The gravity of a kind act is in the beholder.
Despite the constant barrage of horrifying incidents and hateful actions spewed by the media day in and day out, we must remember that there are some really wonderful people out here.
And they are building community with their neighbors all over the place.
Fortunately, for those kind strangers, a small selfless act isn't a big deal. They do it without thinking about it. Truly, they can't not do the morally good deed.
But when we are on the receiving end, that small moment of kindness can feel gigantic. Whether it's the timing or the tone, it really can feel like the most important event that could've happened.
Some Redditors gathered to describe the times they were blown away by a small good deed that came just at the right moment.
astridius asked, "What is the most selfless thing someone is unaware they did for you?"
Some people recalled the times when some stranger brought a sudden sense of serenity and composure following a scary accident.
Despite injury and destruction, these people maintained their calm, and even passed it along.
Still Selfless
"I was driving and hit another car. He was stopped to turn and I simply wasn't paying attention. I rear-ended his car at about 30 miles per hour. Set off my cars air bags. I managed to pull over to the side, he completed his turn. I was in shock and blundered right into the highway."
"He ran out, pulled me to safety and as I'm sobbing and apologizing, he just gave me a big hug and kept telling it's ok, we're ok, cars can be fixed. He was so sweet and calm when I was a complete mess."
"Found out from my co-worker a week later, the gentlemen I hit had lost his wife to cancer the week before."
"Just....wow."
Prioritizing the Right Things
"My daughter has a progressive neurological issue that is slowly taking away her right side. A few years ago, when she was 12 and could still ride a bike, we were riding to a place to watch fireworks on the 4th of July."
"She was struggling to ride and was somewhat unsteady and couldn't make quick moves. We weren't riding far. As she was riding by a new Mini Cooper, she was struggling to keep her bike straight and her handle bar hit the side view mirror of the guys Mini."
"He was in the car and and just smiled and waved us on saying everything was fine. I think he had a sense that my daughter had to work extra hard to ride her bike. After we moved out of the way, I went to thank the guy but he drove off."
"I know she broke the glass on his mirror, I heard it. I'll never forget the guys face and how compassionate and understanding he was."
-- macva99
The Right House To Crash In Front Of
"I once crashed while riding a very small bike down an incredibly steep hill. A very big, very steep hill. I got some gravel in my knee, and I just yelled 'FU**!' Over and over again."
"The people who lived in he house I had just crashed in front of came out and asked me if I was okay, I tried to tell them I was fine, it just hurt. So the wife that lived here says 'don't worry, I'm a nurse. I can get that gravel out for you.' And then she proceeds to pick out all of this gravel from my leg, bandage it, and tell me to be more careful."
"Lady if you're out there, never stop being this person. I think about you whenever I have a chance to help someone else out."
-- Garagairas
Other people provided an environment of supportive community at exactly the right time. From humans to animals, they were forces of good that interrupted a particularly dark time.
Another Way
"When i was in grade 3 my teacher invited me to have dinner with her and her family. My family life was not good. I never had a dad. My mom is an alcoholic (She has been sober now for 30 years)."
"I did not know what a normal family was like until that dinner and night at her house. It was just so calm and stable. I remembered that day like it was yesterday. It was almost 40 years ago. It made me realize that there was another way to exist."
-- Fiascoe
Cutting Through to the Humanity
"I have a genetic condition that makes me look rather awful. People are often uncomfortable around me. I get it, totally - but still, it hurts."
"One night, I was a church activity, and they told everyone that they could go target shooting (I know....weird). That's not my thing, and so I just stayed by the campfire. After everyone left, a girl stayed there with me and just talked."
"As we were talking, a few bugs came and landed on my face, and she brushed them away - like it was the most normal thing in the world. People never touch me at all - or at least not without fear."
"I know that is not really doing much - but I think that she must have gone through a lot in her life - in order to be around someone like me, and not be afraid."
"It's been years since that happened, and I still get that ache in the throat just thinking about it."
-- beyondwhatis
A Trusted Reprieve
"My friend's parents feeding me and letting me stay the night at their homes, even on school nights when sh** was getting crazy at my house."
"Maybe they were aware, but they never let me know."
-- [deleted]
The Family She Chose
"My mother in law's kindness and ability to be a mother figure and friend. My family is very fu**ed up and abused me, hence why my husband took me away from it and married me. Having a family that actually loves me means the world to me."
"He doesn't realize that having a mother that worries about him and loves him is something that he shouldn't take for granted."
-- MasterAqua2
A Caring Dog, a Patient Owner
"I was having a really bad depressive episode and this man and their dog were walking down the street. I was waiting for my food and considering just walking saying fuck it and walking down to one of the bridges on the river."
"The mans dog was walking with her leash dragging on the floor, and she came up to me and sat down on my feet and looked up at me and refused to move for about 5 minutes."
"I don't know if the man realized I needed this or what, but he didn't say or do anything as I stood there crying and petting his dog."
"When the dog decided she was done, she got up and they walked off and I never saw them again."
-- rizcriz
Perfect Timing
"When I was 20 I had to have major surgery and was facing a life with a chronic illness. When I was home recovering a friend came by and put me in her car and took me on a random drive down to the beach and just all over."
"It was so relaxing and healing for my mind. I'm a grandparent now and have had challenges but have been fine and I'll never forget what she did. Thank you Marie."
And some people recalled the people whose moment of selflessness was the spark that lead to a serious development in life. The moment itself may have seemed minor, but it was required for a much more significant snowball to begin rolling.
Igniting a Passion
"In 5th grade, we were forced to learn the plastic recorder. Our music teacher was nice and taught us the basics and like 3 or 4 notes. Since they were so cheap, he let all the students keep them at the end of the year"
"The teacher probably thought it was nothing and was probably just following orders, but unbeknownst to him, that changed my life. I was so happy to take it home and wanted to learn everything musically possible on this plastic instrument that probably only cost a few cents."
"I took band and orchestra the next year and kept picking up new instruments. So far, I've picked up about 8 instruments, with my current favorite being ukulele. I've also gotten into songwriting."
"I had no interest in music before the recorder, and though it's a squeaky, annoying instrument, I don't think I would've found my love of music without it. I still have the original recorder my teacher let me keep as a reminder, so thanks Teach."
-- PhotoSky2021
Passing On Memory
"After my kitten passed away at the end of August, I uploaded a video tribute to her. Some wonderful human being replied and told me they had a pregnant cat that looked just like her and that one of the kittens would be named in her honor."
"The person came back a couple months ago to leave another comment saying the kitten named after mine was alive and well."
"Honestly pulled me out of a deep pit of depression and self-loathing (I blamed myself for my kitten falling ill to begin with)."
"Ramieverse, if you ever see this, thank you so much. You need to tell me more about how Sabrina's doing and what she's like. ❤"
Showing Belief
"I had a professor in community college who encouraged me to continue my studies and was very complimentary of my work. I eventually transferred to a 4 year college and earned two graduate degrees."
"I went back years later to tell him of my success and thank him, but was greeted by his successor who told me the teacher died. I just broke down sobbing and left."
Close to Quitting
"One time I woke up late again for work, and on this day it was the straw I had been looking for. I decided to just quit my job. Texted my supervisor to say I was sorry for my record and that I was resigning."
"Supervisor showed the big boss. Big boss said no, I was too good of a worker to lose."
"He said if I came in the next day, he would move my shift to a more manageable time and keep me working. I was so caught off by this guy caring, and that I didn't even know knew my name, that I went in the next day and didn't follow through with my plans."
"Nowadays, I'm in a much better head space and am so thankful for him. He saved my life and he has no idea."
-- NoKnfePizza
It Only Took Two Words
"I was severely depressed at that time and I was sitting outside in the veranda on a bench when my 4 year old cousin came and stood on the bench and just hugged me."
"I asked her what are you doing and she replied, 'maya korchi' which means 'showing you love.' I still think about it when I am feeling down."
-- nerdywiz009
Saved More Lives Than One
"Someone donated their kidney when they died and they allowed me to be healthy enough to have and rise my son."
"He just turned 21."
Close Call
"after i was rescued from human trafficking i was in a safe house, one of the social workers when i moved out sent me a letter thanking me for being the reason she decided to pursue her career working with trafficking victims."
"She saved my life and has no idea."
A list like this is a good inspiration to think upon what we're grateful for. It can be helpful to comb through our past and recall the minor moments that turned out to be pretty huge.
Chances are, we all have a couple people like that.
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