For context I am in my early 40s.
When I was 18ish, I was running for a bus. I missed it by the most narrow of margins. (Also, the bus driver was kind of a dick for not sticking around when it was pretty obvious… regardless…)
As it just so happened, there was a taxi a couple cars behind that bus that saw me running for it and it driving away.
That taxi driver waved me in with nary a word, drove me a stop or two in front of the bus, and without charging me, dropped me off so I could catch the bus. (To be clear this was in an area where the bus route was LONG and the taxi driver obviously knew it’d be an hour or so before the next one.)
Ever since that day, for over two decades now, that random act of kindness has stuck in my mind. We literally never said a word beyond my panicked “THANKS” as I ran out at the end. No names, nothing, just wild gesticulations and gratitude.
Love to hear some more.
My grandmother suffered a stroke and went from lively, independent, able-bodied to a wheelchair bound, muted person who is no longer able to feed herself. Facial expressions very limited, her head at a constant downward tilt… it was a stark and sudden affliction that I had never personally witnessed.
So my mom, aunt and two uncles are her care takers switching weeks on duty. One day, I’m sitting across the table from my mother who is trying to feed my grandmother dinner, but she is shaking her head trying to move the spoon away, clearly expressing that she doesn’t want to eat. The look on both my mom’s and grandma’s face… my aunt frustrated because they go thru this with her often, telling her she has to eat… (big sister vibes)
During moments like these (and in my early’ish 20s), one typically finds themselves operating in an autopilot-like state, numbing emotions in order to function in the new reality… a there-but-not-there sort of thing, just trying to be helpful whenever you can and not be in the way. I was mostly able to uphold this fortified state during this particular visit. However, catching that interaction in that instance broke right through my defenses. I got up from the table, fighting down the rising lump in my throat and went outside on the porch to have my moment in private.
Not long after, a kid… maybe 12, 13 years old walks past the house. It’s a cold, gusty overcast day out and he’s wearing a thin jacket that’s visibly too small for him –– his face unwashed, slightly disheveled (my grandmother lived in a fairly poor area). I don’t remember the wording but he essentially asks me if I could help him out so I reach in my pocket, a 5 dollar bill came out and I gave it to him. The combination of complete shock and absolute gratitude on his face I can vividly recall to this day. He asked me if I was sure first and then said “thank you, man” still with so much awe… that exchange broke me again lol.
I think we lose sight of just how much we personally receive and benefit from the act of giving. It still fills my heart whenever I reflect on that exchange.