With more than 5.6 billion people using the internet, it’d be unrealistic to expect to find only positive posts and interactions between strangers. There’s a massive mix of personalities, cultures, religions, beliefs, and of course, moods. So there are bound to be some, if not many, clashes. Plus, let’s be honest. Not everyone likes being kind and decent.
As Kinsey Featherston wrote for Neptune Navigate, "the internet has become a modern day Wild West, and what we really need is a digital sheriff to ride into town and restore order to the virtual frontier."
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Luckily, there are more than enough people who go the extra mile to make others feel like someone who matters. They inspire with their positivity, and sometimes send ripples of goodness across the world wide web, as strangers share their posts with other strangers and friends. There have been cases where a simple post has changed someone's day, and sometimes even, their life.
Never underestimate how much of an impact your posts could have on someone else. Positive or negative. “Consider, for instance, the act of leaving a supportive comment on a post by someone who has been subjected to online hate. By doing so, you offer a lifeline of positivity in a sea of negativity,” writes LGBTQ+ rights activist, Desi Napoles.
“Your small gesture demonstrates to the individual that they are not alone in their struggles and that kindness exists even in the digital world. This single act can inspire others who witness it to follow suit, creating a domino effect of compassion and support that extends beyond the digital realm and permeates real-life interactions.”
According to HealthLine, there a a few reasons why we might not lend a hand to someone we don’t know. “Maybe it’s the bystander effect, which leads us to assume that others will take on the personal responsibility of assisting another person in need, often resulting in mutual inaction,” health/stories-of-kindness-of-strangers#Oftentimes-gestures-of-kindness-only-require-one-thing-time" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">notes the site. “Or it’s because we’re easily preoccupied with ourselves — with our own lives and our own daily struggles.”
But it’s necessary to remember that we’re not alone, adds the site. Whether in joy or pain…
One of the easiest ways to brighten someone's day is with a simple smile. And maybe a 'hello.' You might be the first and only person to do that for them... Another small gesture is holding the door open, or letting someone with less groceries than you skip the queue.
"Though it may seem like common courtesy, holding a door open is a genuine sign of care," notes HealthLine. "Especially when it comes to mothers with strollers, those in wheelchairs, or anyone who’s got their arms full. This small gesture can make someone’s life a little easier, even for just a moment."
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Healthline also suggests that you make a habit of donating used items. You never know who might need what you were about to throw in the trash. Your pre-loved goods may mean the world to someone out there.
On a similar note, you might encounter someone who has no food, or is a few pennies short at the till. Carry cash on you so you're always ready to help if or when needed.
One for the ladies is to keep a tampon or sanitary pad on you. It might really come as a godsend for anyone who has Mother Nature pull up in a red Ferrari unexpectedly.
