Hey,

I've been suffering from severe social anxiety for 15 years. I've done a lot of work in therapy to recover and at the moment, find myself struggling to learn that not all people are bad..

I thought I'd start this thread where we could share our experiences of when we've seen kindness in people These can be really simple everyday situations!

I'll start with a couple of things from the past few weeks. One day, I was leaving the shop when my bike lock got jammed. I was too shy to ask for help and tried and tried to get it to open myself, but failed. In the end, I asked a man passing me if he could help me. Smiling, he seemed happy to help. Even he found it hard to get the lock to open, but he managed it in the end. I was so grateful, not only for his help, but for getting this proof of human kindness!

Another time, I was in the shop and there were two men in the queue before me. The first man forgot something in his basket, and the one behind him noticed it and hurried to give it to the cashier. The first man thanked him and they jovially exchanged a few words about forgetting things (they were elderly men). It was all so simple, but I was so delighted to witness this gentle kind-hearted exchange

I'd be really grateful to hear your stories!

[lizardlady]

What a great idea! I know I have some stories to share, but am not really awake yet. Will come back and add some later.

[ptangptang]

Yep, these are the things that oil the wheels of society and make things that bit nicer for everybody. Most people are decent. Society today though is so warped that you have to think twice about doing things in case they are misinterpreted or you put yourself in danger.. I tend to do it instinctively and then think about it afterward.

[Gus1234U]

i missed my bus, and got stranded at the market, on oxygen with a low tank, and the manager was going to the bank, and heard about it from a checker, and gave me a ride home.

it was only 2 miles, but it's against the rules, and he broke them for me.
there is no feeling quite like gratitude for extinguishing fear.

[mugwort2]

The support of my sister and my girl friends are giving me over me being harressed by a woman who I used to be friends with. If you care to know more see woman is harressing me. I think she's delusional in this forum.

Okay, this is literally an every day kindness.

In our local hospital we have shops/cafes which are entirely staffed by volunteers, these tend to be retired ladies and they always have a kind smile as they serve you. It's such an important service because many people in hospital are going through a very difficult time - the kindness of these volunteers just makes things that little bit easier.

I have more but this one is for starters, n.d.y thanks for starting this thread - there is a lot of kindness out there.

[divine1966]

My fiancée recently had heat stroke in a gym and fainted and there was elderly gentleman working out near by who saw it and tried to catch him, he couldn't catch him as my fiancée is a big guy. Later when my fiancée got of it and ambulance already arrived and were fussing over him etc that man was actually apologizing that he was unable to catch my fiancée! My fiancée was very appreciative of the man even trying to catch him!

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[lizardlady]

This sounds so small, but has a huge impact on me. At the school where I'm based staff always smile and greet me in the halls.

Thank you all so much for taking part in this! It's really helpful

Do any of you find that when people are nice, it makes you feel like crying? I always feel like that and find it kind of sad that really small and simple acts of kindness are so amazing to me that they make me emotional - when I think that's how everyone should behave! But I guess when you've known something different (in my case, throughout the most formative years of my life as I was scared of my dad..) you will be surprised and moved to realise not everyone is like that - that many people are actually kind, respectful and caring..

[winter4me]

On several occasions in my life I have lost wallets/bags with money in them---these have always been returned to me with the money (once $250...). Seriously, at least three times with substantial cash.
People stop to help when the car breaks down.
Asking for help is another thing .... I once walked 12.5 miles home from work as my car was out of commission ....(to a destination likely shared by many others at the large, county facility)
I do feel like crying sometimes. It touches something so deep.
When I was caring for my mother, who had dementia, I knew it was time to have her in day care while I worked after a stranger brought her home---finding the house by the ID in her wallet. He had watched her wandering, realized she was lost, and stepped in to help.
Another time she was lost, a local cabbie brought her home---& refused to take any money. wow..........the more I think...the more I remember...thank you for this.

A small but sweet act of kindness today.

I was buying a couple of cupcake carriers in a discount store today. When I got to the checkout the young man (only around 17/18 years) asked if he could open them and stack them inside each other for me, which he then did, so they would be less bulky to carry. Then he asked if I would like him to put them in my bag.

It might not sound much but this was a discount store, a young man on minimum wage, and a quiet shop (no supervisor watching over him). He just did it because he is a thoughtful, helpful and polite person.

I have received poor (snooty) service in expensive stores (Fortnum & Masons!!) so it just shows that these traits cannot be bought.

Originally Posted by not.dead.yet

Thank you all so much for taking part in this! It's really helpful

Do any of you find that when people are nice, it makes you feel like crying? I always feel like that and find it kind of sad that really small and simple acts of kindness are so amazing to me that they make me emotional - when I think that's how everyone should behave! But I guess when you've known something different (in my case, throughout the most formative years of my life as I was scared of my dad..) you will be surprised and moved to realise not everyone is like that - that many people are actually kind, respectful and caring..

Yes kindness can be so very touching. A friend of mine has been going through a crisis and everytime I offer to help or give a kind word she goes to tears. I understand it's overwhelming for her.

Myself I have struggled with feelings of being undeserving so accepting kindness can be a challenge, although I am very grateful and appreciative.

[Finniky]

Originally Posted by not.dead.yet

Do any of you find that when people are nice, it makes you feel like crying?

All the time! When i am at home and people do nice things in movies I cry. My fiance finds it incredibly amusing.

This story is a reminder that even when you are totally down and out, that is not an excuse to do the wrong thing

My mom was given an extra 300 dollars by a scrap shop, shortly before she had to file for bankrupty. (She was collecting scrap, desperate for money) their logging showed it was correct by what they inputted, but it wasnt. My mom didnt open the money envelope til she got home so she didnt realize. Everything on the transaction slip checked out, but she knew the weight of her scrap was much, MUCH less than what they logged. She drove all the way back and returned the extra 300 dollars even though she desperately needed money.

Sorry, i just like telling that story.
Related to kindess.. One time a guy delivered my wallet to my home when it fell out of my car on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere when i got out to check my tire. Just some guy.

[divine1966]

Both my dad and my daughter lost their wallets in random public places and both times wallets were returned with all their content untouched, cash and all.

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[Hairball]

I am blessed to experience this pretty regularly where I work which is a rescue for dogs and cats.

Whenever we are in need of something it always works out, there is always someone there ready to give.

I was totally taken by surprise when I started there by the kids especially. I had never heard of kids having birthday parties and requesting the gifts not be for the birthday boy/girl but for a rescue animal.

I would say that at least 50% of our contributions of food, money, beds, and toys are from these types of parties.

We have also had people that passed away leave money to us because their beloved pet was adopted from us. Who thinks of that?

Thank you again for sharing your stories

I was reminded of a couple who helped my grandmother with Alzheimer's when they saw her wandering around town in the middle of winter with no coat on. They went to talk to her and she let them call my uncle from her phone. My uncle told them where my grandmother lived and they walked her home.

Lovely cashiers can really make a day better, too! It really annoys me how badly some people treat them, not even bothering to say hello. It always brightens up my day when they're nice!

So many stories of wallets being returned as well I wasn't so lucky, once had my handbag with pretty much all my valuables stolen.. BUT I myself once found a phone in the street, found 'mum' in the contacts and called her, eventually returning this little kid's phone.

Also, my mum and I once came across a puppy in the street. He followed us home where I put him on a leash and set off to find his home. We came across his owner who'd frantically gone around on his bike trying to find the dog. He was so grateful we'd caught him so he wasn't run over by a car.

When things were starting to go downhill for me with depression, my husband tried to get me out of the house (as people who are new to it will often do).

We went to a public place where I had to sit and tell him to go ahead with one of the kids to see something.

I had my sunglasses on so there were no facial clues there...but a woman came over to me and just patted me on the back and told me that she was sorry that I was hurting.

I will never know how she knew anything was wrong, but it really, really touched me. Just the memory of it makes me tear up.

This is an excellent thread...thank you.

Originally Posted by sophiesmom

When things were starting to go downhill for me with depression, my husband tried to get me out of the house (as people who are new to it will often do).

We went to a public place where I had to sit and tell him to go ahead with one of the kids to see something.

I had my sunglasses on so there were no facial clues there...but a woman came over to me and just patted me on the back and told me that she was sorry that I was hurting.

I will never know how she knew anything was wrong, but it really, really touched me. Just the memory of it makes me tear up.

This is an excellent thread...thank you.

I think some people are highly attuned to the emotions of others, she probably had observed your body language - but most wonderful of all she knew exactly what was needed.

When I was struggling with d, plus physical stuff, a woman I barely knew at my running club came up to me and hugged me one night. I guess she could sense my pain. It gave me amazing comfort - it was exactly what I needed. I was able to repay her hug months later when she herself was going through a family crisis.

[LeeAnthony]

Hearing a genuine thank you is always great.

[handheart]

Yes in the world are also good people also and they can help you if you ask the help.Important its to put out the head in the world and leave out from home and pc

[mf1438]

Originally Posted by not.dead.yet

Hey,

I've been suffering from severe social anxiety for 15 years. I've done a lot of work in therapy to recover and at the moment, find myself struggling to learn that not all people are bad..

I thought I'd start this thread where we could share our experiences of when we've seen kindness in people These can be really simple everyday situations!

I'll start with a couple of things from the past few weeks. One day, I was leaving the shop when my bike lock got jammed. I was too shy to ask for help and tried and tried to get it to open myself, but failed. In the end, I asked a man passing me if he could help me. Smiling, he seemed happy to help. Even he found it hard to get the lock to open, but he managed it in the end. I was so grateful, not only for his help, but for getting this proof of human kindness!

Another time, I was in the shop and there were two men in the queue before me. The first man forgot something in his basket, and the one behind him noticed it and hurried to give it to the cashier. The first man thanked him and they jovially exchanged a few words about forgetting things (they were elderly men). It was all so simple, but I was so delighted to witness this gentle kind-hearted exchange

I'd be really grateful to hear your stories!

Thanks for starting the thread. I'm sorry to be jumping on it so late.

I'm having a rough time with friendships. It seems like I always end up doing something or saying something to alienate people. But I'm learning. And a few people have reached out to me to offer much needed moral support. Thank you.

[Michelea]

This is a great thread!

I had driven to a convenience store one day, and I must have run over something sharp on the road getting there...one of my tires was flat, flat, flat when I got to the store. A man pulled up next to me and asked if he could help. We aired up the tire at the air pump in the parking lot, and although we could see it going flat again, he thought it would probably hold air long enough to get me to the tire store.

Then, instead of going into the convenience store as he had originally planned, he actually followed me to the tire store in case my tire didn't hold air long enough to get me there. It was close, but we hit green lights the entire way and made it.

He refused my offer of money to pay for his lunch or dinner. He just smiled, said he was glad to help, and drove away. Still makes me smile when I think about this.

[divine1966]

I just recalled how when I first moved out of my ex's house to my own place I was moving furniture and hurt my back. So I was laying on a floor in a living room quietly crying from pain, I assumed no one would see me. This lady walked by my patio and saw me and went back to her place to bring me big jar or fruit juice. She didn't speak a word of English, she knocked on my screen and just gave me juice. I didn't want to take it but she insisted, she was just smiling and touching my hand. It brightened my day as it was good juice ( mango with something), later when I felt better I went to get her something but they moved out

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[mf1438]

Originally Posted by Michelea

This is a great thread!

I had driven to a convenience store one day, and I must have run over something sharp on the road getting there...one of my tires was flat, flat, flat when I got to the store. A man pulled up next to me and asked if he could help. We aired up the tire at the air pump in the parking lot, and although we could see it going flat again, he thought it would probably hold air long enough to get me to the tire store.

Then, instead of going into the convenience store as he had originally planned, he actually followed me to the tire store in case my tire didn't hold air long enough to get me there. It was close, but we hit green lights the entire way and made it.

He refused my offer of money to pay for his lunch or dinner. He just smiled, said he was glad to help, and drove away. Still makes me smile when I think about this.

This is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!!

Amazing stories, thank you so much for sharing!

I was reminded of a time when I'd had a particularly upsetting therapy session, I was distraught. Back then, I absolutely HATED people seeing me cry, especially strangers. I'd managed to pull myself together before I left my therapist's office, but by the time I got to the train station, I'd broken down in tears again. I found a lonely seat as quickly as I could and covered my face with my hand. I suddenly felt someone stuff something into my hand. I took my hand off my face, saw paper in my other hand and looking up, saw the ticket lady give me a small warm smile, then she walked on. I was so touched.

Once, a friend of mine had just moved abroad to a country where she didn't speak the language very well. On her walk one night, she went past a building where a girl had locked herself on the balcony without a phone. My friend managed to talk to her and call her mum who sent someone over who had a key to the girl's flat to let her in.

Once on a night out, I came across a girl who was completely wasted. She started talking to me and my friends at a bus stop. My friends and I decided to walk to a near-by night club and the girl reckoned she'd go there, too. However, she couldn't get in as she was so drunk. She then reckoned she'd walk home - via a pitch black park.. I felt I couldn't let her go on her own as she kept falling down just standing there. I insisted my friend and I walk with her and see she gets home alright. She was adamantly against this but finally gave in. It would have normally been a five-minute walk but took us almost 30 mins as we had to support her, and it was one step forward, three back.. She lived on the fourth floor and I don't know how she thought she'd manage the spiral staircase on her own. I was so happy we went with her and she got home safely!