It’s a gloomy, ghastly, piece of shit world out there, folks. Bad things lurk with every strike of the refresh key or turn of a page in a newspaper. But while the night really is dark and full of terrors, occasionally it’s wise to remind yourself that people are, by and large, nice and good.
[jwplayer BJc4no54]
A Twitter thread started earlier this morning by Brooklyn-based author Rachael Berkley sought to do just that by chasing up stories of people’s encounters with complete strangers that have shown them the utmost kindness and generosity, often in times of need.
The stories that it yielded are borderline-overwhelming, but definitely exhibit the absolute best of people that exists only in the seemingly smallest of circumstances; whether it’s a friendly shoulder or a cold beer, or even a literal lift down a mountain after copping a gnarly injury.
Berkley’s original story was the tiniest of gestures from a friendly cab driver.
Please share your stories of the time strangers were good to you. Mine was the cab driver who just calmly handed me an entire box of Kleenex as I wept in the back of a late night cab after saying goodbye to a friend. https://t.co/AF1AiBlLQo
— Rachael Berkey (@bookoisseur) October 16, 2018
From there, it only got more heartwarming.
https://twitter.com/AllisonLantero/status/1052285515628711937
I broke my tailbone while hiking in Cold Spring a couple years ago and a group of strangers literally carried me down a mountain (I don’t even remember taking this pic because I was in so much pain but look how nice these folks are!) pic.twitter.com/ZFLtnMA3Rl
— Kari Paul (@kari_paul) October 16, 2018
I was homeless. It was in a suburb of Chicago in the winter, well below freezing. I’d not eaten or really slept in days.
A Pakistani family who owned a Dunkin Donuts invited me in, fed me hot soup and donuts.
They very literally saved my life.
— Friendsgiving’s #1 Fan (@lynlandon) October 16, 2018
I was walking in Boston lost because I had the wrong address (Should have been in Cambridge), it was pouring rain and I had 2 broken elbows and a car pulled up beside me and handed me a huge orange umbrella before driving away before I could even say thank you.
— Dr. Mindi ✋-er Fried (@MotionDoc) October 16, 2018
Once, I went on a date with a guy I had been really into and it ended poorly with him telling me that he really couldn’t ever see himself being attracted to me physically. I was crying on the light rail, a girl came and sat next to me, handed me a tissue, & put her arm around me https://t.co/YogSUtEFHf
— briefs n baseball (@BriefsNBaseball) October 16, 2018
My hours were decreased at a former job. Money was incredibly tight. I went to put gas in my car ($11.56) and payed at the register inside. My card got declined and I panicked. A kind lady said “I have kids your age. I know it’s hard.” She paid for me and I cried a lot. https://t.co/5UKnVy7vFH
— dako (@tittybops) October 16, 2018
A manicurist pretended to do my nails for 5 mins after I ducked into her store to escape a man who was following me down 6th Ave. As he banged on the window, her coworker called the cops from where he couldn’t see.
After he left, I got a mani pedi and tipped all the cash I had. https://t.co/a8tXLQx23q
— Steph Haberman (@StephLauren) October 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/caitidh/status/1052286360961179648
https://twitter.com/wendyspins/status/1052274724192047106
https://twitter.com/MrBrendanJay/status/1052280670356148224
One of my favorite little things about my dad is his dedication to swiping his MetroCard for tourist families who don’t realize you can’t use paper money on buses and then refusing repayment.
— Felicity Disco (@FelicityDisco) October 16, 2018
I lived in a small town when my brother’s cancer was diagnosed terminal. People we didn’t know would stop by with food, or money, or firewood. Sometimes we would come home and it was there with no explanation.
— Jasmine Stairs (is supposed to be on Hiatus) (@snazel) October 16, 2018
Had to give my dog up for adoption – never felt heartbreak like that before. New owners found my address on his tags and wrote to me, said they could tell that he was well cared for, wanted me to know he is in a loving home with a big yard, retired parents, and other fur pals.
— Jess (@jayjaywuddyasay) October 16, 2018
Also late one night when I was on crutches and in a full leg brace after a surgery, a woman in a taxi saw me on a Manhattan curb right after I realized the closest subway was closed. She had the driver stop, got out, and told him to give me a ride instead.
— Seyward Darby (@seywarddarby) October 16, 2018
I once passed out at the US Open from heat stroke and said I was fine, then took three steps and hit the deck again. Two Southern ladies sat with me and bought me very expensive waters because I said I didn’t want the whole med tent deal
— Whitney McIntosh (@WhitneyM02) October 16, 2018
Wholesome. Too bloody wholesome and good.
There’s an ocean of other stories in the replies of that thread if this lot alone isn’t enough to embiggen the ole’ ticker just a little bit.
Good for the soul, stuff like this. Remember to pay it forward.
