Nicest thing a random person ever did for you.

ps3man · 21-04-2015 01:21AM #1

What is the nicest thing a random person has ever done for you?

A few months ago I got some terrible news about a family member, for whatever reason I went into work the next day. Obviously exhausted and showing signs that I had been crying a lot, a customer asked me what had happened, I explained that I had been in the hospital overnight, no sleep etc. She left the store and came back a few minutes later with a cup of tea and some chocolates. A small gesture but good god did it cheer me up.

The Backwards Man · 21-04-2015 01:30AM

Quite a few actually. Way too many to mention. The problem is we usually remember in a blink the cases where people have wronged us in some way, and the cases where people have gone out of their to help us get lost in the haze.

Human nature, it's a balls.

DareGod · 21-04-2015 01:46AM

My mother had a near-fatal accident last summer (well, it was actually fatal - she was thankfully resuscitated,) and she was unconscious in a bed in hospital overnight. I got the bus across the country and spent the night sitting in a chair alone beside her bed over night. As anyone would do. I was feeling pretty emotional about the whole thing. A young nurse came in to the dark room we were in, around 4am, to check on my mam and asked me if I'd like a cup of tea. I thanked her and said no, I'm okay. She insisted "Ah, ye will" and I smiled and said "No seriously I am okay thank you." She repeated "Ah no..." and she left the room. About five minutes she came back with a tray with tea and toast and biscuits for me. I nearly burst out crying there and then, ha!

Never underestimate the power of a tiny act of kindness. Any time a stranger has shown me even the tiniest bit of kindness towards me it has driven me almost to tears, I guess because it's usually been when I'm in a sad place. It should be encouraged more. The power it holds!

Dozer Dave · 21-04-2015 01:50AM

DareGod wrote: »

A young nurse came in to the dark room we were in, around 4am, to check on my mam and asked me if I'd like a cup of tea. I thanked her and said no, I'm okay. She insisted "Ah, ye will" and I smiled and said "No seriously I am okay thank you." She repeated "Ah no..." and she left the room. About five minutes she came back with a tray with tea and toast and biscuits for me. I nearly burst out crying there and then, ha!

Mrs Doyle the tea apprentice?

hairyslug · 21-04-2015 01:55AM

DareGod wrote: »

My mother had a near-fatal accident last summer (well, it was actually fatal - she was thankfully resuscitated,) and she was unconscious in a bed in hospital overnight. I got the bus across the country and spent the night sitting in a chair alone beside her bed over night. As anyone would do. I was feeling pretty emotional about the whole thing. A young nurse came in to the dark room we were in, around 4am, to check on my mam and asked me if I'd like a cup of tea. I thanked her and said no, I'm okay. She insisted "Ah, ye will" and I smiled and said "No seriously I am okay thank you." She repeated "Ah no..." and she left the room. About five minutes she came back with a tray with tea and toast and biscuits for me. I nearly burst out crying there and then, ha!

Never underestimate the power of a tiny act of kindness. Any time a stranger has shown me even the tiniest bit of kindness towards me it has driven me almost to tears, I guess because it's usually been when I'm in a sad place. It should be encouraged more. The power it holds!

I'm sitting in St vincents at the moment, I'm on one side of the bed, my sister on the other and my mother in the middle and this same thing just happened, nurses here really are fantastic

DareGod · 21-04-2015 01:55AM

Dozer Dave wrote: »

Mrs Doyle the tea apprentice?

At first I was a little bit irked that she wouldn't take no for an answer. But when she arrived with the tray full of tea and food........ here come the waterworks!!

Savage Tyrant · 21-04-2015 01:57AM

I was working night shift in a factory back in 2004 a week before Christmas when I received a phone call from my cousin who I was living with at the time to say that our Auntie had died in a house fire an hour or so previously. She had literally only moved home to her house a few days after staying with us for a few months while her house was renovated and we were all very close.
I just broke down in tears and slumped against a wall and sat down on the floor.... A few friends and factory manager were around but didn't really know what to say or do, or even know right at that second what the news I'd just got had been.
Then a big guy who I'd never even spoke 2 words to previous, big bald skinhead the size of the side wall of a house walked over off the factory line and sat beside me, put his arm around me and just hugged me. Said nothing but shared my grief right there without knowing me or the situation I had just found myself in.

Nucular Arms · 21-04-2015 02:04AM

When I was a kid I was playing a game where we were spinning around a roundabout and hanging on till you sort of floated parallel to the ground (don't ask me) when a kid smashed into me with his bicycle and took a two inch chunk of flesh out of my knee.

I only have really hazy memories of it, but I mostly remember some adult came out of nowhere and scooped me up and started carrying me in the direction of home. About halfway there we were met by my father as some of the other kids had run ahead to alert him and he took over the carrying duties.

I'll never forget that though. Mostly because you don't easily forget being able to see your own kneecaps.. but also for that guys automatic instinctual kindness.

Never saw him again and can't even remember his face. Shame really.

the evasion_kid · 21-04-2015 02:08AM

When I was sleeping rough in the states in a park,I was sitting on a park bench I noticed a guy there with his kids he sent them over to me to show me this mad tree frog they had found,anyhoo eventually he came over and said he'd seen me sleeping rough there,he gave me a watermelon one of those big 20kg ones....I hate watermelon but it always stuck out in my memory he didn't look like he had a whole lot himself..genuine nice guy

Robsweezie · 21-04-2015 02:19AM

I was in hospital having my appendix out a couple of days after falling ill on the day of my confirmation (weakness,pallor,vomiting,cold sweats ). My first major surgery and I took it in my stride. The six days I was in there felt like forever. However one day shortly after the surgery, I was feeling particularly weak, sore and sluggish, as I rose up from the bed to journey toward the toilet at the end of the corridor, a bit of an effort in my condition. A couple sat with their screaming child in the bed next to mine. The father of the child saw me struggling and walked over to help me reach the toilet. He walked with me at my own pace the whole way and back as well I think ,he made the whole ordeal of stumbling around trying not to burst my stitches all the more bearable. Probably tried to distract himself from his own infant son's plight. Hospitals are a terrible lonely place, especially on no visitor days. There was a sense in the ward that we were all in it together. I never forgot what he did. Some things just stick.

danslevent · 21-04-2015 02:45AM

I was working in a shop at the time. It was a really small shop so generally only one person would be working at a time. It was about five minutes until my co worker was coming to take over the shift when I got a phone call that my Dad had collapsed and was in hospital.

The shop was full of people browsing and I just entered auto pilot mode and started serving the man at the counter. Half way through the transaction I just burst into tears and hurriedly finished apologising saying I had just received bad news.

When my co worker arrived I just rushed into the stock room hyper ventilating and crying,on the verge of a panic attack. My co worker came in with a can of coke saying that the earlier customer and dropped it in,hoped I was Okay and drinking something might help.

It was such a small gesture but it really touched me and having something cold to drink helped calm me a bit.

eternal · 21-04-2015 03:53AM

I was living in central London but was well away from the centre one night and spent the day getting warped with my friend. Of course it seemed like a good idea to make it back to work. I got on the tube and something happened which caused difficulties and we were told to get buses to our destinations. This was very late at night and I didn't know where I was even. I managed to get a bus and somehow this complete stranger talked to me and asked me was I ok and enquired as where I was going so I told him. He went out of his way to make sure I was safe, walked me to the main bus area in London and stood with me until I got on the bus which landed right outside work. I honestly should not have been attempting to travel in that state and only for him I don't know what would have happened to me. He had this beautiful face with really blonde hair, I know it sounds stupid but I always remembered that as someone who cared enough to make an effort.

Depraved · 21-04-2015 04:56AM

2am in the middle of nowhere and the throttle cable on my motorbike snaps. Another motorcyclist was driving the same road, pulled over and spent the next hour helping to jerry-rig a new throttle cable.

The odds of anyone else driving on that road and at that time were remote. Yet this one guy was and was decent enough to stop and help.

I've had lots of good experiences with other motorcyclists. We tend to help each other out when we can. Something you don't get with car drivers.

anto9 · 21-04-2015 05:44AM

Another motorcycle story .Years ago i was a Motorcycle courier in London .One time travelling under the Themes River in a tunnell about half a mile long ,on the way to Docklands ,i skidded on a Diesel spill .An elderly woman driving alone stopped her car and put the hassard lights on .I was on the ground and could have been hit by following vehicles .She got out of her car and asked if i was ok .
Thats just one act of kindness that sticks in my mind 20 years later .

ROCKMAN · 21-04-2015 06:57AM

ok a bit off topic as I know the kind hearted person ,I'm very proud to call her my wife ,
Anyway, After reading on a chat forum a woman's blight in trying unsuccessfully find a toy (old and production had stopped) for her kid for Christmas. My wife visited all the toy shops and charity shops in our area and successfully located it , She then obtain the woman's address and posted it to her with no return address,name or anyway like that on the parcel. Just a little note hoping the woman had a wonderful Christmas.

.

Sheep Lover · 21-04-2015 06:58AM

Played with my tinky winky

anto9 · 21-04-2015 07:22AM

^For free ,or you paid ?

crazygeryy · 21-04-2015 07:28AM

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

I was working night shift in a factory back in 2004 a week before Christmas when I received a phone call from my cousin who I was living with at the time to say that our Auntie had died in a house fire an hour or so previously. She had literally only moved home to her house a few days after staying with us for a few months while her house was renovated and we were all very close.
I just broke down in tears and slumped against a wall and sat down on the floor.... A few friends and factory manager were around but didn't really know what to say or do, or even know right at that second what the news I'd just got had been.
Then a big guy who I'd never even spoke 2 words to previous, big bald skinhead the size of the side wall of a house walked over off the factory line and sat beside me, put his arm around me and just hugged me. Said nothing but shared my grief right there without knowing me or the situation I had just found myself in.

I'm sorry but are you male or female?
If your female it was sexual harassment and if your male he was making you his bitch.
I have trouble believing that story. Id say there isn't a person on the planet that would let a complete stranger hug them in that circumstance.

NSAman · 21-04-2015 07:40AM

I was 19 in New York for the first time and going for a job interview. I was on the wrong side of Central Park. I asked a woman at the bus stop hoe to get to the address. She told me to follow her on the bus that she was going in that direction. She paid for my bus fare (I had nothing) asked me where I was from and asked me what I was in NYC for. I told her I was new and was going for an interview in a store. She asked which store it was.

She told me that we had arrived and I departed the bus and thanked her for her kindness. I got the job. Started a few days later. A week later, I was working away, when the same woman appeared and asked for me by name. I was shocked, I was working on commission. She spent an absolute fortune in the store with me. I had to write up the sale at the same time she was telling the manager what an asset I was to the store. I will never forget that lady, she gave me hope and set me on my feet in the US.

anto9 · 21-04-2015 07:42AM

>>Id say there isn't a person on the planet that would let a complete stranger hug them in that circumstance. <<

em ,i would .

Red Kev · 21-04-2015 07:45AM

crazygeryy wrote: »

I'm sorry but are you male or female?
If your female it was sexual harassment and if your male he was making you his bitch.

No it isn't sexual harrassment. Don't talk bollox.

I have trouble believing that story. Id say there isn't a person on the planet that would let a complete stranger hug them in that circumstance.

Bull. I would. Guy wasn't a complete stranger, he worked there, so probably saw the poster around.

anncoates · 21-04-2015 08:11AM

As teenagers, myself and a friend spent all our money in town (as you often did) and set off on the long walk home, which used to take about 2.5 hours. Taxi driver pulled over beside us on the way home and asked us where we going. We told him we spent all our money and he said something like "Get fcuking in, yis eejits' and dropped us both home.

racso1975 · 21-04-2015 08:19AM

Posted here before about wallet being robbed and basically being cleared out for a week. Got some amazing pm offering all sort of assistance.

In real life prob cops who used their discretion in relation to road traffic offences

Michellenman · 21-04-2015 08:52AM

My car broke down in a filter lane a few years ago, blocking all traffic trying to turn left. I was only 20 or so and really panicking, Everyone was beeping, nothing I did would get the car to turn over. Two lads stopped and helped me push it in to the side of the road, a third guy stopped, asked me where I lived (just 5 mins away thankfully), took off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves and got under my car to tie on a tow rope and towed me home! It was only when I was being towed I thought that this stranger could tow me anywhere, thankfully he didn't! Very grateful for that, made more of an effort myself to try to nice things for people in need of them afterwards.

autumnrain · 21-04-2015 09:06AM

Driving on a small country road in the dark, I missed my turn and reversed to take it. In the process I drove over the verge and the car fell backwards into the dyke. Feet crammed on clutch and brake - if I lessened pressure at all the car slipped down more - I frantically found my phone and rang for help.
As I did a jeep pulled up out of no where and two lads jumped out. No big chat just 'we'll get you out, you'll be grand now'. And they did. Brushed off my thanks with 'sure anyone would help'. Amazing.

William F · 21-04-2015 09:08AM

got out of my way

TheBeardedLady · 21-04-2015 09:15AM

ROCKMAN wrote: »

ok a bit off topic as I know the kind hearted person ,I'm very proud to call her my wife ,
Anyway, After reading on a chat forum a woman's blight in trying unsuccessfully find a toy (old and production had stopped) for her kid for Christmas. My wife visited all the toy shops and charity shops in our area and successfully located it , She then obtain the woman's
address and posted it to her with no return address,name or anyway like that on the parcel. Just a little note hoping the woman had a wonderful Christmas.

.

I love your wife. Can she be my wife too?

I've countless stories but the other day I saw a woman in tears crying on the Metro platform and a woman walks up to her and gives her a packet of tissues and a quick arm squeeze. Something so simple like that, particularly in a city this
size, is so lovely to see. Cheered me up for the rest of the day. I see more of those small moments of kindness than people being dickheads in my day and that has to tell you something about humanity.

TheBeardedLady · 21-04-2015 09:22AM

Sitting in a busy cafe reading these stories - there seems to be something in my eye *ahem*

bernard0368 · 21-04-2015 09:52AM

I recently lost my wife after she spent 5 weeks on life support.
One day after she passed I went shopping as there was nothing in the house to eat and I had been living and eating in the hospital.
I ended up just standing in the aisle of the supermarket with out a clue. When an elderly lady came over "I know that look, lets just get you the essentials" Which she proceeded to do and would not accept a penny for shopping.

I have been keeping an eye out for her to repay her but I have had no joy yet.

padd b1975 · 21-04-2015 10:09AM

crazygeryy wrote: »

I'm sorry but are you male or female?
If your female it was sexual harassment and if your male he was making you his bitch.
I have trouble believing that story. Id say there isn't a person on the planet that would let a complete stranger hug them in that circumstance.

Oh give yourself a day off FFS!!

Mallagio · 21-04-2015 10:52AM

Was walking back to my house after a heavy night with friends, it was bright out and the trek was about an hour walk. Unbelievably a Taxi pulled up beside me and offered me a lift, I told him I was skint & he just said get in.

Turns out his 8 month pregnant missus wanted a Danish pastry & he was sent for it - I got one too!

Thought that was a decent thing to do

Nicest thing a random person ever did for you.

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