Hey Pandas, What Was One Time A Stranger Was Kind To You Unexpectedly? (Closed)

I was skating for the first time in years and kept on falling, then this little boy comes up to me having as much trouble as I was and goes "you can do this! I know you can!". And it was so inspiring, the next week I came back and thinking about what the boy said, I did it (almost at the very least, because that was multiple months ago so I can't fully remember).

Long story short. My husband had been out of work for quite a while when he finally landed a good job. I went to the grocery store to pick up some ingredients for a little celebratory dinner. I went to check out and my card was declined. I stood there horrified with tears in my eyes apologizing to the cashier and volunteering to put groceries back, and she said "Don't worry about it" I wasn't sure what she meant as she repeated herself and then handed me my groceries and said "Take care" I went to my car, with said groceries, and sobbed. I'll never forget how very much it meant to me.

i learned her name was bea buffum. she was in her 70s and a neighbor when i was a brand new mom and my own mother lived 600mi away. one day she peeked over the fence and asked why my baby was crying. told her i was having problems getting him to nurse. she waved me over and told me that she used to be a wet nurse for the hospital years ago and she could help me out. well, she did with that and then went on to be a wonderful surrogate mom for me. the only down side was that her own daughter didn't spend much time with her but when she found out that bea and i were friends she had a fit and told me to stay away. bea and i worked out a system to let me know when the daughter would be coming over. i know she is long gone but i will never forget that woman. such a sweet heart and soul.

Was at the supermarket picking up just two things I needed to prepare supper. The self-checkout area was being remodeled so was closed. Which lead to longer lines at the regular lanes. 2 other men in line and I were having conversations as we waited. The one in front of me was paying for his items as I put mine on the belt and realized I had left my wallet in my car. I was going to have to get out of line, get my wallet and get back at the end of the line. The guy in front proceeded to buy my items for me. I thanked him and told him when we went out I'd get my wallet and repay him. Turned out we were park next to each other. As I took out my wallet and was thanking him again, he refused the cash, said to "pay it forward", got in his car and drove off.
Kinda made my week.

It was a week or so before 9/11. I was a 20-something law school grad temping/looking for FT work in my new city of Boston. One cold, dark night, I found myself wandering - lost - in the North End, searching for the building where I had an appointment. An older gentleman - probably 50-something as I reflect - noticed me looking... well, lost... and walked slowly up to me and - noting that he wasn't trying to scare me and was a dad himself - asked if I needed assistance. Not only did he walk me to my appointment, as we went, he chatted me up and learned about my ongoing job search. He could have said "good luck with that" and left it there. Instead, he said, "Do you like to write?" I acknowledged it as one of my strengths. "Ok. I want you to remember two things...." and proceeded to say his first name and the name of a prominent publication. "I work there. You find me and get in touch, and I'll see what I can do." I did find him, learning he was an editor at said major publication (and several others). He stayed in touch and even offered a few interviews. While a match came elsewhere, I never forgot him. After 9/11, when so many of us were reaching out to friends and family near and far just... because... I shot him an email wishing him well. He responded within a day, sharing that his wife had been on one of the flights that departed Logan that fateful day for the west coast - thankfully, spared. After that, we lost touch and I've never been able to find him again, his name lost to me. But I'll never, ever forget his kindness and have done all I can to pay it forward.

There have been so many but here’s one. I broke my ankle in 2003 and was continually amazed how many people helped me without being asked. My neighbors (apartment bldg) helped with the doors, taking out my trash, and people at work helped me get lunch, opened doors, etc. Complete strangers came up to me to tell me about their broken bones too. People were so amazing and helpful. Since then, I help the disabled when I can. Life is much harder for those in wheel chairs, even small things the rest of us take for granted.

I was getting gas and some one very nicely and politely told me I was beautiful. The day I was having, I almost broke down in tears.

I was in a parking lot of a target in a rougher part of town, I went to park in a spot, but it had two shopping carts in it. As I was about to get out of my car, this dude out of nowhere came and pushed the carts out of the way, gave me a thumbs up and a wave and kept going.

i went to a store and bought a bunch of stuff and i gotta have it 4 free.

A few months ago I attended a concert held at a small venue. The concert had ended near midnight and the area wasn’t the best. Mostly everyone had left and I was still waiting for my Uber . Since there was only a guy and I waiting there I looked for an outside camera and stood within its view. A photographer who had been taking photos during the concert came outside and stood a few feet away from me and was waiting for his ride. He asked if my ride was on its way and I said it was. He asked how far away it was because if it was too far away he could give me his ride instead. I refused and he asked again. Then he said he would be willing to wait until I got picked up if I was too scared to wait by myself. The fact that he was willing to wait until I left caught me off guard. No one had ever asked me that and he didn’t even ask for my name or any other questions about myself.

One night I was driving around and I had my 5 year son (at the time) with me and I was looking

told I look cool, completely confident by stranger. 55, overweight but rock Jackie O sunglasses

I was driving home from work one day and my car’s engine caught on fire. A gentleman pulled over and used his fire extinguisher in an attempt to put out the fire and someone had also called firefighters and there were many people milling around my car. An older lady pulled up to see if I needed any help and I told her I was fine but she refused to leave. She said she wanted to be there to support me since there were no other women around. I really was OK but her insistence to give me support really touched my heart.

Not me, but my brother. When he was about six, he rode his scooter down a steep hill in the dark. He hit a trash can, flipped over it, and started bleeding badly. This stranger who was almost done setting up his basketball net dropped and it collapsed. He helped him up and back to the house.

When my son was about 4 he was in the back seat humming along to a song on the radio while we drove to Walmart. I asked him if he knew the song and he said no, he'd just learned it. In that moment I was thinking how I really wanted him to have piano lessons because he seemed musically inclined, but I'd need to buy a keyboard or piano for him first so he could practice at home. I knew that wouldn't be any time soon. It was a passing thought and I thought no more about it. I'd never mentioned to anyone my plan. We continued on to Walmart to do grocery shopping. While at Walmart I saw a lady from my church and she said, "Aren't you looking for a piano for your son?" You could have knocked me over with a feather. After some discussion, it turns out she thought I was someone else. Her friend (who I did not know) was moving and needed to get rid of her piano. She was not selling it, she was giving it away!! The person she thought I was couldn't take it so I ended up getting a piano for my son for free! My son, now 10, has gone on to play the piano, which led to violin and drums. This stranger's kindness and generosity allowed my son to explore his musical talents. I occasionally send her videos of his performances so she can see what her kind gift did for my son.

My family bought a home that was far from my job. My mom left for work early, before I did, and so did my dad. I didn’t drive at the time, but hand to leave to catch the bus at 6:30am and it was still dark outside. One morning, was a guy with his garage door up, lights on, and a couple more guys with him. I was a bit afraid that first morning, but I said good morning and they replied back with a good morning, young lady. The homeowner asked if this was my usual time, I said yes, and every morning after that, at least one guy would be out there and greet me. It turns out, after they realized I did this M-F, they came out to make sure I was safe. I was so grateful for their concern and protection. It still brings tears to my eyes as I write this. I will always pay kindness forward. 🥲

Years ago now, when I was heading to Texas A&M for freshman registration and orientation, I had to fly hundreds of miles by myself, since we couldn't afford for my parents to travel as well. I had never visited before, and I was nervous and excited. Getting there required two flights, the last one on a tiny puddle-jumper, the sort that can only fly if the weather's perfect. Between the two flight, a huge summer thunderstorm built up, and that second flight was delayed, and delayed again. I was stranded in Houston for hours, not knowing how I would get to my dorm when we arrived late at night, since back then the taxis in College Station quit running at 10:00 p.m. One of my fellow stranded passengers proved to be an Old Ag (students and alumni are called Aggies), easily recognizable by his Aggie ring, and we struck up a conversation. He told me not to worry---the people picking him up at our destination would give me a lift. Not only did they do so, but they all went with me to check in, to make sure I got where I was going safely. That was my introduction to how Aggies take care of each other, and how I knew that this kid from a little high school was going to be just fine in her new, big home. A&M has more than doubled in size since then, and you know what? It's still just as friendly!

A few months ago I attended a concert held at a small venue. The concert had ended near midnight and the area wasn’t the best. Mostly everyone had left and I was still waiting for my Uber . Since there was only a guy and I waiting there I looked for an outside camera and stood within its view. A photographer who had been taking photos during the concert came outside and stood a few feet away from me and was waiting for his ride. He asked if my ride was on its way and I said it was. He asked how far away it was because if it was too far away he could give me his ride instead. I refused and he asked again. Then he said he would be willing to wait until I got picked up if I was too scared to wait by myself. The fact that he was willing to wait until I left caught me off guard. No one had ever asked me that and he didn’t even ask for my name or any other questions about myself.

A few months ago I attended a concert held at a small venue. The concert had ended near midnight and the area wasn’t the best. Mostly everyone had left and I was still waiting for my Uber . Since there was only a guy and I waiting there I looked for an outside camera and stood within its view. A photographer who had been taking photos during the concert came outside and stood a few feet away from me and was waiting for his ride. He asked if my ride was on its way and I said it was. He asked how far away it was because if it was too far away he could give me his ride instead. I refused and he asked again. Then he said he would be willing to wait until I got picked up if I was too scared to wait by myself. The fact that he was willing to wait until I left caught me off guard. No one had ever asked me that and he didn’t even ask for my name or any other questions about myself.