An act of kindness made me feel old!

How kind of her, I’m glad you refrained from making her feel small.

Blossoming I've never knowingly made anyone feel small. What a strange comment. Besides she alighted before me.

I feel like that when drivers stop to let me cross the road.
I always think, I must look old.

I tripped in the road and was picked up by two young girls, who then helped me pick my shopping up. It must have been well over fifteen years ago so I probably wasn't much more than 50 but I felt ancient ? I was a bit wobbly standing up because I bashed both my knees so that probably didn't help ??

I've had offers to help with my suitcase on and off the train. The first time was a shock but now I
accept graciously, I don't need the help but the offer warms my heart every time

I've often been grateful for the kindness of strangers, most notably when I've taken a tumble and needed some help to get back on my feet. Getting on and off trains, I've frequently been offered assistance and accepted with thanks.

How lovely that the young girl showed you respect and kindness. I’d be delighted, whether I needed it or not.

I'm always grateful for an offer of help, whether I need it or not, and whoever makes it. Mr A once offered to help a lady with her bags (because she looked a bit weighed down with things, not because she looked old!). The response was a very curt 'I'm perfectly capable', which put him off offering help to anyone for a while. Not even a thank you or a smile. We see her around now and again and just smile at each other and say 'She's perfectly capable, you know'.

A few years ago, my early 60’s, a chap offered me his seat on the tube. I politely declined, but his wife insisted, so I accepted graciously, but really felt a fraud.

Then a few weeks ago, starting to ascend the stairs at a railway station with a heavy suitcase, a youngish chap grabbed it and carried it for me. I was quite chuffed, as a friend with me was left to struggle with hers!

In the opposite direction, a couple of years ago, checked in at an hotel in London with 2 of my daughters, both early 50s but not looking it. The charming young concierge took hold of both their cases and carried them to the lifts, leaving me, mid 70s at the time, to carry my own, trudging along behind them! I don`t think he did it intentionally, but my daughters thought it was hilarious! They still tell the story now.

Foxglove77

Blossoming I've never knowingly made anyone feel small. What a strange comment. Besides she alighted before me.

I didn’t intend to hit a nerve Foxglove77, you have misread my meaning.

Young people today are often criticised as thoughtless or self centred. If they offer help to an older person they are being ageist and patronising. If they don’t offer help they are being ageist and rude. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

I was pleased that you managed to avoid either of these extremes by accepting graciously.

I shall get back in my box now.

People have started to help us with our suitcases at the airport , cannot say I mind .

I used to say 'I'm fine, but thank you for offering'. Now I would just say 'thank you' and sit down - except our bus service has been axed!
So only on buses on holiday or the occasional park and ride

Last year I tripped going up some stairs. I didn't really fall hard, it was a miss-step. A young man going down the stairs stopped to check if I was ok. I just laughed it off, but afterwards I noted that if I was younger we both would have laughed.

Calendargirl

A few years ago, my early 60’s, a chap offered me his seat on the tube. I politely declined, but his wife insisted, so I accepted graciously, but really felt a fraud.

Then a few weeks ago, starting to ascend the stairs at a railway station with a heavy suitcase, a youngish chap grabbed it and carried it for me. I was quite chuffed, as a friend with me was left to struggle with hers!

I was so grateful a couple of years ago, when a lovely chap picked up my case and carried it up a lot of steps at Vauxhall station. As I told him with heartfelt thanks, I had come all the way from Dijon (via the horrible Gare du Nord).

I use buses a lot and do get the offer of a seat occasionally, but I’m never going very far at all* so I usually tell them that, while adding that it was very kind of them to offer.
*I do often walk into town, but it’s uphill on the way back!

When my mid forties neighbour offered to do my shopping at the start of the pandemic I was pleased but horrified at the same time.
This week while gardening another neighbour late 20s stopped to say she had told her husband she was concerned as she hadn’t seen us in such a long time. I suppose the more than half a century difference in our ages makes me very old in her eyes. She found my suntan reassuring. ?

Well, I am old now and will graciously accept any offer of help should I need it.

Getting of a plane recently, I stood aside so the young man behind me could move quickly, he did, went down dropped his case and took mine off me, down the stairs we went. Nice to know there are still lovely people around.

You’re right it was a lovely gesture and I’m sure she will do it again for somebody else as you thanked her so nicely.

That’s so good to read foxglove.
We went to America 4 years ago, first trip for me. Every underground trip we had young people leaping up to offer us their seats, always with a friendly smile. I’d gone feeling anxious about guns - never expected the polite, helpful and friendly responses everywhere

My feeling is that if an act of kindness makes me feel old, I probably am old. I feel like this because throughout my life I have experienced random acts of kindness.

How about we stop being ageist about this and just accept kindness when it is offered as simply an act of kindness?

If the act is age-related, then it's age-related. And if it isn't age-related then it isn't.

But the point is, it's kindness! Enjoy it. We are forever being told to "be kind".

Sods Law that I now get more offers from handsome young men to lift my suitcase into overhead racks than I ever did when young ....?‍♀️

Yes the time comes to all of us, when those ‘rude youngsters’ offer you their seat. You can accept graciously or just say ‘I’m fine, thanks’. I’ve done both.

Please don't feel old. A well brought up girl who has learnt to respect older people. This type of respect is rare cherish it