(I’m really, REALLY stressed out. I’m looking for a house, I’m looking for a job, and I’m trying to finish my studies. None of these are going well. I have just been in a job interview which I didn’t feel went that well. I’m trying to remember where is the bus stop I used to get to the area but find another one much closer. I’m not sure if the bus that stops there goes where I want it to so I approach the man at the stop to ask. It’s worth noting that I tend to speak a lot with my hands and babble on even to strangers, especially if I’m stressed.)

Me: “Excuse me; does this bus go to downtown?”

Man: “It sure does. And your timing is perfect: the next one arrives in a few minutes.”

Me: “Oh, good. Wasn’t sure if this was the right stop so I had to check.” *the man seems a little confused, so I explain* “I’ve never been around this area before. I just came here for a job interview.”

Man: *nods* “I see. I hope you get it.”

Me: “Yeah, me too. It’s pretty hectic, since I’m trying to find a job and an apartment at the same time while finishing up my studies. Got a lot on my plate and it’s sometimes exhausting.” *by this point, I’m gesturing pretty wildly as I talk*

Man: “Well, you seem like you can handle it.”

Me: “Really? What makes you say so?”

Man: “You just seem like you’ve got the temperament for it. Like you could have ten things to do at once and still get them done no problem. I’m sure someone will hire you and you’ll get everything in order.”

Me: *I’m smiling by now, taken aback by the unexpected encouragement* “Thanks. That’s really kind of you to say.”

(The man nods and smiles. At this point, we see the bus approaching and I dig up my bus card. As I gesture the bus to stop, the man notices my fingerless gloves. They are dark brown with a fur lining across the knuckles and a couple of small fur balls hanging from the wrist.)

Man: *chuckles* “I like your gloves, by the way. They look fun.”

(We got on the bus which was pretty full so we ended up sitting away from each other, but the man had me smiling for a long time. After a rough morning, a little bit of encouragement and a simple compliment were enough to make the rest of my day so much better. It goes to show it doesn’t take much to help people.)

(The night before my partner of three years abruptly broke up with me. As I work at a very small historic site and we have a big tour planned of a senior citizen center, I have to go into work literally hours after the breakup. After giving the tour and being able to hold myself together, a couple starts asking me questions. I wear a ring on my ring finger because it was a family gift and that’s the only finger it fits on. The couple notices.)

Husband: “Ah, I see; you’re married.”

Me: “Oh, no. It’s just the only place the ring fit.”

Wife: “Did a nice man give that to you?”

Me: “Uh, no. I don’t have one of those I guess.”

Husband: “Oh, don’t worry. You are so smart and pretty; soon guys will be fighting for you.”

Wife: “And with that smile, oh, you’ll have them lining up!”

(Though it was completely unrelated to history, this couple made me feel a bit brighter about the future.)

(I am walking home one day from work when a car slows down next to me. The driver catcalls, offers a ride, everything short of a proposition. Eventually he drives off leaving me thoroughly creeped out. A moment later, a car full of young women slows beside me.)

Driver: “Hey, we saw that guy bothering you. Are you okay?”

Me: “No, not really. I’m worried he’s going to follow me home and my roommate won’t be back for an hour.”

Driver: “Hop in. We’re going to [Restaurant]. You can come!”

(And that’s how I ended up at a fast food restaurant with a bunch of strangers, sharing shrimp poppers and laughing. They got me home safely and I’ll never forget their kindness!)

(I’ve had a full on day which has involved me being in classes for my university degree an hour away, and then race back home to start the closing shift at work as soon as I can. A few minutes from work I hear a loud noise in the car. Since it’s still driving fine, I assume something hit the undercarriage. However, when I’m pulling into work, I can feel one of my front tires go. I pull into the first carpark I see, conveniently out the front of my work, to inspect the damage. I swear pretty loudly, and get my phone out to call RACQ (roadside assistance) when I hear a voice pipe up.)

Man: “Need a hand, love?”

(It’s one of the regulars I know by sight from work.)

Me: “If you don’t mind, that’d be brilliant.”

Man: “I’ll just pump it up and see if it’s a puncture or if it’s just flat.”

(Thanking him profusely, I quickly run in, get changed into work clothes and let my colleague know I’ll be a bit late. I come back, he tells me it’s a puncture, and I’m about to call roadside again, because I couldn’t expect him to do anymore.)

Man: “Do you have a spare? I’ve got the tools; I can get this one off for you and put it on?”

Me: “Are you sure it’s not too much trouble? I can call RACQ if it is.”

Man: “Not at all.”

(Again, I thank him profusely, and step back to try and make phone calls about getting a new tire, because I have university early the next morning. The closest tire place is down the other end of the complex, and closing in 15 minutes. They say they can fix it if I get there before then but I’m resigning myself to missing class the next day because I wouldn’t be able to walk it down that quickly, once it was off. The man hears my end of the conversation and when I hang up.)

Man: “Was that down at [Tire Place]?”

Me: “Yeah, they just close shortly, so I’ll probably just have to get it fixed tomorrow.”

Man: “If you’d like, we can jump in my car and go and get it fixed now?”

Me: *knowing the guy a bit from work, I trust him* “Are you sure? I feel like I’m asking too much.”

Man: “No dramas at all. I’ll just finish getting this off.”

(I quickly ran into the store I work in, take $20 out of my account to say thank you, and go back out. He was getting the punctured tire in his car when I got there. He drove me the two minutes down the road, and waited patiently while it got fixed and I pay for it. I got back and he didn’t stop; he actually put the fixed tire back in again. This all took about half an hour, and I couldn’t thank him enough. I tried to give him the money to say a little thank you but he refused. All he said was that he has a couple of daughters and hoped someone would do the same if they were in that situation. He really restored my faith in humanity, and turned what could’ve been a horrible day, into a good, albeit expensive, one.)

(I live in a small subdivision with mostly working class families. We all try to watch out for everyone else’s kids when they are playing together outside. I hop in my car to go down to the local convenience store and pass my kid playing with a group of about ten other kids a couple blocks away.)

My Kid: “Bye! Have a good night at work!”

Me: “I’m just going to the store. I’ll be right back.”

(All the other kids start jokingly calling out orders. I drive to the store and buy what I needed. As I’m being rung up I see a box of candies that are 15 cents each. I buy the whole box. When the cashier gave me an odd look, I just say:)

Me: “I’m about to make it rain.”

(Driving back I pass the same group of kids, slow down, and just start flinging candy out the window.)

Me: “It’s a parade!”

Kids: “YAAAAAY!” *start scrambling for the candies*

Me: *out the window as I drive off* “EVERYBODY SHARE WITH EVERYONE ELSE!”

(I get home and sit on my porch. A few minutes later the kids stampede past me.)

Me: “Where are you guys going?”

Kid: *out of breath from running* “You said share, so we’re going to go split it with the kids up the hill!”

(They ran about eight blocks to share their loot with kids they weren’t even playing with at the time who would never have known about it if they hadn’t shared. I have never been more proud of those little hooligans. It cost me less than twenty, bucks, but the feeling I get when I think about it… Can’t put a price-tag on that.)