An act of kindness made me feel old!

How kind - I’m always annoyed when left standing on bus, tube or train!
Nice to see some manners xxx

DH used to get huffy when offered a seat. I said you must accept or you will put off the person offering to someone else another times, as arewethereyet says above. Nice to sit down anyway and it makes the person who made the offer feel good. Doubles all round!!

Oh how lovely. I sprained my shoulder last week and ventured out for the first time again yesterday. When I was getting off the bus with a very heavy (to me) shopping trolley the driver jumped out of his cab and lifted it off the bus with no trouble. I couldn’t thank him enough!

Aw that was sweet of her. When I was a child/ teenager anyone over the age of 40 was ancient lol
On the positive side, at least you got a seat lol ?

I’m a bit wobbly though only 62. I am very glad that people offer kindness, especially with a heavy (to me heavy, I make every effort to pack light) suitcase on our rail system.

Fortifies my faith in human nature.

I wouldn’t have over through it, I would have thought her parents brought her up with manners and I would have said to her tell your parents they should be proud of you. I’ve also had it done to me and the young lad give me the biggest grin when I said to him. Because not many do it nowadays. It’s like I was sitting on the seat near driver and I noticed not many said thanks anymore. I always thank drivers

People have recently started allowing me on the bus before them. It’s lovely but I didn’t realise I looked quite that old despite my 67 years. I always do a bit of a bouncy walk when I get off the bus to show I’m not in my dotage!

I just think we should accept any act of kindness no matter how big or small. We need to be non judgemental or ageist and just be grateful somebody offers their help.

One day , on the way to work, it was icy, so I was wearing those things over my boots that are supposed to stop you slipping over and falling.
They worked well until I decided to take a short cut through the shopping centre to the back door of my workplace .
I forgot I had the things on my boots and did a real Bambi and ended up flat on my back on the floor!
2 very kind elderly people literally picked me up off the floor! I was only in my 50s at the time but felt I should have been older than them !

I know what you mean but how nice there are some lovely kind young people out there

The young man in my opticians always calls me ‘dear’ and says ‘Ah, bless you’ when I described the problem I have with my glasses. This is not everyday chat in this part of the UK so I can only think I look really old.

On the reverse side, I'm 59 and a while back just happened to dye my hair blonde for a change. One morning I'm on the bus, this kid of about 13 gets on and shouts " hello darling" to me....it was hilarious

I can hardly walk but many times when offered a seat in shop etc, I’ve grinned and told the truth when saying no thank you. I always explain. Truth being that it’s easier to stand rather than sit down and get up again. !!!

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

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.

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 ....?‍♀️

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".

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

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.

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.

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

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. ?

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!

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.

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