The Kindness of Strangers

[blueberry]

Does anybody else have any tales of when they were in a tricky situation and strangers helped them resolve it?

I was just recently in a messed up situation where.... I didn't realize how little gas I had in my car and I was on my way home. I pulled into a gas station because my car was out of gas. I figured I would search my car for change and put whatever I found in my tank.... Unfortunately, I only found 14cents because I had used all the hidden change in my car a few days earlier. ROUGH times! lol

I didn't know what to do. My cellphone was dead and there was nobody I could call to come help me out. I bravely went into the gas station, feeling like an IDIOT, and approached a guy in line. "Hi..... I feel incredible stupid approaching you and asking for this....... but my car ran out of gas, I need to get home, I only have 14cents.... *grimace*.... do you think I could bum a dollar or two off of you? ... I don't know what else to do."

He had just gotten his change from a purchase and he handed the woman at the counter back a $10 bill and asked if he could get two fives... then he gave me one. I was feeling incredibly flustered and I told him that I didn't need that much. A couple dollars would be enough to get home. He brushed my concern away and said to everybody standing around the counter that he KNEW what it is was like to be in a situation like that and he was happy to help me out. Another customer agreed and the 2 clerks at the counter enthusiastically agreed and I was floored with gratitude. After the first guy left, the second customer tried to hand me an extra $3 dollars. I was flabbergasted. I insisted that I didn't need his money too but the clerks and the man INSISTED I take it, so I did and I thanked him. Once he left, I went up to the counter to get $8 worth of gas, when the man at that register said, "oh hey... somebody left a dollar fifty in change here earlier so I'll just add that to total."

I left that gas station awestruck. Strangers came together to help me fill my gas with $9.50 when I only needed a couple dollars to get home. Before this happened, I was in a horrible mood because of how problematic my life was but after I left, I couldn't stop smiling. I was overkilled with kindness. They were so happy to help me and the only thing they requested was that if I were one day in their shoes, to pass on their generosity.

Do any of you have a story? It could be of how you helped a stranger too. We're one big human family here! so... pay it forward.

[robc]

I don't want to get all religious on you,
but I think I can assume (you can believe what you will) that God saw your predicament and maybe noticed how low you were feeling lately and decided to give you a lift.

Here's the catch, God gives you alot of potential to do alot of great things in life. It's in you, you just have to realize it and make use of it. He won't do things for you but he can help you.

Maybe it's a bit of a wake up call for you, he lifted you up when you needed a hand. Showed you that there is still good in this world if you will open your eyes to see it, the world is filled with good people still. Plus your empty gas tank is like a metaphor for your life, your own personal tank is running low, you're running on empty, take care of yourself, pick yourself up, fill up your tank and prepare to take yourself to better places, better experiences and a better life.

And when you are doing much better in life and along the way to that better place, when you are presented with the opportunity to help others, friends, family or strangers, take advantage of that opportunity to do the right thing and offer your help.

No matter how small we think we are and how inconsequential we believe we are and how little power we have at our finger tips, we really are more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. We have so much untapped potential to do so many cool, great & wonderful things. We just have to see that we have that ability inside ourselves and take advantage of that potential and run with it.

Keep pressing forward, let go of the past, make the best of today and look forward to a better tomorrow. And when you encounter another person who is down on their luck, pass along the new wisdom you've found out for yourself and improve someone else's life using something as simple as a smile and a little compassion.

That was a great story, thank you for sharing.

[blueberry]

thank you robc

inspiring words. I know you read all about my situation and your take on this story is exactly how I've chosen to look at it. and don't worry about being religious - your interpretation fits snugly into my spiritual way of looking at things.

[Love]

I think it's wonderful when we help each other out. That was a great experience, blueberry.

I also had a transportation mishap, just over a week ago. I hadn't checked my transportation card before I got into the bus. When I found I didn't have enough money on it, I made my way to get off the bus. The bus driver called me back and said we could make it work. I told him I couldn't do it, because I only had a $10 bill, and you have to have singles or change to get on the bus. He told me to come on anyway. So I was feeling pretty grateful about that. Yet, I felt bad about bumming a ride. So I searched into all the nooks and crannies of my bags, and with one hand, slowly starting amassing all the nickels, dimes, and quarters I had around. When I had pulled out everything, I still didn't have enough. Yet the man on the bus standing behind me had seen me trying to get all this change out my bag. He held out some change of his own and said that I could use his to make up the balance. We still didn't have enough. Yet the bus driver arranged it so that the amount on my card counted twice, and we gave in the rest of the change. No one had to help me out. They were all so nice about it.

I try to do what I can. That is not limited to giving money, or even giving "gifts" per se. But the most recent example I can think of happened about 2 hours ago. I've seen the same guy on the train, off and on, for maybe a year? He has a non-functioning leg (he walks with a deep swagger, almost). He always tells the same story: he was released from prison and is now living in a shelter. But he got hit by a car, thus the problem with his leg. He says he's been in surgery twice (and lifts up his shirt to prove it) and that he needs to go for another one. He says he doesn't rob or steal or hurt anyone; that's all past. This time, he went on. He says that he's tired of doing this, asking people all the time... that he feels embarrassed, and then even mentions he needs a haircut. But he says there isn't a whole lot he could do right now, on account of his leg... and just was asking for anyone to help him out with anything. I have given to him before, because he always strikes me as such an honest person. Today I gave him my grapefruit juice and he willingly accepted it. I hope it does him some good. I know what it means to be Tired.

People lending each other a hand makes the world go 'round.

[Plato]

Cool thread. Personally I have none, but not because people haven't helped me... in fact my parents are probably the most supportive people I can imagine existing in the world but I haven't ever appreciated them until now. Sadly I've spent my life since the age of 12 feeling insecure but proud. I've been wallowing in inadequacy and anxiety and occassionally people could tell. When I sensed somebody felt sorry for me I just hated them for belittling my pride.

[sheffy4]

Arg! I've been thinking for about 3 minutes about a time a stranger has helped me, but no specific incident is coming to mind, though I know there have been lots of times!
But I can share a story about when I helped a stranger.
I was driving in the Nevada desert with a friend of mine, and we were far away from any town. We noticed a man sitting on the side of the road with what appeared to be a bike. He waved at us, and we decided to see if he needed help. Apparently he was on some kind of unicycling ride across a couple states, and he had run out of water. So he put his unicycle in the trunk, got in the back of my car, and we gave him a ride to the nearest town. He is the only hitchhiker I have ever picked up, and I am glad that he was so interesting!