The kindness of strangers .

Some months ago I was in Tesco with my daughter, she wanted to buy a reduced price bunch of flowers. I was trying to dissuade her as it wasn’t a good deal. We left them and went to the checkout with a few groceries. When we went to pay the cashier produced a beautiful bunch and said that a young man had just bought them for us. I was astounded and humbled.
An impulse moment a few months later just before Christmas. I was in a supermarket and an obviously impoverished family were at the checkout just behind me. They were counting coins to pay for their shopping. I decided on the spur of the moment to pay for their groceries. It was a bit embarrassing as the mum burst into tears as I hastily departed.
I agree with the idea of paying a good deed on. It’s lovely.

So so many over the years- and yes, I have tried to 'pay back' on so many occasions too. Makes the world such a better and nicer place.

Only today i was walking back to my car with a bag of shopping and a young lad put his hand out to help me with the bag.
I politely refused his help but thanked him for his kind offer.
I have to say i feel really bad about it,but he could have easily ran off with it.
How sad that i didn`t trust him.
I honestly do feel awful.

Thank you for sharing such lovely experiences .
I too believe that the majority of people are kind & that we often hear only the bad news. Which is exactly why I was interested to hear other people’s stories of kindness .

A woman at the till a few days ago didn’t have enough money to cover her purchases. As she spoke little English the staff member was trying to explain. A man in the queue put down a note (not sure how much) and said “don’t worry about it”.

People on the whole are very kind and very honest my adult grandson gets very easily distracted when out with his mates and has twice left his expensive coat (not the same one) on a train (and a coach) both times got them back I have a granddaughter who left her phone in an uba, the driver delivered it to her home
Some while ago I went in the local shop to buy some stamps they didn’t have any, a young man in the queue took his wallet out and gave me a half used book he wouldn’t take any payment from me
When my daughter s car got stuck in mud a young workman went over and above to get us out as we thanked him profusely and he just said “pass it on”
We only ever hear the bad stories

I find people are invariably kind when I’m out and about. I struggle with mobility and visual impairments and so many people offer a helping hand. I am always grateful.

I honestly believe that the vast majority of people would have shown the same "kindness" as that boy did. Unfortunately that's not the type of behaviour that makes the news, as our media seem overly focussed on the other side of the coin, and their message is more often than not a negative one. I'm not suggesting that bad news shouldn't be reported, but I do believe that it should be balanced with the good, in order to reflect more accurately the society that most of us live in. It really isn't all doom and gloom, and acts of kindness are all around us, if only we look for them. .

...and of course, here on Gransnet......some kind strangers

I have always been surprised by the honesty of strangers. Purses returned, phones etc. The world is not full of thieves.

I got on the bus at the local hospital a few days ago. There was a Filipino nurse in front of me who handed over £2 to a rather dishevelled looking youth in front of her who had no money. When I commented on her kindness she said “It was nothing “. Well it was and it wasn’t. A lovely gesture.

Im always surprised by the things people drop nearby. Toys, shoes ,socks,many doorkeys and lots of soft toys.Do people not retrace their steps or try to find these things. I n summer we also find towels and items of clothing after teens have had a drinking session.

No, but do think that strangers can be kind, just depends on how lucky you are.Not everyone is out for themselves.
I have helped others by picking up things they dropped, it’s surprising how much is dropped and not noticed.Once it was a man’s wallet.