An act of kindness made me feel old!

Sorry but I can't understand why some people are offended by offers of help! I always accept and feel grateful that some younger ones have good manners.
Besides getting older is better than the alternative

I’ve noticed these acts of kindness more since I’ve had to use a walking stick (aka sticky) whilst waiting for a hip replacement. They’ve all been gratefully received and I make a point of expressing my gratitude. A lot of those being kind or compassionate are young and, whilst it might make me feel old, it does make me think that the often bad press given to young people is unfair

Before my hip replacement I struggled to walk and had a stick. I was carrying a bag and struggling to get on an escalator in London. A lovely man asked me if I needed help and he said he only offered to help the good looking ones. At that point I was in a lot of pain and felt very old. Bless him he made my day.

I'm 63 and no one has ever offered me anything. Don't know whether to feel miffed or relieved ?

She may have been encouraged by her parents or college to be kind. You could phone the college principal to commend the kindness shown by this student.

When I was newly married, back in the early 70s, there were always older gents opening the door for me, helping me with my shopping trolley on the bus, and even lifting their hats to greet me! Sadly that generation has disappeared.

Due to covid, when my husband went for x-ray,there were not many chairs so I had to stand. It didn't bother me. However after about 5 mins a younger lady stood up and gave me her seat. I felt my age

About 8 years ago, when I was in my early 60s, and still reasonably sprightly, we visited Osborne House and took a guided tour. At one point we were directed up a very grand staircase. I stopped for a moment to admire the stairs and immediately a uniformed guide grabbed my elbow and said "Perhaps you'd prefer to use the lift Madam?" He led us to a small lift nearby "My colleague will meet you on the next floor". We were reunited with our tour group and had a lovely day. But I did feel a bit of a fraud, I had only been admiring the grandeur of the stairs and he thought they were a problem for me! But very thoughtful service.

Unigran4

I boarded a tightly packed (pre-Covid) commuter train from London Victoria, to find standing room only. As the train pulled out of the station I winced slightly as my knees hurt trying to keep my balance.

A young man was sitting in a window seat, laptop in front of him, obviously working. The train was bound for the South Coast and he was obviously settled for the long-haul. He immediately offered me his seat.

I politely refused, saying I was only going to Clapham Junction (two stops), but loudly thanked him for his consideration and asked that my refusal would not put him off offering someone else in the future.

I thanked him again when I got off the train. I hope my refusal did not embarrass him

Baggs totally agree.

Well done you!

I experienced this when I was preggers at 25! It was touching as it was a young fella maybe late teens. I also had the wonderful experience of two very scary looking student type guys carrying my little son , seated in his pushchair down some ridiculous steps at Manchester Victoria station in 1982 they then kept apace just in front of me and carried him up at the other end of the subway!!!What gents!!

Isn’t it just called good manners, younger people standing for adults? That young lady has been brought up wonderfully well I would say.

You at 59, and the girl at college would mean you are old enough to be her grandmother so to her you are old.

Very kind of her.

I boarded a tightly packed (pre-Covid) commuter train from London Victoria, to find standing room only. As the train pulled out of the station I winced slightly as my knees hurt trying to keep my balance.

A young man was sitting in a window seat, laptop in front of him, obviously working. The train was bound for the South Coast and he was obviously settled for the long-haul. He immediately offered me his seat.

I politely refused, saying I was only going to Clapham Junction (two stops), but loudly thanked him for his consideration and asked that my refusal would not put him off offering someone else in the future.

I thanked him again when I got off the train. I hope my refusal did not embarrass him

Baggs totally agree.

It doesn't matter how old or young you are, an act of kindness is a wonderful thing. Be thankful. Take care

This has happened to me on the tube, occasionally young women/girls but mostly it's been young foreign men. Used to make me feel very old too but now just happy there are some well brought up young people around.

How nice to hear that the good manners we were taught as youngsters have obviously been taught to the two generations that have followed us.

Courteous gestures of this type don't make me feel old. The only time I did feel old was when I heard a nurse in the gynae surgical ward say of me to a young mother, "I must run now, I have promised to help an elderly lady with her bag."

68 at the time I felt a bit miffed as the nurse speaking was only around 50 herself, but obviously the young mother she was speaking to would definately consider a woman my age elderly.

Sorry it made you feel older, but how kind and polite. Even if you look superb for your age - to her you are older and she showed consideration.

My DH and I seem to have reached that age where younger folk offer help and assistance. It’s only started happening recently, and, I must admit to finding it slightly amusing.

In McDonald’s the Lobby Hostess helped me to negotiate the electronic menu/order system. I’ve used it many times before unaided, but she genuinely wanted to help so I let her. She probably thought this poor old fogie didn’t understand such modern things, bless her.

Loading three 50 litre bags of compost (3 for £12, not a bad price we didn’t think) into his trolley at Asda yesterday a young man came up to DH and offered to help, which was kind.

It’s a strange feeling I must say.

Just think how well her parents have raised her and what a nice gesture it was. Young folk see people over 40 old ?

A few years ago, due to an eyesight problem, my husband fell down some steps at the tube. Two young women exclaimed "oh no the old man has fallen" he said he has never jumped up so quickly lol

I do now try to accept graciously. I feel if someone has been kind enough to offer me a seat the least I can do is accept and say thank you. I think sometimes we are taken a bit by surprise and tend to say no , I'm fine thanks. I have on occasion not accepted and felt very ungrateful afterwards. Then it's too late to apologise .

Some years ago I was on the metro in St Petersburg; I'd only just stepped into the full carriage when a Russian mother got her daughter to give me her seat; not sure that would have happened on the Tube. I always accept offers of help, I feel it's churlish to do otherwise.

What a lovely gesture from a young girl, i wouldnt be bothered who did what in an act of kindness, the fact it was shown to me would warm my heart and make my day.

I now need a stick to walk about but it does not stop me from showing others an act if kindness, stick or no stick.

I have, on occasion, asked for help - I find most people are glad to do so. Imagine if you offered a helping hand to someone and they turned you down ungraciously, and how that make you feel. What I really cannot stand is being talked to in a patronising manner as if I have reverted to being 3 years old - that stage is yet to come, as I keep telling my children.

What a lovely gesture Foxglove, as was your response to her.
It does make us feel old though doesn't it. My husband would still give up his seat for women who are probably twenty years younger than he is. Hard when we realise they'd give up their seat for us.