Acts of kindness

1945cruisequeen

Almost 4 years ago I had experienced a horrendous day looking after my mother and finally reached a point when I could not stand her playing me up any more and stormed out. I reached the lobby in floods of tears because I knew that I could not actually just leave her in anger but was at my wits end. (She was later diagnosed with vascular dementia which explained a lot). My mother's new neighbour, a young man who was temporarily housed there due to a fire in his own flat, then came into the building and asked what was wrong. I tearfully said that I was trying to cope with her behaviour and had just "lost it" and was feeling very guilty. He was so understanding and gave me a big hug and this enabled me to go back and make peace with my mother. As I had been alone for many years I had forgotten how good a genuine hug could make me feel. I still remember how much that small act of kindness helped me that night and when I feel really low I that memory still helps me through.

Trajal

1945cruisequeen wrote: »

Almost 4 years ago I had experienced a horrendous day looking after my mother and finally reached a point when I could not stand her playing me up any more and stormed out. I reached the lobby in floods of tears because I knew that I could not actually just leave her in anger but was at my wits end. (She was later diagnosed with vascular dementia which explained a lot). My mother's new neighbour, a young man who was temporarily housed there due to a fire in his own flat, then came into the building and asked what was wrong. I tearfully said that I was trying to cope with her behaviour and had just "lost it" and was feeling very guilty. He was so understanding and gave me a big hug and this enabled me to go back and make peace with my mother. As I had been alone for many years I had forgotten how good a genuine hug could make me feel. I still remember how much that small act of kindness helped me that night and when I feel really low I that memory still helps me through.

Absolutely love this one. So true that a hug can be the difference between feeling dreadful and feeling comforted. Think i'll go hug my wife now actually! *bit of a cuddlemonster*

jerez

it seems that the smallest act means a great deal. A few years ago when I was earning very little I went to the cash line to withdraw some money. I got a mini statement first and then added a £10 withdrawal as that was all that was in the bank. I was so distracted by the fact that I only had £10 left in the world that I walked away without the money.

I told the story to my family a few days later (made very light of it and didn't say that was the last of my dosh). The next day £10 appeared in the post from my minimum wage earning brother. Doesn't seem like much but it meant the world to me. He's the best in the world.

When I try to do an act of kindness it always seems to end up with me biting off more than I can chew. It always seems to involve finding someone semi-concious and drunk, picking them up off the pavement and ending up having to drag them to their homes which always seem to be miles away. They include an elderly and very drunk lady in a wheelchair who I gave my hat and scarf to as it was freezing and snowing. As I pushed her along she kept saying she lived just 'along there hen' which turned out to be about 1 mile away up a hill! I got my hat back although she kept the scarf.

schoolrunmum

Ha Jerez-that always seems to happen to me too !! Recently volunteered to have my husband repair a wheelbarrow at a local stables,as the lady that runs it is skint and couldn't afford to replace it. It won't fit in my car, so am having to find a mate with a car large enought to fit it in the boot....sorry I volunteered now! My husband wasn't to impressed at me trying to squeeze a horse !!!! covered barrow into my Jags leather interior either.....

I was on hols in Ibiza last year, and going shopping very early for the local market came across a (very drunk) English lad,lying in the full sun on a traffic island (!!!!!!?) in the middle of a busy dual carriageway. I checked he was breathing, then tried to wake him..he was REALLY drunk..he eventually opened his eyes and asked why I was in his hotel room....!!! Suggesting he take a look around himself, he was amazed to find he was in the middle of a busy road, not in his cozy hotel room! I went off to a shop and bought him a bottle of water, and sat with him for 20mins or so while he woke/sobered a little....made sure he knew where his hotel was, had all of his cash/cards etc and walked him to his hotel (well,staggered more like..).He probably wondered who the hell this intefering middle aged woman was, but I couldn't in all conciousness leave him in such a dangerous place, in the full glare of the sun..I kept thinking,what if that was MY son? I would want someone to look out for him...

jane-twin-mum

Aw this is a lovely thread.

I have had many great acts of kindness I am lucky to say:

I have a brain disorder which makes me..well not all together there at times. The other week I went to have my hair cut (a rare thing due to my health). I suffered a bad attack just after the hair dresser (who'd never met me before) cut the first strand. SO I started talking gibberish and proceeded to pull numerous medications out of my vast bag bolting them down rapidly.

The young girl never batted an eyelid, asked a few discreet questions and judged the best thing was for me to put my sunglasses on whilst she cut my hair as quicKly and quietly as possible. I gritted my teeth, paid and stumbled out. After spending 2 days in bed I then realised I hadn't tipped her for what was a great haircut and wonderfully kind service. I wrote a glowing email to head office and was told she had been commended to her manager etc.

I left my new phone in a shopping trolley and it was returned by a lovely man later that day who refused any reward saying he had seen the pics of my sons on there and knew what it was like to have young kids. Bless him.

Last week I left my debit card in the chip and pin machine and the couple behind whipped it out and came running after me to hand it back as I left the shop completely unaware.

I could go on and on..as you can see I am barely fit to be out :rotfl:

I have helped people in similar ways myself so I like to think there is some karma out there too.

Jane (..have I turned the grill off??)

jimimi

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Quick update on the plight of Hospital bear, has a card left by Royal Mail today addressed to my daughter, so looks like he's home! Going to pick her up from nursery soon and take her to the post office so she can pick him up herself

That's so sweet of the Space Centre. Your girls are beautiful by the way, really cute.

madtam

I wish the media would report a few more of these stories rather than the downbeat stuff that seems to be there main focus.

A few years back, my wife broke down one evening on a quietish country road in the Dales. Fortunately the vehicle was covered by a breakdown service and she was able to call them out to pick her up. She was able to advise that since a pulley had spun off damaging the alternator shaft and losing the nut it was going to be a roadside repair.
The breakdown Co. advised about a 60 minute wait before they could get a truck out and it had just gone dark so my wife was on her own. Fortunately at that moment a couple in an old RangeRover pulled up alongside and having checked she was OK and that it wasn't a fixable problem (the guy was an auto electrician so offered to help if possible) they said they would wait to make sure she was OK. They pulled in and basically just waited for about an hour until the breakdown truck arrived and started to load the vehicle on the back. I partly put it down to being a Land Rover thing as my wife was in our old Discovery, but both she and I were grateful for the simple thought and action, as it's a bit lonely for a single woman at the side of an unlit country road at night.

I try to do my bit and have stopped to change a flat tyre on a lone womans car, and a couple of winters ago towed another woman out of a verge and up a hill after she had slid on ice and snow. The police weren't able to get to her and were only able to cone off the section of road at both ends as dangerous.
To be honest, towing people out when stuck in snow is a bit of a given as I still have a Land Rover and this barely counts as an act of kindness because it's just automatic, the same as holding doors open for other people and saying please and thank you etc.

newyearnewme_2

I work by a tourist attraction and now inspired by this thread) when I see people taking photos I will now ask if they want me to take one for them instead of witing to be asked and people are so grateful to be able to have a group photo it really is lovely.

Aesop

my SD was going back home today, she got to the train station 2 mins late and had just missed her train.

She stood at the station crying and saying she didn't have the money to buy another ticket. The guard asked her what had happened. She explained had been visiting Dad, left an hour ago to catch the train and got here due to delays on train and missed it.

He checked her oyster card, found she was telling the truth, the journey should have only taken 45 mins, it took them an hour, and offered to put her on the next train for free :beer:

one happy SD and :T:T:T:T to the guard at the train station, you made her day! :A

lisainglasgow

I like to give out random acts of kindness when I can - using an all day ticket on the tube or the bus and passing it on to someone else when I have finished. I also recently gave a handbag of mine to my work frined - I don't use it and she had coveted it so I gave it to her and she sent me a lovely email. She has often bought me lunch etc in the past so I wanted to do something nice for her.
I have given No7 vouchers to our receptionists as I always get too many!
My sister and I found a purse on a bench when we were younger - got a box of chocolates for that - very exciting!
The biggest thing I have found was when I was browsing in Habitat and I saw a small Space NK bag on the floor. It had creams in it and a reciept for almost £400! I was skint at the time but I didn't think it would be right to keep it, but I didn't think handing it into Habitat would be a good idea either, so I went to Space NK and explained the situation. Turned out it was a customer's Christmas presents. They were lovely and gave me loads of samples for some lovely products which I gave to my sisters as part of their Christmas presents.
There is a lady who works in Boots who is so nice and always goes the extra mile for me so I will get her a little something for Christmas this year - but not from Boots!