(I am about six or seven, and we go to the zoo as part of our family holiday. I miss a step and fall face-first onto a bench, splitting my lip open. Blood everywhere, my mother takes me to the bathroom to deal with the blood, and by pure luck some nurses are in there at the time. They take us to the first aid centre, where again by luck there is an off-duty doctor rather than a first aider, which is normally the case. The decision is made that I don’t require stitches and we eventually continue around the zoo.)

Me: *crying to my mother* “I’m not pretty anymore! I’m not your pretty little girl!”

(At that moment a random couple in gothic clothing walk past, with brightly-coloured mohawks.)

Gothic Guy: “I think you’re the most beautiful person in the whole place.”

(Thank you, mister, for your kindness on a rather terrible day. I will always have the scars on my face, but that day taught me of the kindness of others.)

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(I’m running into the store quickly. Immediately after entering, I see a gentleman in what is obviously a work shirt (name tag and store logo) and he smiles at me.)

Me: “Hi! Can you tell me where the notebooks are?”

Him: *looking down at his shirt* “Well, I don’t actually work here…”

(I belatedly realize that he’s wearing a shirt for a different company, and it’s not even the same color as the shirts for this store.)

Me: “Oh my gosh! I just saw your shirt and didn’t even notice it wasn’t for this store. I’m so sorry!”

Him: “I can show you where they are though; I was just over there…”

(He proceeds to lead me right past two workers for the actual store to where the item was. I was really embarrassed about my mistake but he was so nice and helpful that it made it that much less painful…)

(I get a phone call early to say I need to get to my grandad very quickly. Using trams, buses and trains, I spend the morning travelling the 270 miles as fast as I can, not knowing whether I’ll be in time. When I arrive at his local station, I jump in a taxi, which pulls out into heavy traffic.)

Driver: *cheerfully* “You’re not in a hurry, are you?”

Me: *on the verge of tears* “My Grandad… I don’t know… I just…”

Driver: *looks at me in the mirror* “Oh, love… hang on!”

(He drives the wrong way up a very short (and empty) one way street, bypassing the unmoving traffic, and getting me to the care home in a few minutes. He risked his licence and I got there in time to say goodbye.)

(I’m in the drive-thru of a popular fast food place next in line to the pay window. In the back seat, my six-year-old niece spills her drink. I reach back to help her, thinking I have the car in park, but it rolls forward, bumping the car in front of me. After the driver finishes her transaction, an employee comes out and motions for her to pull ahead a little bit, and both of them examine the back of her car.)

Employee: *looking at bumper* “I don’t see any damage.”

Driver: *also looks, gives me a big smile* “I think we’re okay!”

Me: “I’m SO sorry! Are you sure?”

Driver: *gives me two thumbs up* “Yup, we’re good!”

(She drives off and the employee goes back in and is at the pay window when I get there.)

Employee: “You don’t owe anything. The lady ahead of you paid for your order.”

Me: *flabbergasted* “After I hit her?”

Employee: “No, before you hit her.”

Me: *groans in embarrassment, seeing that the lady is long gone* “Well, then, all I can do is pay for the person behind me!”

This story is part of our Pay It Forward roundup!

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(My cousin has had many problems in his life that left him homeless and jobless. He approaches two strangers, trying to get some money to buy some food.)

Cousin: “Hey man, could you spare a little change so I could get something to eat?”

Stranger #1: “Why don’t you some work experience and get a job, you bum?!”

Cousin: “Okay, are you hiring?”

Stranger #1: “What?! No!”

Cousin: “Well, it sounded like you were offering. How am I supposed to get experience if nobody hires me?”

Stranger #1: *silence*

Stranger #2: “He does have a point. You don’t know his life or what he has been through.” *to my cousin* “Here, buy yourself a sandwich.” *hands my cousin $20* “Have a nicer day.”

(Stranger #1 walks off as my cousin thanks Stranger #2. My cousin eventually got hired by an old friend and moved to Missouri. He is doing much better now and continues to pay forward the kindness of Stranger #2.)