was no question that I would do it. Both of my parents are working and I'm 16 years old, doing online classes at home.
The transition was rough and I'm hit with new assignments with strict deadlines everyday. School is hard enough online, and it's harder when you have to look out for someone who is paralyzed from their third stroke. Everything from feeding, changing, and giving her a bath. I did it alone.
This went on for at least two months. At one point, I didn't do my assignments for three days and fell extremely behind. My mental state was terrible. I thought I wouldn't make it. I wanted to end it all but I couldn't. I wasn't going to leave before my grandmother did.
After the school year ended in May, I never heard from any of my teachers or classmates again. It all ended so quickly, even though each day was hell for me. As silly as it sounds, I didn't get a pat on the back or anything. With all those sleepless nights, I managed to end the school year with straight A's. Everyone expected me to do it and I somehow... did it.
We'll call him Dave....
I was offered a significant promotion before someone else who had seniority, we'll call him Dave. Dave and I had already discussed his desire for this promotion and he was pretty excited about it, and he was certain he was going to get it. I declined the offer and directed my boss to Dave who of course happily took the offer. It just felt morally wrong to take it when I knew he wanted it, and the large factor of him having more job knowledge and experience than I did. The defining qualities as a worker that made my boss choose me was reliability and dependability.
I never, ever let my boss down and was willing to learn anything.
I was offered another promotion and I took it this time. Dave became distant with me, my new coworkers were buttholes and clearly didn't want me there, and my old coworkers (some of whom I've fed because they couldn't feed themselves and their children at the same time) started to drift away and no longer would stop to chat. I found out that Dave was spreading rumors about me.
About how I only got the promotion because upper management needs something young and pretty to look at, and that someone else deserved it more than I did. I spent an entire year working directly with this guy and we used to have a fantastic work relationship.
He still has no idea that his new position was because of me.
'Indiana meets Japan'
I designed an 'Indiana meets Japan' wall mural for the hall leading to the library of my high school. Had a bridge, plants, and the Indiana state tree on one side and a cherry blossom tree on the other. Flower petals from both drifting on the wind and everything.
I didn't get to sign my name on the mural after it was all done since I didn't put the pencil work and paint on the wall. Even though the kids who painted it had to bring me out there to help them figure out a spacing issue the teacher hadn't foreseen.
This wasn't a tiny thing either. We're talking floor to ceiling design in your average 'entrance' hallway from one section of the building to another. If that makes sense?
It's been ten years and I'm still moderately pissed over it.
Homeward Bound
Home Sweet Home GIF by swerkGiphyI paid the down payment on my best friend's house but never told anyone. She has 5 kids and they all needed stability and something to really call their own. Had just cashed out on an investment when she told me she's found a house but didn't have cash for the down payment. It was like serendipity. I had the cash so I gave it to her. I really love her and would do it again.
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For the Memory
mockumentary hug GIF by EvoFilmsUKGiphyVisiting someone with Alzheimers. You will leave with a broken heart and in 20 minutes they won't remember that you were there. But during your visit they will hopefully feel loved or at least know someone cares.
You First
Letting someone with minimal items cut in front of you at the grocery checkout.
This guy let me (man did he damn insist) go in front of him. I forget what I had but it was only one item. I had brought what I thought was enough change but I ended up being like a quarter or two short. It was awkward as hell when I walked away without the item I wished to purchase. I looked at the guy like, "sorry I wasted your time, but I could have waited." I mean I came back after I got some more change from my car, but he doesn't know that.
Getting Home
If you are driving someone home. At night, wait for them to get to the door, unlock and enter before you leave.
My dad was a little league coach so it was pretty normal for him to give rides to players to get to the game and drop them off afterwards. After dropping off the last passenger, I asked why we weren't going home yet. And my parents explained to me they want to make sure they're able to get into their house.
I hope you trip....
green day falling GIFGiphyWaiting for the friend that is tying their shoelaces.
PEOPLE THAT KEEP WALKING WHILE THEIR FRIEND IS TYING THEIR SHOELACES ARE RUUUUDDEEE!!!!!!!!! AND I WILL DIE ON THAT HILL!
Walk About....
If you're in a group walking and someone's falling behind (carrying something, have to tie their shoe, just a slower walker/has shorter legs etc), at least one person waiting for them to catch up. Doesn't have to be everyone, but just one person, maybe two, waiting for them to finish what they're doing or to catch up a bit.
Both my best friend and my S/O have done this for me at varying points in our relationships, and every time they do it it makes me want to cry bc it shows they care and don't want me to feel left out even though I've got these short little freaking corgi legs and they're all walking at the speed of sound.
Trashed.
When someone you're hanging out with throws away your trash or takes your dishes when you're done eating. Not that I expect that all the time, but I find it sweet when it happens. Like if you're sitting down at a fast food restaurant and your friend grabs your trash and throws it away with theirs.
Oh Brad....
Remembering little things. The other day I was talking to a friend and told him I just found out my sister is pregnant and he said "oh, the one who's married to Brad?". It was just nice that he makes a point to remember details that don't necessarily mean anything to him.
Reach Out
Sad Cat GIFGiphyTexting a friend just to see how they are doing. It's always nice to have someone reach out vs feeling like you are the person reaching out all the time.
People Matter
Saying Hi to the security guard.
Yeah. One time years ago, I had to go to the office on a weekend to pick up something I forgot at my desk. Unfortunately there was some fair or parade going on so the parking lot was completely packed and I had to park several blocks away. The security guard who I always said hi to noticed me coming in and when I was leaving, offered to drive me to my car since it was getting dark and he figured I had to have walked a good distance away.
I Hear You.
everybody loves raymond listening GIF by HULUGiphyReally listening when people speak and not just waiting for your turn to talk.
Just Cross....
When a car stops to let me cross the street, thereby forcing the other oncoming car to also recognize that I need to cross.
There is a busy road I have to cross daily and I'm so grateful every single time that the cars stop for me to cross. It's just a simple gesture of feeling recognized.
To make the pedestrian feel more comfortable while they cross I always pull out my phone and watch a video while revving the engine and creeping into the crosswalk a bit.
The phone and video shows them that my eyes are focusing on something other than them and the revving and creeping shows I can't hear them as well. Most pedestrians are excitedly yelling at me for what I assume is praise for helping them cross and not staring at them.
being kind....
smart dj khaled GIFGiphyGiving a compliment. E.g you look nice today.
Yep, and to break it down even further. Give a compliment regarding something within that person's control. That way you're acknowledging something they've proactively done in their life and at the same time positively reinforcing the behavior.
The Dishes
Today's been a rough one and my aunt just cleaned the kitchen for me so that is one thing that i very much appreciate. Little things that most people think of as just part of someone's day can really make a big difference to that person.
Once when I was really depressed and I hadn't done my dishes in so long that they were starting to create their own ecosystem two of my friends came over and washed everything. I will never forget it and I'm still always looking for chances to pay them back.
Obviously.... don't be vulgar.
If you think something good about a stranger, (like if you admire their hair or makeup) that you should politely compliment them. Obviously don't be vulgar.
Last year at pride my husband and I got drunk and we're yelling out compliments to strangers. We were sitting at a Y near a walk way so people could just use the other path if they were shy. But we got so many drinks bought for us and took sooo many pictures with people and so many hugs. It was honestly super fun and I'm gonna do it again when our plague is over.
Simplicity....
A thank you card.
This is the most under rated comment here. One of my projects for students was to have them send a thank you card to someone who did something for them. Later I would ask for feedback and found it interesting they were often amazed at how much it meant. I basically told them one of the best investments they could make in life was to buy a pack of thank you cards at the dollar store.
And I am?
walter white walt GIF by Breaking BadGiphySaying a person's name when addressing them.
This actually creeps me out unless I know the other person really well and like them.
Snapshot
I cannot possibly stress this enough.
Take candid pictures of a mother with her children.
Or frankly ANYONE with their children... or grandchildren... or friends... doing something other than posing in front of a fireplace at Christmas. You really have no idea how much I treasure the rare glimpses of me interacting with my kids when smiles aren't forced. Take them, send them, they want them. You don't have to ask... just... do it. (So long as you, ya know... know them and what not).
Roses are Red....
Non expensive flowers for occasions. Im talking $10 daisy arrangement for your coworkers last day, or just because to a friend, I always bring wine and flowers as a host/hostess gift. There are so many cool flowers (not just roses!!)
And it can be for a male or female. The kings in your life deserve flowers as much as grandma. Tell him those sunflowers reminded you of his smile, tell Bertha from accounting you appreciate the prompt Thursday afternoon checks. Tell Gamgam she's your favorite and leave a little sunshine in your wake.
The Helper
- Asking if a person got home okay.
- Carrying groceries, bags or heavy items for an older person or family member. lukemscar
First one absolutely; second one ask first, so they don't think you're trying to steal their groceries! Don't want to stress out gram & gramps.
GIF by moodman
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Into Action....
Dick Wolf Doctor GIF by Wolf EntertainmentGiphyWhen I was 14 I saved a mentally ill man's life on the bus while going to school. Apparently he was 45 years old but he had the mind of a 5 year old.
Anyway, we were on the bus and it stopped unexpectedly and he hit his head on a the corner of a step. I immediately jumped to him as the blood was gushing from his head and he was screaming.
I applied pressure on his with with my t-shirt while I told another passenger to call an ambulance. I held his head on my lap while trying to comfort him. I remember his fearful eyes to this day. He was so scared, just like a child.
Luckily the hospital wasn't that far from where we were and they saved him.
The Exchange
One thing that comes to mind is something I did for an exchange student at my college. I was a freshman or sophomore, but it was the day of graduation for seniors. This student had their sister and mother come to our Midwest town to see the ceremony. The student had lived in the dorms (like I did. Most exchange students do that even if they are older) so he wanted to bring his family to eat at the dining hall to show them where he had been eating the semester/year.
They were denied entry for silly reasons that the dining center has which, basically, sums up to you have to go to our student union to pay for meals ahead of time and you cannot just pay cash. The language barrier was present and it was more complicated by the fact the worker was saying things like "you normally could pay through the student union" except now they couldn't because it was the last day everything was open. Anyway, I had guest meals left over and I used them on the family. They were very kind, introduced themselves, and thanked me profusely.
I felt really good about it and ever since then I have tried to do kind things for people. First it started to show people that people from the US aren't a**holes, but then I realized we all have so much kindness to give. I always hate saying good things I do because I never want to seem like I'm tooting my own horn or whatever, but the anonymity of the Internet is helpful and I love reading everyone else's responses.
The Wanderer
A distant neighbor suffers from dementia. Was walking my dog near midnight and met him walking down the middle of the road. Asked if he was ok and he said he didn't know where he was. Told him and he said I live there. Escorted him home to find his front door wide open. Had a quick check to make sure it was ok and got him to lock the door when I left. Passed info onto the carers to be told his family know he wanders. Crazy.
Pay it Forward
Drive Through Music Video GIF by HansonGiphyI love to pay for the car behind me at drive-thru's.
Then they order 1000 chicken nuggets.
The Cougars....
I had a customer that would call Tech Support just to talk to me. She was an older lady and obviously lonely. She would have me setup her remote control or something random just to keep me on the phone. We were timed on our calls, so I would all her back over and over so that it didn't mess up my call time or my coworkers.
At another job I had, Mrs. Penny would come play the slots. After getting her change one day, she started waving me down when she was there, and would tell me that the machines next to her were too dirty to play and that they needed cleaning. We would sit there talking while she played and I 'cleaned' machines for her. She would also slip me a $10 or something, pinching my butt while sticking the bill in my pocket. She was a really sweet old lady with some crazy stories about her life.
When in Vegas....
Once in while in Vegas, I was down in the dungeon arcade at the Excalibur. I won something like 50K tickets on a Monopoly game. I was giving away stacks of them to every little kid who walked by. Not life changing, perhaps, but the kids were all pretty happy about it.
Being Spared.
A single mom I didn't know was locked out of her apartment by accident--and she didn't have her phone with her. So, I let her use my phone to try to contact our rental management company. After unsuccessfully trying to contact the management company, I then drove her to the management company's office, waited while she got a spare key, and they drove her back to the apartment complex.
Reaching....
season 1 books GIF by PortlandiaGiphyProbably pales in comparison to some here but nothing makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside like getting something from a high shelf for an elderly shopper.
Snowflakes
Not me, but rather something a stranger did for me. last year I was snowkiting (like kiteboarding but instead of water it's a frozen lake) with my father. in the afternoon I went in for lunch but my dad stayed out. after about only 10 minutes or so I look out at the lake and can't see my dad. After calling him multiple times he called me and told me he had crashed really bad about 2 kilometers off the shore. I couldn't run out there in time so I went up to some random guy with a snowmobile and asked him if he could drive me out.
He did and got to my dad first and started asking him a bunch of questions about his pain and his arm. I soon learned he was a local fireman and knew how to make my dad as comfortable as possible. he took my dad and me back. My father had a severely dislocated and broken shoulder as well as multiple arm breaks. without that random guy that would have been a much worse day.
Push
Art Helping GIF by Libby VanderPloegGiphyI helped a woman who had a broken leg and crutches she was trying to push her shopping cart back to her car and was having difficulties so I pushed her cart for her plus I helped stabilize a girl who had a seizure on the bus I have epilepsy so I knew what was happening.
Miss Laney....
cat GIF by sheepfilmsGiphyShe'll never know what I did, but:
When Miss Laney, our elderly neighbor across the street from where I grew up died, I found a loving home for her beloved black & white cat, Tompkins. (I think I was nearly as fond of that cat as she was.)
Tompkins was her sole companion. So it was especially urgent to provide for him, knowing how important he was to Miss Laney.
A Place to Cry.
Got a hotel room for a lady and her kid that I came across at a gas station. The cops were there and a tow truck, apparently they'd been sleeping in the car in the parking lot and the owners wanted them gone, but the lady was crying saying they had nowhere else to go, it was her and a little toddler. I got her a reservation at a cheap hotel close by for a couple nights, I was a broke teenager at the time so I couldn't give any more than that.
dog by his side the whole time.....
There was a local homeless man and his dog that used to walk by my job. Every so often I'd stop and give him a ride to the store/gas station. While talking to him I found out he was a veteran and he couldn't get his vet benefits due to his homelessness. So I set up a tent in the yard and helped him file for his benefits and he used my address.
He lived in that tent with his dog for 4 weeks then after he got his check we found him a small home to rent and I bought him all the stuff he needed for his kitchen,bath,bedroom etc. He lived there for 3 months before his mental health issues kicked in and he went back to living on the streets.... dog by his side the whole time.
Older Kids.
today hugs GIFGiphyAdult adoption. She woke up from a coma at 25 with no family and the mind of an 8 year old. My daughter now and doing well. Working on statistics and world history now. I have hopes for her to go to a good college in a few years. She smiles often is kind to elders and children has a love for electronic repair.
Scared of fireworks and groups of people but these things take time. Likely some latent PTSD but I'm not so want to diagnose anything. Time can heal a lot of wounds. Just came back from a shopping spree mooning over a stack of dresses right now.
$500
I was standing in line at the grocer's customer service desk behind a young man. He was turning in $100 that he had just found. Someone had left the money in the automated checkout machine after getting cash back, but they must have forgotten it. I heard him saying he could really use the money at the moment, but if he had forgotten that kind of cash he hoped someone would also turn it in.
I skipped going up to the customer service desk and followed the kid out to the car park, praised him for his honesty and gave him $500 because I could afford it. I've never before or since witnessed that level of honesty from someone who clearly needed even that small sum, so it was worth doing.
breaking bread....
I had dinner with a homeless man.
This was when I was a broke college student. While sitting at the laundromat a guy came in and tried to sell each person this kind of strange red jacket. He wasn't pushy, just offered, was told no thanks, and went on to the next person. After running out people he sat down quietly in the corner, it was cold and rainy outside so I think he just wanted to warm up.
I was wrapping up my laundry so as I headed out I asked if he needed something to eat. He was a bit reluctant but admitted he hadn't had much to eat that day.
I hadn't had dinner so I asked if he wanted to get a burger. We went to a Burger King, I paid for the meals and spent a half hour talking, mostly about nothing in particular.
He appreciated the food, but he seemed pretty surprised that I sat down to eat with him. People had given him some things but I don't think anyone really spoke with him much. Maybe it gave him a little bit of dignity he didn't normally get.
The Tab.
Worked in a restaurant and had a table that ran their tab up to $250. In the US, 20% is typically what happy customers tip if their overall experience was enjoyable. These folks left cash on the table and took off. When I opened the check presenter I realized they left $400 composed of 4 x $100 bills, all new bills kinda stuck together.
Figured they only meant to leave $300 so I ran out and found them, informed them of their error, gave em back $100 and thanks them for their tip.
They came back the next day to sit in my section and tipped me 20% which I took as their way of saying thanks.
All the Way there....
driving jon hamm GIFGiphyNot quite a stranger, but very close.
I had a co-worker who I didn't really know at all, but one day he was really upset because his mother was in the hospital and probably dying and he had no way to get to her in time. So I drove him 800 miles each way.
Pass Along.
I pass musical instruments on to kids who want to learn. I play several different things professionally, so frequently when I upgrade I need to clear some space. Rather than selling the old model, I try to pair it up with a kid who wants to learn. It's so much easier to learn on a real instrument than the dreck that is marketed toward beginners and parents.
And now I've made it such a part of what I do, I actually get donations from people of instruments they no longer play. It's sort of become a thing.
Basics.
unh hug GIF by University of New HampshireGiphyA few years back, when I was a student, I was behind someone in a queue for the checkouts. They had some basic groceries, nothing fancy. Their card got declined and they tried another but it didn't work. They had to take a few things out of their shopping to afford it.
The awkwardness was tangible in the air and I felt bad someone couldn't afford the basics so I tapped my card on the reader. I think I only had about £50 left for a month myself so I had hesitated at first but I knew I'd get by. People made a big deal about how generous and kind an act it was which was quite embarrassing to be honest.
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