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Kindness from a stranger made my day

(50 Posts)
Madmeg Sun 06-Sept-26 00:42:49

I have had a sh*tty few years and this one is the worst. Today I was in pain (been getting worse over the weeks) so in desperation took myself off to the pharmacy in a nearby town for advice. Got said advice and three medications to tide me over till I can see my GP, when I realised I had left my purse at home. This is not the first time for that, in recent weeks and months cos I have been so stressed. The pharmacy was closing shortly and I couldn't make it home and back in time. I was near to tears at the thought of all weekend in pain.

A young/middle-aged lady had just finished paying for her purchases at the next till and came over to me and said "I'll pay for those things for you". Both I and the two assistants were gob-smacked at this and I stammered "But you don't know how much I've spent. I can't let you pay for me". But she smiled and insisted that it was no problem. She didn't look like a wealthy lady (think pink/green hair and nose rings!) - but what does one look like anyway? - and before I knew it she had settled the bill, which was just over £20. By the time I had picked up the meds and stashed them in my bag she had gone and there was no sign of her outside. I stood and cried right there on the pavement.

I am not short of £20 or even £200 and I did once pay for someone in a supermarket (it was about a fiver), and I a5m kicking myself for not asking for her address to repay her.

That act of kindness, unprompted and out of the blue raised my spirits immensely - and would you believe I haven't needed any pain relief this evening!

JackieBee1 Sun 06-Sept-26 04:05:47

What a lovely tale!
Despite all the doom and gloom there are some lovely, kind people in the world.
May you continue to be pain free.
flowers

absent Sun 06-Sept-26 04:26:38

Kindness is invaluable.

Toetoe Sun 06-Sept-26 05:19:19

Hearing this lifts my heart

BlueBelle Sun 06-Sept-26 05:25:44

Similar, but smaller kindness happened to me a few years back I wanted to buy a stamp at the nearby , store but they only had them in books (for goodness knows how much) and I d only put a couple of pounds in my pocket A young men
( early twenties ) standing behind me, opened his wallet and gave me two stamps and refused to take a penny for them.
I was so touched by his unexpected kindness I ve never forgotten

Shelflife Sun 06-Sept-26 10:41:24

What a lovely thing to happen ! Restores faith in human kindness. It must have made your day and put a spring in your step and you didn't need your pain relief in the evening! Great result.

beachcomber76 Sun 06-Sept-26 10:47:44

In my teens I'd hitch hiked with a friend to see a favourite band many miles away. But we fell out and I was hitching home on my own. [I was stupid but naive!]

A man picked me up and we talked, he asked where I was going. He stopped the car at a railway station, gave me some money [can't remember how much] and told me to buy a bar of chocolate and a train ticket home and never hitch hike again.

I was stunned and very grateful, and did what he said. What a decent and kind man. I never forgot him and learned a lot that day.

blue14 Sun 06-Sept-26 10:47:56

This is a lovely story.

Thank you Madmeg.
You clearly need help and I'm glad it came via this lady.
I hope she felt as uplifted as you did.

MissAdventure Sun 06-Sept-26 10:58:28

smile

Squiffy Sun 06-Sept-26 11:03:10

MadMeg, I wonder if that act of kindness triggered a flow of endorphins, which led to you being painfree?

spottybook Sun 06-Sept-26 11:19:12

In the late 1960s my friend and I were hitching from Amsterdam to Germany. On the Dutch side we were twice given lifts by lone men who insisted on taking us for a meal. When we offered money towards the bill we were told it was on them. Both times they asked if our father’s had fought in the war and when we got home to thank our fathers and tell them we had been treated to lunch in return. Very humbling.

sodapop Sun 06-Sept-26 19:56:08

So good to hear a positive story, there are still kind people out there despite what we read and hear in the media.
Hope the medication helps with your pain Madmeg

PamelaJ1 Sun 06-Sept-26 19:59:04

There are so many really kind people around, how lucky she was there for you.
Thanks for sharing.

Grannybags Sun 06-Sept-26 20:02:00

Wonderful story 😊

Oldnproud Sun 06-Sept-26 20:06:07

Little acts of unsolicited kindness can mean a lot, can't they!

I remember nearly 25 years ago, visiting DS in Newcastle when he was at uni there. We were wanting to take the underground, and were scratting around trying to find the right change for the ticket machine, when a young person came over and handed us the 50p we were searching for.
In the end, we found the right change anyway, and sought them out to return the 50p.
While they seemed quite bemused when we gave it back, their kind act left a lasting impression on me, and off the back of that I have passed the favour forwards a few times since then.

fancyflowers Sun 06-Sept-26 20:37:39

What a lovely story. I hope your pain was alleviated Madmeg until you could see your GP. There are kind people in the world.

Fallingstar Sun 06-Sept-26 21:06:49

Lovely story and I also hope your pain can now be relieved. There are kind people out there, have come across them from time to time and always try to pay it on to others who need an act of kindness.
You can do this Madmeg, you may not be able to pay your Good Samaritan back but just pay it on when you see someone who needs a helping hand.

crazyH Sun 06-Sept-26 21:19:14

Hope you continue to be pain free …

fancyflowers Sun 06-Sept-26 21:20:54

By the time I had picked up the meds and stashed them in my bag she had gone and there was no sign of her outside

An angel? Just a thought.

fancyflowers Sun 06-Sept-26 21:21:33

(Donning my hard hat!)

Deedaa Sun 06-Sept-26 21:27:58

I was just walking out of the hospital after a blood test when I saw an elderly lady with her daughter. The lady was wearing a chestnut sweater with dark trousers and an animal print scarf. The whole look was pulled together with a belt with a big gold buckle. She looked so elegant that I couldn't resist complimenting her. She was thrilled (her daughter had the "how do you always find the weirdos ?" look) and she told me that I had absolutely made her day. All it was was a few words.

DamaskRose Sun 06-Sept-26 21:41:38

Lovely story MadMeg and you sound like someone who will just pay it forward, so two lots of kindness! 😊

Madmeg Mon 07-Sept-26 00:05:10

Well I certainly won't forget the lady. Sadly the pain has returned today - but the new meds have helped.

knspol Mon 07-Sept-26 14:01:13

Spottybook, beechcomber76 and madmeg.

What truly heartwarming stories, brought tears to my eyes. It seems that nowadays we just don't expect such genuine kindnesses and care from fellow human beings. We should hear more of these tales.

Lupatria Mon 07-Sept-26 14:07:33

i had an experience a couple of years ago at my local tesco petrol station. I put £20 worth of petrol in my car and went to pay for it only to be told by the youngish man at the checkout that he'd already paid.
i didn't know him from Adam and he disappeared towards his car as i was trying to thank him but I'll never forget his kindness.