Random Acts of Kindness- What are your experiences?

cazzer22

Today, I went to the local post office to collect a winter jacket I ordered and was really happy to get it. When I left I put my wallet and a few other bits on the roof as I was getting into the car. I drove off, crossed the N81 and parked up in Blackrock village, (a five minute ish drive.) As I was parking I did a sharp U-Turn to get another space. I noticed a bus driver flashing me and a taxi driver, also. Naturally, I was wondering what the hell was going on. I saw the taxi driver running behind me in the rear view mirror. I pulled in and he was holding my wallet (still on the roof of my car)- how I have NO idea.

I was so frazzled and didn't even realise it was gone. I went down and thanked him and offered him a coffee (I was just heading into Starbucks) he politely said he was alright. I decided I'd grab him one anyway and I got him a cookie as well. He was thrilled and it was such a nice thing for him to do because I would've been absolutely lost without bank cards etc. Faith in taxi drivers and humanity restored.

So, has anyone ever experience a random act of kindness by a stranger and have you done something nice for them in exchange?

hollster2

I was in Dublin one day did some shopping and I brought the kids to Mc Donalds on my way there was so many homeless people, one older man caught my eye as I walked past he was eating a dirty bit of bread, so when we were finished I ordered him a large meal and drink and my kids gave it to him, the look on his face was priceless and it made me feel great and my kids!

fedor.2.

hollster2 wrote: »

I was in Dublin one day did some shopping and I brought the kids to Mc Donalds on my way there was so many homeless people, one older man caught my eye as I walked past he was eating a dirty bit of bread, so when we were finished I ordered him a large meal and drink and my kids gave it to him, the look on his face was priceless and it made me feel great and my kids!

He was probably starving again 20 mins later.

hollster2

fedor.2. wrote: »

He was probably starving again 20 mins later.

thats good one

cazzer22

fedor.2. wrote: »

He was probably starving again 20 mins later.

Or maybe he was lovin' it? Sorry, too cheesy?

Sweet Rose

I had 2 today, I had a really lucky day.

I was in Dunnes getting some nappies for my baby. The lady ahead of me in the queue had one of the spend over €50 and get €10 off your shopping vouchers. She had already used one voucher so she gave me her spare. It meant I could pick up another packet of nappies for free. I was so grateful to her as I'm very tight on cash at the minute.

I was in another shop today and I was picking up some clothes for my daughter. I had exactly €20 on my card left but what I picked up came to over €23 (I had calculated it wrong) so I asked the cashier to take one item off so it would bring the amount to under €20. It was only when I got home that I realised she had put the item in the bag and not charged me for it.

I love kind people but I do honestly believe that what goes around, comes around

hollster2

Sweet Rose wrote: »

It was only when I got home that I realised she had put the item in the bag and not charged me for it.

I love kind people but I do honestly believe that what goes around, comes around

now thats lovely what a nice person!

Simonigs1.0

I gave a homeless man €20 instead of €10. There were two tenner notes rolled together so I didn't notice. I only realised after 15 minutes when I looked in my wallet, I didn't ask for it back.

So, in a way, a random act of kindness, just unintentional.

The Backwards Man

Fell asleep on a PATH train from Manhattan to Jersey City at four in the morning(jet lag's a bitch:p), woke up in Newark by the conductor, just me and a homeless guy riding the train for the night.

The conductor was going off shift so he drove me back to Journal Square and took the homeless guy home with him. Maybe he was a psychopathic murderous sexual deviant, who knows, but I like to see the good in people.

Mint Aero

I was in a club and tried me dab hand at pulling what I thought was the fittest bird there. She shot me down. Suddenly a totally hotter bird came up to me and said not to worry, you can have me tonight, on the house.

Fell of the roof and broke my ankle. Made off with 10 nurses while in hospital.

The Backwards Man

Mint Aero wrote: »

I was in a club and tried me dab hand at pulling what I thought was the fittest bird there. She shot me down. Suddenly a totally hotter bird came up to me and said not to worry, you can have me tonight, on the house.

Fell of the roof and broke my ankle. Made off with 10 nurses while in hospital.

Have you ever considered a career in comedy?

Please don't

AlanS181824

I can't really think of any that's happened to me in the last while.

I always like to give someone else my parking ticket if I'm done with it and there's loads of time left on it.

Little things like that, brightening someone's day.

Mint Aero

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Have you ever considered a career in comedy?

Please don't

No I haven't. Have you?

Lalealea

I am the kindness fairy. I like to throw a sparkle bomb and run. Stealth is my trade mark. You'll never see it.

I just moved both my neighbours bins so stuff does not get ****ed around in the wind. Shi#t's getting real out there.

I look after strays sometimes. I sometimes do housework or odd things for friends or neighbours especially if they have kids.

Someone gave me a lift today with the weather being so bad.Life saver.

It's nice to be nice :-)

toastedpickles

Yep, was at the local garage one day filling the car and it was spilling rain, I noticed this old man out in it trying to change his wheel so i ran over offered to help and told him to go sit in my car and ill have it done in no time as the jack he had was no good and collapsed, so 5 minutes later, new wheel on and good as new, i was drenched, but the smile on yer mans face and how grateful he was made it worth it

The Backwards Man

Mint Aero wrote: »

No I haven't. Have you?

Alas no.

The risks of people dying from laughter are too great.

Witchie

One of my best friends is a carer for her very infirm mother. She doesn't get out much but takes her mum into town to shop and go for a coffee a few times a week. Her mum is pretty much in a vegetative state but seems to enjoy a latte or a milkshake so my friend makes it part of their routine. I join them as often as I can coz it is basically her only social outlet.

Anyhow they go to the same coffee shop all the time and the girls in there know us well. One day my friend ordered her usual and paid and sat down. One of the staff came over and gave her money and my friend thought that she must have forgotten to get her change but the waitress said that some man had left money with them one day to pay for my friend and her mother's coffee.

I think it is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done and has put such a spring in my friend's step to see that people have noticed how good she is to her mum. Help's that we have since figured out who did it and he is a hot piece of stuff and my friend and him have started chatting a bit so it all brings some colour into her rather dull life.

Lalealea

Witchie wrote: »

One of my best friends is a carer for her very infirm mother. She doesn't get out much but takes her mum into town to shop and go for a coffee a few times a week. Her mum is pretty much in a vegetative state but seems to enjoy a latte or a milkshake so my friend makes it part of their routine. I join them as often as I can coz it is basically her only social outlet.

Anyhow they go to the same coffee shop all the time and the girls in there know us well. One day my friend ordered her usual and paid and sat down. One of the staff came over and gave her money and my friend thought that she must have forgotten to get her change but the waitress said that some man had left money with them one day to pay for my friend and her mother's coffee.

I think it is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done and has put such a spring in my friend's step to see that people have noticed how good she is to her mum. Help's that we have since figured out who did it and he is a hot piece of stuff and my friend and him have started chatting a bit so it all brings some colour into her rather dull life.

That's lovely!

I also think suspended coffees are a great idea. I wish more places would do them!

fleet_admiral

A very elderly neighbour of mine got sky hd in as a gift from her grandkids but they didnt set it up. My next door neighbour asked me to have a look at it for her and go through it with her.
I set it up and she literally only wanted rte 1 and 2 to see her soaps and the news. The look on her face when she saw brian dobson had me all warm inside, she was delighted

Mint Aero

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Alas no.

The risks of people dying from laughter are too great.

That's good then

madmaggie

I was in the multi-story carpark in Kilkenny, ready to pay for my ticket, but no cash at all. An elderly couple came up and paid for it, said it was their good deed for the day.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Mint Aero wrote: »

That's good then

Stop ruining a decent thread, man!

Pumpkinseeds

I tried to advise someone on how best to help their sick kitten, I got a load of abuse from their family and some fat knac*er friend of theirs who then threatened to set a dog on me. That kitten will soon be going back to the rescue it came from.

EoghanIRL

Mint Aero wrote: »

I was in a club and tried me dab hand at pulling what I thought was the fittest bird there. She shot me down. Suddenly a totally hotter bird came up to me and said not to worry, you can have me tonight, on the house.

Fell of the roof and broke my ankle. Made off with 10 nurses while in hospital.

Ebola , cured it .

Summer wind

Finished my shift at work at 5am one winters morning and got to my car to find it frozen solid. I was driving a Toyota starlet at the time and it had a choke that you had to pull out to get it going. This had to be timed fairly well cos if it was left out too long the engine would flood and you had to wait about ten minutes and start over again.

I'd just sat in and was cursing myself for not buying de-icer spray when somebody else on my shift came over and sprayed loads of de-icer on my window screen. Then they moved on to the rest of the cars parked round and sprayed them too. I thought it was a really nice thing to do and I never did find out who they were:)

Witchie

Summer wind wrote: »

Finished my shift at work at 5am one winters morning and got to my car to find it frozen solid. I was driving a Toyota starlet at the time and it had a choke that you had to pull out to get it going. This had to be timed fairly well cos if it was left out too long the engine would flood and you had to wait about ten minutes and start over again.

I'd just sat in and was cursing myself for not buying de-icer spray when somebody else on my shift came over and sprayed loads of de-icer on my window screen. Then they moved on to the rest of the cars parked round and sprayed them too. I thought it was a really nice thing to do and I never did find out who they were:)

De-iceman cometh.

Voodoomelon

Two in one week; I was filling up my car at the pumps and there was an African chap trying frantically at least 10-15 times to start his car after filling up, with no joy. There was a queue of cars waiting for his spot and not one person got out of their car to help. So I abandoned my pump and pushed his car off the forecourt by myself.

And on Saturday, the same bollox from other people, in that a chap had broken down in front of me in a queue whilst waiting on a red light, he stuck his hazards on and put two helpless hands out his window. I got out of the car in traffic and asked him what the problem was and the car was completely dead. As we were on a very steep hill I couldn't push it by myself so asked the lady in the car behind if she would help me push him. Not a chance. Asked the lady behind her, same thing. Looked back at the queue of 15 cars and all I saw were sheepish looking faces (everyone could see up the hill) so had to tell the chap no one wants to help. He said to drive around him and he'd slowly roll it back down the hill (god knows how). After double checking with him I went on my way, only so much you can do by yourself.

travis1976

Witchie wrote: »

De-iceman cometh.

Witchie, that is vey good. I lol'd. In front of my boss:( who thought I was looking at a spreadsheet.

the evasion_kid

When I was homeless and dumpster diving to eat,a random old woman came up to me and slipped me 20 euros.....I ate well that day!

kylith

I was collecting the tokens for discounted stuff in a shop and when the woman at the next till heard me ask for them she asked for some too and then she gave me hers. Thanks, nice lady!

kingchess

".I have always relied on the kindness of strangers".

ianobrien

I was leaving Wilton Shopping Centre a few months ago when I noticed the car next to me at the Sarsfield Rd exit had a large tin of infant formula left on the roof. After attracting their attention I explained that they left some shopping on the roof. The wife/partner jumped out to grab it and laughed when she saw it. The male driver got very sheepish when he realised what it was.

I got a thumbs up from the male so that was my small good deed. They were worried at the start when I was attracting their attention as there was a bloke blowing the horn and pointing at them and pointing up.....

GoldenTickets

Witchie wrote: »

De-iceman cometh.

I signed in just to thank this. Brilliant

Lalealea

GoldenTickets wrote: »

I signed in just to thank this. Brilliant

in so many ways ...met him as a very young kid ...lovely man

TheBrinch

toastedpickles wrote: »

Yep, was at the local garage one day filling the car and it was spilling rain, I noticed this old man out in it trying to change his wheel so i ran over offered to help and told him to go sit in my car and ill have it done in no time as the jack he had was no good and collapsed, so 5 minutes later, new wheel on and good as new, i was drenched, but the smile on yer mans face and how grateful he was made it worth it

Was sure you were going to say he stroked your car and left you in the rain

I once stopped my car in finglas to help a black man who was being beaten by a few lads, I was from the area so knew they were only chancers. When He got into my car (and he was apprehensive) I let him hold a scarf I had on the back seat to his face to stop all the bleeding. I drove him to his house in town, where all his friends helped him and brought him to hospital!!

two days later it was mentioned in the paper because of a spate of racism attacks. apparently he made a statement and it's recorded by the hospital and guards! and that really is a true story, happened about 16 yrs ago.

don't think id do it now though, society changing all the time etc, sad but true.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

rusty cole wrote: »

I once stopped my car in finglas to help a black man who was being beaten by a few lads, I was from the area so knew they were only chancers. When He got into my car (and he was apprehensive) I let him hold a scarf I had on the back seat to his face to stop all the bleeding. I drove him to his house in town, where all his friends helped him and brought him to hospital!!

two days later it was mentioned in the paper because of a spate of racism attacks. apparently he made a statement and it's recorded by the hospital and guards! and that really is a true story, happened about 16 yrs ago.

don't think id do it now though, society changing all the time etc, sad but true.

Most definitely you would not. You'd catch Ebola.

How Soon Is Now

The Cunning Linguist wrote: »

Most definitely you would not. You'd catch Ebola.

Haha! *In the laugh of Jimmy Carr*

jack of all

I was at the payment machine in an underground carpark struggling to pay for my parking as the machine wouldn't accept the worn fiver I had (the only money I had on me). I was really annoyed as I'd had a sh*t day in work and I was in a hurry to pick my kids up from the child minders. The man waiting behind me gave the €4 and said "don't worry about it, it's only money"- well it made my day, it cheered me up so much and restored my faith in humanity! I saw another individual in a similar predicament the following week and did the same for him.

I was waiting in an outdoor carpark another day when I saw the parked car in front of me start to roll away, ever so slowly. I hopped out of my own car and ran over the the other vehicle which was beginning to pick up a bit of momentum. The drivers door was open so I hopped in and applied the handbrake. I didn't wait around for the owner to return but he must have got a surprise when he found his car in the middle of the circulation lane!

On another occasion I was waiting in Busaras with my wife and the 3 kids for a bus which was running late. The children were well behaved but were getting a little restless after a long day in town. Out of the blue a lovely lady came over with 3 bags of sweets for the chiuldren as she said "they were so good"! It's the little things that can make a day!

osarusan

Had been in the country about 3 days and was completely lost looking for a building. Some guy took pity on me, looked at my map, and took me where I needed to go - it was quite a walk too.

Was walking into town with my two kids. A teenage couple cycled past, then turned around and came back to us. They said my kids looked cute and they wanted to give them something, which turned out to be a free family entry to an amusement park that would have cost about 60-80 quid otherwise. She worked there and had one she didn't need.

cajonlardo

Several times people have handed me parking tickets with time left, that always makes me feel good.
Security lads in the hospital I have to go to regularly always get a parking space. They could just mind their own business but they go out of their way to take care of sick people and I respect them for it.

One day in very heavy rain, I was in my car and about to drive off. A really dodgy looking lad came up and knocked the window.
I thought " ah here we go" but for some reason I went ahead and wound it down. The best I expected was to be asked for "odds" and I was prepared for worse.
" Thats a really nice car bud" he said. I looked at him. He was drowned through to the skin and skin and bones is what he was. To be honest, I'd say he was a thorough Junkie.I've a son about his age. Looking at a human being shaking with cold and soaked right through just isn't right. So I asked him where he was going. It was a local rough estate. I told him to hop in and drove him up to his house. All the way he kept saying " Thats all anyone wants, just someone to do you a good turn now and then. Instead of everytime you go out the door someone kicks yer fcuking teeth in..." Dropped him to his door and he said " Just do one more thing for me. Beep the horn. I want everyone to see me getting out of this yoke."

magicmushroom

Lalealea wrote: »

I just moved both my neighbours bins so stuff does not get ****ed around in the wind. Shi#t's getting real out there.

After reading this the other day, I got home and someone had bought my bins in for me - haha, are you my neighbour?! If so, thank you

Sweet Rose

cajonlardo wrote: »

Several times people have handed me parking tickets with time left, that always makes me feel good.
Security lads in the hospital I have to go to regularly always get a parking space. They could just mind their own business but they go out of their way to take care of sick people and I respect them for it.

One day in very heavy rain, I was in my car and about to drive off. A really dodgy looking lad came up and knocked the window.
I thought " ah here we go" but for some reason I went ahead and wound it down. The best I expected was to be asked for "odds" and I was prepared for worse.
" Thats a really nice car bud" he said. I looked at him. He was drowned through to the skin and skin and bones is what he was. To be honest, I'd say he was a thorough Junkie.I've a son about his age. Looking at a human being shaking with cold and soaked right through just isn't right. So I asked him where he was going. It was a local rough estate. I told him to hop in and drove him up to his house. All the way he kept saying " Thats all anyone wants, just someone to do you a good turn now and then. Instead of everytime you go out the door someone kicks yer fcuking teeth in..." Dropped him to his door and he said " Just do one more thing for me. Beep the horn. I want everyone to see me getting out of this yoke."

That was so sweet of you to do, good job!

MRnotlob606

Some person I hardly know gave me a lift to my house yesterday and gave me Ice cream.

uch

I used to work as a Binman, I used to tear the Tokens off old cereal boxes for the local kids to get the free toys on offer, I was very popular at the time

cajonlardo

uch wrote: »

I used to work as a Binman, I used to tear the Tokens off old cereal boxes for the local kids to get the free toys on offer, I was very popular at the time

That makes me smile because when I was a child my Grandfather used to sweep the streets and did something like that. He used to collect all the club milk wrappers. At the time there was an offer of a Matchbox Garage and cars for a certain amount of wrappers, and there was something for the girls. He used to divide up the wrappers between all the grandkids and all of us got something for nothing

corner of hells

I work in Dublin city and was stopped by a homeless addict originally from the same area im from ,who asked me how my mother was , he'd heard from his own mother she had been diagnosed with cancer .

uch

corner of hells wrote: »

I work in Dublin city and was stopped by a homeless addict originally from the same area im from ,who asked me how my mother was , he'd heard from his own mother she had been diagnosed with cancer .

People forget Addicts/junkies are people too, I met my best mate from childhood on the street off his head once, but I was delighted as I was told 2 years earlier that he had died

Sesame

This was back in about 2004 I think. There was a flight going from Coventry to Cork for a while. Some small airline, it didn't last long.
I was working in London and the flights home for Christmas were outrageous and I had to work right up to the 23rd.
I booked a flight anyway from Coventry because it was the cheapest (life lesson learnt). I was young, first graduate job, new country.
To get to Coventry, I had to get a bus from Victoria bus station (I think it was there) at 3am on Christmas eve.
anyway, a kind relative dropped me to Victoria. I saw the bus but the door was closed on it, probably to keep the heat in so I stood outside waiting for the door to open.
Next thing, at 3am , the bus drove off. I felt sick to my stomach. I'll never forget the despair I felt. It was 3am in a dodgy part of London on my own on Christmas eve and no hope of getting home.
The next bus was at 4am to Birmingham.
I didn't have a clue what to do, so I went to the bus and asked the driver if Birmingham was anywhere near Coventry and could I transfer to another bus from Birmingham.
I can't remember the times of the flight but I was cutting it fairly fine.
He said yes, jump on. Nice fella, I'd actually remember him now if I passed him in the street as the memory was so traumatic at the time and vivid!
About two hours later, the driver announced to the passengers (about 20) that they were detouring to Coventry.

I didn't figure it out til then that he was bringing me there. I couldn't believe it. and he did and I made the flight home. It felt like I was in some cheesy Christmas movie.
Anyway, I had nothing to tip him and was a bit embarrassed about that. A couple of weeks later I wrote a letter to the National Express and described him. They replied to say they acknowledged it and he was rewarded somehow.
I'll never forget it and how his kindness may have put out his passengers but none of them complained either.

gramar

I was stopped by a couple of pilgrims (Camino de Santiago) who asked we where the hospital was. I told them to wait for me as I went up to get my keys and drove them there.

I tend to stop and pick people up. Rare enough to see it so when you do it's people that need a lift. Used to do it myself so I understand how much of a balls it is to be on the side of the road.

anncoates

uch wrote: »

I used to work as a Binman, I used to tear the Tokens off old cereal boxes for the local kids to get the free toys on offer, I was very popular at the time

For reason that made me think of trying to scut on the back of a bread van when I was a kid and the guy stopped the van and chased me off. I was walking away and heard a thump on the ground. It was a big iced loaf and I looked up and the guy was giving me the thumbs up.

God knows why I remembered that but I never forget it even 30 years later.