My share is from when I was about 9 years old on a family holiday. We were in the hotel restaurant and I broke a glass. Knocked it off the table. My parents always had a snap reaction and I was very upset and afraid. The waiter came over and he was so incredibly kind. He said don’t worry little one, it happens all the time, look – and he lifts a glass from his tray and dropped in smash on the floor. Totally changed the mood of everything. I still remember that kindness and try to pay it forward. Never sweat the little things.
What’s a random act of kindness that has stayed with you?
r/ask
Comments
📣 Reminder for our users
>1. Check the rules: Please take a moment to review our rules, Reddiquette, and Reddit’s Content Policy.
>2. Clear question in the title: Make sure your question is clear and placed in the title. You can add details in the body of your post, but please keep it under 600 characters.
>3. Closed-Ended Questions Only: Questions should be closed-ended, meaning they can be answered with a clear, factual response. Avoid questions that ask for opinions instead of facts.
>4. Be Polite and Civil: Personal attacks, harassment, or inflammatory behavior will be removed. Repeated offenses may result in a ban. Any homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, or bigoted remarks will result in an immediate ban.
🚫 Commonly Asked Prohibited Question Subjects:
>1. Medical or pharmaceutical questions
>2. Legal or legality-related questions
>3. Technical/meta questions (help with Reddit)
This list is not exhaustive, so we recommend reviewing the full rules for more details on content limits.
✓ Mark your answers!
>If your question has been answered, please reply with
Answered!!to the response that best fit your question. This helps the community stay organized and focused on providing useful answers.I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
When I was younger, I was in the car while Mom was pumping gas. There was a homeless man camped outside the gas station. I watched a young man walk out of the gas station store with a few items, one being what I think was a hamburger. He handed it to the homeless guy, smiled and nodded with respect then walked away as if he did nothing out of the ordinary. I try to emulate him everyday, 15 or so years later, I still remember his face.
I used to be a nanny for a child with autism. One day, we were going for our walk and she decided to have a meltdown right there on the sidewalk. I was new and overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do. Just then, a man and a women pulled their car over, told me that they had a child with disabilites and asked if I needed help. I said yes, and the women calmly walked over, calmed her down, while the man talked to me saying that he understood how overwhelming it could be because he had a child with disabilities. They calmed her down, said their goodbyes and drove away.
I had just finished Basic Training and had some leave to go home for Christmas and New Years before going back for my advanced training. I was standing behind this couple when I overheard the flight attendant telling them the flight was overbooked, there was one seat left and everyone else was basically going to be screwed getting home in time for Christmas.
The couple was debating which of them should take the seat when they looked behind them and saw me standing there in my Class As. The wife looked at the attendant to let me take the last seat. At the time this felt pretty good. What made it stick though what’s made it a lasting memory is that my dad died the next fall.
That trip home for Christmas was our last as a family. I thanked the couple but I would have been more expressive with my thanks if I’d had any idea what I could have missed.
I’ll give you one that’s both comparable and recent. The last time I went for a car maintenance service, I got food at the dealership cafe, then promptly dropped it on the carpet in their lounge when I tripped. Was back like a minute later going “I’m so sorry, but uh…this just happened…so I’d like to reorder the same thing”. And I said I was obviously okay with paying again but the lady just waved that off with a “that sucks but it happens, don’t worry about it”.
Once, I was trying to get home from Thailand, completely broke, and a string of strangers helped me in ways I’ll never forget. One person paid for my visa, then bought me lunch and even handed me a pack of cigarettes.
Later, on the bus back to Cambodia—headed to the airport a day early, still with no money—I asked the only other guy on board if he knew of anywhere dirt cheap to stay. Without hesitation, he said, “Stay at mine.”
He took me in, let me shower, even shared his bed—not in a weird way, just pure kindness. The next morning, he bought me breakfast and paid for my ride to the airport.
It was one of those rare moments that reminds you how good people can truly be.
My much older sister left our home after marrying for Dallas. I was sad to see her go (at age 11). She sent three shirts for school to me from some big fancy store in Dallas (Neiman Marcus). I felt special and that softened the blow of missing her, showed me she still cared after all. That started a weekly letter writing campaign back and forth that lasted for years!
When I was sixteen, I was on the train on my way to work. I was doing my makeup. Across from me, was a bit of an older man who was writing something. Who looked at me and smiled, and said I didn’t need the makeup. I just smiled back and continued doing my makeup.
When it was my stop, I got out. The man got out too, tapped me on my shoulder and gave me a folded piece of paper. He said ‘the best of luck’ (not sure what the appropriate English translation would be, it wasn’t in an English speaking country).
At first I was a bit grossed out. Then later on, when I was waiting for my bus, I opened the piece of paper. It was a poem. About how my eyes were like emeralds. About how he wrote it to tell me what he couldn’t express in spoken words. The poem also ended with ‘best of luck’. There was no name, no phone number. He wanted nothing of me, just to tell me he thought I was beautiful.
Still think about it to this day. It was really selfless and kind.
Instead of celebrating my 50th birthday with a party, I took the money I would have spent and, instead spent the day giving it away by doing one random act of kindness for every year. I had formal invitations printed “inviting” the recipient to celebrate with me and put cash in each envelope, of varying amounts as the acts required, and spent a very long and fulfilling day giving it away.
Two specific events have stayed with me from that experience: a couple at a gas station with two smallish kids in their back seat. They were getting ready to put gas in their car and I stepped in and asked them if I could fill their tank. I gave her the card and explained my mission. He broke down crying. His mother had died and they were trying to get to his family two hours away. Spending the money on gas meant they’d be broke until his payday a few days away. No one should have to choose between feeding their kids or burying their mother.
Another was an older gentleman in a Goodwill store who was looking for a nice shirt to wear to a much-needed job interview. He left with a (new to him) suit, shirt, tie and shoes. I pray he got the job.
Most of the 50 acts were little things here and there: $20 taped to diaper boxes in Walmart, covering the check for five cars at a McDonald’s drive-thru, etc., but the tank of gas and suit stories will touch me forever.
I was leaving a store with my 8 year old and 6 month old baby but it was pouring rain. I was debating if I should make a run for it or wait it out. A car pulled up and handed me a brand new umbrella with the tag still attached. I was trying to arrange how to give it back to her but she just said don’t worry about it and drove away. My oldest is 23 now and I still have that umbrella because it meant so much to me. I keep it as a reminder to look out for others and be kind as often as possible.
After what had already been a chaotic night, I was abandoned in the city. I had class the next day and I was so stressed trying to figure out how I was going to get home with no phone or money. I started crying on the side of the road and a couple stopped to ask me if I was okay. They were on a tinder date and she made him pay for me to get a taxi home, I’ll never forget that. Never.
I once saw this punk fellow considerately help an elderly lady off the train. I was behind him as we were leaving central station. Then as we approached the ticket gates, he jumped over them like it was nothing. My boi was punk AF. Best of both worlds
My son was maybe 9 months old. Still in a pumpkin seat. The jeep I was driving, a 1994 Cherokee, decided to blow a hose. I was 20 years old. His father was at work and couldn’t/wouldn’t leave. I pull over into an empty lot and just cry. The relationship was abusive, I was overwhelmed, no idea what I was doing with a baby, a broken car, no job, etc. Felt like the universe was pooping on me.
Lo and behold, a man named Jeff pulls into the lot seeing me. He asks what’s going on. I’m sitting there panicking and just a whole hot mess. He pops the hood, says “I’ll be right back momma.” Goes and gets two pieces of hose cause he wasn’t 100% sure of the size, fixed it, and said “After it all blows over, you’ll be okay. I promise.” And rode back off into the sunset.
I still see Jeff around town once in a while, have a pleasant conversation about my kids and his grandkids, and go our separate ways.
He didn’t have to stop, or help, or be kind. It’s been almost 15 years since this happened. It will forever stick with me.
When I was in Basic, I had written down all of my favorite foods from different restaurants. I told my Grandmother about them on the phone.
At the end of Basic, my Grandma showed up with quite a few of them just for me. She is the best! I remember tearing up of happiness! That and they drove from Texas to South Carolina.
I volunteered to work Christmas Eve when I worked at a small FedEx Office location (copy shop that also handles shipping) as i wanted my coworkers to be with their families. I got paired with this problem employee who would literally hide in the storage cabinets for hours at a time to dick around on his phone. I was asked to record the times he disappears from the floor so my boss could review the video for documentation.
He saw me recording the time he came back and snuck a look at my notebook and proceeded to absolutely lose his shit. He trashed the store while screaming at me for about 20 minutes and just barely caught himself before becoming violent with me. He eventually stormed out of the store saying he quit.
I was a mess. I have severe issues with confrontation and this triggered my ptsd hard. A customer came in sometime after he had left and found me curled up behind the counter crying and clutching my knees. She clearly understood what was going on and sat down next to me behind the counter. She spoke to me and calmed me down and pulled me out of the episode. I was unaware of the time but she must have been there close to an hour.
When I was finally aware of what was going on, i apologized to her. She said it was nothing. I helped her make her purchase and she waited around while I called my boss for backup and let her know what happened. She didn’t leave until she knew I was going to be safe.
About an hour later I was feeling a bit better and my boss was running the store with me just resting in the back room. The lady that helped me came back and asked for me. She gave me a Christmas present! It was a little My Neighbor Totoro wallet. It was the only gift I got for Christmas that year. I still use that wallet every day.
The kindness of that lady made a lasting impact on me. I go out of my way to make sure the people around me are okay. Outside of my husband it was the most kind and selfless act anyone has ever done for me and I am forever grateful to her.
an older man that I knew as an acquaintance only through a work networking group was in charge of liquidating his ex-wife’s estate. He knew I was new to the profession and not making much money. He knew I just had gotten my first apartment. He invited me to his wife’s house to get whatever I might need to set up my own apartment. I still have some of the things he gave me nearly 40 years ago. But the lesson that stuck with me, was one of generosity with nothing to get back in return. A year ago I sold my house in the United States and moved to Europe. I couldn’t take much with me from my huge house. My son’s music Tutor and his brother and friends were all getting their first apartments and so I invited them to everything I had. Dishes, furniture, television. lawnmower. I could’ve had a garage sale and made a lot of money. I could’ve sold it to them. I gave it to them with a light heart, and the only strings attached were my instructions that if they ever got to a place in life where they could do the same thing, they were to be generous to somebody starting off in the world
I was on holiday with my husband can’t remember if it was Budapest or Berlin but we were waiting at the bottom of some escalators. When 2 old ladies started to fall down the escalator next thing I know my husband is halfway up the escalator helping them up as they were falling onto a third person. I was just gob smacked at how quick he was. As soon as they were at the bottom we left as he hates getting any sort of recognition. He is amazing in a crisis and I feel so lucky to have him. This isn’t the only nice thing he has done but it stuck with me as it could have been quite bad if he hadn’t been so quick.
When I was 21 I had a toddler and was almost done with undergrad. My fiance and I were breaking up and I was not emotionally stable. I had my headphones in on the bus and the tears started to roll uncontrollably. A kind stranger next to me gave me a hug and we talked the rest of the ride. He could have ignored me or moved, but instead he was kind and helpful. I’m in my 30s now and this of this frequently.
I have witnessed so many in my life time, most people are good if allowed to be (some time they care too much about what others think). I tell people, I am selfish, I help people not for recognition, but because it feels good.
Some guy at a Philadelphia Eagles game bought my wife and myself a drink. Miracle in Philly.
Years ago, I had to put my cat down. It was traumatic and horribly sad. I sat outside the vet’s office crying while I waited for my ride. An older lady sat down beside me and just held me while I sobbed. I will always be grateful for her compassion.
This whole thread is such a day brightener. OP thank you for starting it.
So heartwarming reading these
Once, when my parents came to visit, my mam bought, wrote and got stamps for some postcards. We got a train into the city but she left the bag with the postcards on the platform. Whoever found them, dropped the postcards in a postbox and they arrived to their recipients.
Wow. This made me cry. What a sweet and kind waiter. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve seen a guy tie a tie for a kid going to a dance who didn’t know how and walked in Home Depot to ask someone for help, another who buys food for anyone that asks if they are in need of food, a friend bought underwear for someone who posted on Facebook they needed some and were broke and recently another who picked up shampoo and conditioner for someone off Facebook in a tough bind. Small acts but they add up.
Years ago, I was at the check stand in a grocery store and the person in front of me paid for my groceries for no reason. It was so kind. I never have anything like that happen to me, so I haven’t forgotten it.
I grew up pretty poor. When I was 7 or 8, I had walked down the street to the local IGA ( it was the 80s, and parents just let their children wander the neighborhood).
I was just walking around the store looking at stuff , and I guess that I had been staring at one of those huge boxes of crayons, that had just came our with the sharpener on the box, I think if I remember right they were $5.
I had moved along, but was still in the store, and a woman walked up to me , and handed me a bag with the crayons and a coloring book inside. I am in my early 50s now, and I still remember it
Friends and I were heading up to a rented cabin during the beginning of snow season. Unfortunately, our car couldn’t make it up the last segment of the journey, as it was too weak to drive uphill in snow. It was almost midnight, and when I tried knocking on some doors around us, it was clear that no one lived there. We sat in the car unsure of what to do.
All of the sudden, a man in a pickup truck stopped by and explained that he had seen us earlier on his way to drop his wife off in town for an appointment (almost an hour ago). He had actually came back trying to find us, because he had guessed we would get stuck. He then connected a chain from his truck to our car and pulled us up to where we needed to go. He refused to take money as help and explained that he was a pastor around the area and helped out lost tourists as part of his ministry.
Never quite forgot him.
I was in a taco bell drive thru and when I went to pay for my meal, the cashier informed me the person in front of me of me had already paid for it. That person has no idea what a difficult time I was going through in my life back then, and how much that gesture meant to me.
This one time we got 2 feet of snow overnight. My husband was out of town. We had a very long driveway, 4 car lengths 2 cars wide.
I just got bundled up and started digging. About two hours in, I had made it about a quarter way down. It was cold, the snow was heavy and I was miserable. This man pulls up with his daughter, they get out and start digging from the bottom up. I was like, “hey I don’t have any money” and the dad was like “we don’t need money, but you need the help” they helped me clear the whole driveway and I’ve never seen them again. The guy looked like a redneck with a mullet, one of those god fearing church guys I would generally avoid. But it was the most random act of kindness I’ve ever experienced.
early on a saturday morning, i was going to see my son, who was in the hospital….. i had just bought a shitbox old truck and a tire went flat… i pulled into the parking lot of the city library and was looking at my tire, wondering what the hell i was gonna do…. i had on a dress and heels, as i had to go to work after my visit…….
while i was standing there, a young man pulled in and asked if i needed help….. i explained i had JUST bought the shitbox, had no idea if the spare was any good. i opend the rear door, to look for the jack…. nope, not even a lug wrench…
this man went to his house, came back with a floor jack, removed my tire, drove me to a local used tire store, waited while they mounted a tire, took me back and put the tire on my truck…
i tried to give him money but he refused and only said.. “pay it forward” which has always been my attitude……… i had already stuffed a fifty in his center armrest, when he got out at the tire store…
the next morning i went to the firestone dealer for 4 new tires…. as i was sitting there, i heard a familiar voice… it was HIM, with his wife and kids, getting new tires for the wife’s car… i went to them, told his kids that dad was my hero and how lucky we all were that he is such a great man……
My mom always wore clothes with pockets. Always.
When I was little and anxious or wanted to do something or other people were slow, she would reach into her pocket and pull out her hand as if she was holding something small but kept the hand closed. About the size of a mentos.
She would tell me to hold up my hands and then she would deposit absolutely nothing in my hands but she would tell me “here is some patience, be careful with it, it will last long enough until we leave.”
Then she would tell me to put it in my pocket. If I did not have a pocket, I was to set it on my shoulder or in my shoe so I didn’t lose it.
This was her way, I think, of keeping me from having meltdowns and tantrums and other things that kids who have maladaptive behaviors do (out of normal reasonable kid behaviors).
I miss when she was like that.
I had moved to a new city and was struggling in many ways. There was a Neighborhood Walmart across the street and that’s where I would get my groceries. (I hate Walmart). One Sunday I was walking my cart of food back to my car and two Jamaican guys drove by in old truck and one guy noticed me and uninvited said something about ‘that guy looking sad and how he should be happy and how every thing gets better, no matter what it is’, and then they were gone from my life. What was surprising was that on that Sunday, I recognized that I actually felt a bit better than I had been feeling, and I certainly did not recognize that I was broadcasting sadness or frustration, or whatever. Not a miracle or anything, but that guy calling me out sat with me for the next couple weeks and I think was inspiration for me getting my shit together. I had just signed a 2nd one year lease, although I was supposed to be buying a house. I felt trapped. Perhaps the big decision was deciding to break the lease, which meant a penalty of about $4000.
I was in a new city and deeply missing home. I was sobbing my way through the grocery store, embarrassed but completely unable to stop crying. A very sweet woman stopped me – the only person in a crowded store to do so – handed me a tissue and asked if she could help. She listened to my tale of woe, handed me her business card, and said to contact her if I needed anything. I never did, but her kindness meant the world to me that day.
During a freak white out caused by wind not falling snow we were in an accident. We made it to a small town no hotels one restaurant. A local pastor opened up their home to our family of 6. They fed us and drove us to the next town to get a rental the next day.
I once paid for the police car behind me in Starbucks drive through. I should do this again some day 😊
Just a simple sentence ‘you are doing a great job’
I was at the supermarket with my kids and my daughter, around 3 at the time was throwing a massive tantrum and I was carriher out of the store in a rugby hold while my son (6ish) walked beside me and am older woman said that sentence to me as she walked by me.
It felt like I was seen as a mum trying her best rather than just a bad mum with an awful kid.
My daughter is 9 now, not quite as bad anymore hahahaha
Not to toot my own horn, but one cloudy day I was walking into the grocery store and passed an older lady coming out. Just as we got face to face, the sun came out and lit up her hair – glittery white like new snow. Literally breathtaking, and I actually clapped my hands in front of my chest with delight. I gasped and said “you have the most beautiful hair”. She immediately burst into tears and said she had been feeling invisible and hadn’t been paid a compliment for years.
That really made me realize that we need to see each other, and celebrate the little things. Since then, I’ve made a point of telling people “oh, your earrings match your socks I love it”, or ” your haircut is perfection” – just some little “I see you”. Not to every single person I pass, but if I notice something nice, I comment.
I was on holiday with my then-boyfriend overseas, in a city I didn’t know, and he beat me up. A woman I’d met only the evening before, who was the only person I knew in the city, took the day off work and borrowed a car to take me to hospital and then to the consulate
I was a broke new father at 21 years old. One night after work I had to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things. It was the night before payday and I had very little money left. Besides a couple things I had a few cans of baby formula. I over spent by a couple dollars and asked the cashier to take one can of formula off. The lady behind me overheard and purchased the formula for me. It was very embarrassing, but also very kind. I still think of that lady nearly 30 years later.
When a stranger commented on my style of clothing
One of my mom’s distant friends took us when she (my mom) had alcohol issues.
Never had the occasion to properly thank her.
When I was 17 me and my cousin went camping, took the train to get there. There is a regional ticket that you can use on all the local trains. On the way back we accidentally took a long distance train, and one coming from switzerland at that. The conductor told us that our tickets were not valid and we had to pay an additional fee, like, a lot of money. We were still in school. We could have paid, but it was really an unreasonable amount of money for the shortness of the trip.
A kind lady on the train stepped in and said she would like to pay for us. I was really thankful. Still think about her 20 years later.
Going home from work last 2018 (probably im just 19 yo that time.) , im so tired and almost sleepy, after i dropped off from the bus, i saw the old man with a kid (they look homeless carrying some trash) , theyre looking in the restaurant, i walk fast and gave them 10 dollars saying “hey take this and go order something” and I ran off to pedestrian lane without looking back. I didnt even tried to remember their face.
Im still curious what their face looks like while eating great foods.
My dog was ran over by a car while in the care of my BIL and I got a frantic call to meet him at the vet. He was COMPLETELY soaked in blood from holding her on the way to the vet and then he hugged me and told me how sorry he was so I was subsequently soaked in my dead dogs blood. A man waiting for a routine vet visit came up to us (he had seen the whole frantic and heartbreaking ordeal play out when she was rushed into the office). This man literally came over and quietly handed me his jacket, and then he took his tshirt off and handed it to my BIL. He said he didn’t care if he was shirtless at the vet, we shouldn’t have to be soaked in blood right then. He went back and sat down with his cat, half clothed. I barely processed it in that moment but I think about that guy a lot even 4 years later, and I hope he is doing amazing. it really did make my pain more manageable. I always try to be like that guy.
I love these 🩷
A guy in our city has decided to clean up the riverfront. He paints over graffiti and picks up trash and posts on FB about it just to encourage others.
Another person in town just asked on Reddit today for neglected places around town where s/he can plant native flowers for pollinators.
This city is often the butt of jokes, but it’s literally full of good people who try every day to make it better.
Once i forgot my keys in the public bus. I freaked out when i figured it out. A man saw me crying, pulled over and drove me to a few stops further down the street to catch up so i could get my keys back. He drove me home afterwards. I never got into a car with someone i didnt know and I don’t know why i did that day, but he helped me such a great deal, will always be grateful.
A friend visiting me in psycho. hospital.
I used to look after home computers and networks for some pretty rich people. I was going through an emotional divorce and while I was on my way to a regular customer I had to pull over for a cry (I’m an emotionless IT guy, about 35M at the time so this was very unusual for me).
I pulled myself together and rang them to say I couldn’t make it. They heard the state I was in from my voice and told me to come round anyway. We did no IT stuff at all, this rich retired couple just talked to me for hours over tea and cakes and it really put me in a much better place then and going forwards.
Not completely random, but very unexpected and I’ll never forget their kindness.
This might not apply. I was in line to board a plane and a mom with toddler and infant was trying to fold up and bag her double stroller to board. I watched for a minute and got out of line to help her as did one other lady. We got her stuff bagged up and helped her board with everything. I was shocked that 100 people just stood and watched her struggle
Guy gave me a full tank of gas when I had already filled up and I realized I didnt have my wallet. I know way back in the day when you actually had to walk in and pay for gas and pumps were NOT prepay. Prices were under $2/gal. I was hours from home he said he made a lot and it wasn’t a big deal. I’ve do this 100 fold to pay it forward. Mostly with ppl that don’t have enough at stores I not only make up what they don’t have but I hurry up and swipe my card when there’s was declined. My wife and I also anonymously pay for service people’s meals if they are in the same restaurant as we are. We love it. All because of one very kind stranger and a tank of gas!
Nearly 15 years ago, we were having significant financial difficulties. It got so bad that I was barely eating, just so we could use money for other necessities.
At some point during this time, my doctor ordered some lab work. I had to take a bus, in my wheelchair, a few cities away to get to the lab. By the time I got there, I have no doubt I looked awful, and I felt worse. When the receptionist asked if I had fasted for the tests, I said that I wasn’t sure when I’d last eaten, but it had been more than enough time.
I eventually was called back and got my blood drawn. As I was leaving the lab, I heard someone call out to me. I turned around, and a woman came up to me. She handed me something and said, “I promise, things will get better.” I looked down at what she had handed me. It was $20. I thanked her, then went to the bus stop. On the way home, I got myself something to eat, and we used the rest of that money for things we’d put off.