I just opened my laptop to check what the @ecotrain people have been up to lately. I haven't had much time to do anything other than work & pack, but I won't get into that now. That's another post in the making. Anyway, I read the title of this, and knew I had to write a post for it. Two hours past its deadline but hey, better late than never.

This question is easy to answer, so here we go!

What's the most amazing act of kindness someone has ever done for me? Strangers come to the rescue.

There are four things actually, and I'd like to tell you about all three. I feel it's important, because all four these times it completely changed my views and perspective on things, and the way I used to think about the world.
Amazingly, two of those occasions involved people here, well Steem but they're all here now. So let's dive right in...

Image by Bob Dmyt from Pixabay

1. My desperate plea for help was answered and met in 1-2-3

Three years ago, actually three years ago last July, I had a phone call in the middle of the night, from my best friend in the Netherlands. I will never forget the words she spoke that night... Her 14 year old son was riding his bicycle, got hit by a car, and died instantly. The weeks that followed were the most horrible weeks I've ever had to go through, and at the same time it showed me a lot of things about life, and people in general.
I am not here to relive the whole thing, so I'll just get straight to the point.
In that phone call, I promised my friend I'd be there as soon as I could but when I hung up, I didn't have a clue how to get there.
So I did the only thing I could think of. I posted a plea right here, and asked for help. I needed to borrow money, and I needed it quick, so I could take the journey to be there for my friend, and her family, when she needed me the most.
What happened was beyond my expectations.
Within minutes, quite a few people had come forward, some had already transferred funds into my account.
Now, let me get this straight: some of these people I had known here (on Steemit at the time) for a while, and some I consider friends. However, neither of them had ever met me in real life. And there were even some I hadn't even talked to before, or not much! These actions by these people touched me to the very core of my heart. Just giving money to someone they didn't know in person, just showed how much kindness there still is in this world. It was not only very touching, but also a good lesson about life and human beings in general. Not all humans are selfish. Some will help others without question or guarantees. It made a horrible experience somewhat more bearable, and I will never forget it.

2. And yet another amazing human being in our midst

Three years in a row, I've made it to Steemfest. 2017, 2018, and the last one in 2019. None of these trips went over roses, and with all three I've encountered numerous obstacles. However, it was the one thing each year I was really looking forward to, and the only thing I've done for myself (and ultimately my kids) in more than a decade.

The second year, I encountered some problems as in the last moment, I realized I needed passports for both me, and my daughter as they were about to run out. I hadn't calculated it into my budget (getting a passport here from the embassy is 3 times as expensive as getting it when you live in the Netherlands, and the trip alone will set you back quite a bit). Anyway, I was talking to yet another Steem/Hive friend for some time. We didn't really know each other that well. But without hesitation he offered to help. I booked the appointment for our passports just before the weekend, and our appointments were on Monday. He transferred the money for it via Western Union over the weekend... Again, no questions asked.

He's since helped me quite a few times, and has never asked for anything in return. I've since paid some of his kindness forward to others, and one day I'll be able to repay him. I know our paths will cross in real life sooner rather than later. That, again, is something for another post...

Fun fact about this story: when I arrived at the Western Union for collection, I had to fill out a form with some details. One question was the name of the sender.
Neither of us had ever thought of that. I only knew his user name! Can you imagine the look on the face of that woman behind the counter? 😆

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

3. Me and my prejudice, and the people who changed my views

Years ago, when my eldest daughter was not even two years old, I decided to travel from the Netherlands to Pennsylvania in the US, to see if my marriage had a chance of saving (it didn't, lucky, lucky me).
So I set out with one big suitcase, some hand luggage, my daughter in a carrier on my back...on the long journey to PA. Because it was a budget flight, we landed in New York first, well New Ark to be precise, from where we had to get to the bus station in New York, to catch the bus to Pennsylvania. On the plane, things had already been tough, with a tiny toddler who had to sit on my lap during the 8 hour flight... She was very active and got quite upset when she had to just sit there, understandably so.
The people on the plane complaining, sighing, and groaning about the noise and cries she made were mostly Dutch. Sorry Dutchies, but we seem to be the most complaining people on earth... However, two ladies from the US would grab my daughter whenever she ran past, and would keep her busy for a few minutes so I could catch my breath. Later when we were waiting in line to get through customs, they did the same. Without them, that trip would have been so much harder. They made it bearable.

Then once we got through customs, there was very little time to get to our connecting bus, because we had had a delay in our flight. We hopped on a taxi, and got to the bus station less than 10 minutes before the last bus that day would depart. It was HUGE and I had no clue where I needed to go when a homeless looking man approached me, gave me a big smile, and asked where I was going. I told him, and he grabbed my suitcase, told me to follow him and started running. That's where my darker, prejudiced side kicked in. I thought he was stealing our suitcase! So I ran for dear life. Only moments later, he stopped...at the bus stop, right in front of the bus we needed to be on. So he didn't want to steal my suitcase...I couldn't just be grateful...no, this is where another negative thought crossed my mind: He must have done it for a tip...
Nope, none of that. He dropped the suitcase where it needed to go, wished us a good trip. I could barely mutter a thank you, and he was back on his way...That experience was very humbling for me. Not all people in big cities want something from others all the time. There are always people who just want to help. I felt very guilty for thinking the worst, twice...

4. When complete strangers do the unexpected

Long story short: This is quite a while ago. I had just arrived in Vegas two/three weeks earlier. The business collaboration I was supposed to have didn't work out. I was basically left in Las Vegas. No place to stay, hardly any money left, and desperate.
I had two choices: go home, which I didn't want, or stay to see where it would lead. One big issue: no home or enough money to even consider staying.
I was at the bus stop, not knowing where I was going, or what I was going to do, when the woman beside me asked: "What's wrong?" I still don't know how she just knew. But she did. I decided I had nothing to lose, so I told her everything. From the moment I got there, how my supposed business partner expected something else from me, and just left me when I didn't want that. That I had come from St. Martin with what I had saved for 6 months, only to have it all disappear in less than two weeks...I told her about not knowing what to do. That I was thinking of calling the embassy, and ask them to help me get home. How I really didn't want that. And so on.
She listened to my story, never judging. When I was done, she handed me a card. She told me her boss was working in immigration, and I should call her because she might be able to help. I gratefully took the card when the bus came. She said that was her bus, gave me a big hug and got up to get on the bus. This gesture alone brightened my day like nothing else before. But it wasn't all.
Since I had been upset, I hadn't noticed that while I was telling my story, the bus stop had slowly been filling with people, all catching the same bus. Most of them must had heard my story. What happened next was even more unexpected, and it was an extension of what had already happened. It put me with both feet back on the ground, and made me realize that there are still good people, even in a place where you wouldn't expect it.
As the people at the bus stop were lining up to get on the bus, every single one handed me money. EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! Some a little, some a little more. But it doesn't matter how much they gave me. It was the act of kindness from total strangers that was important. I sat there sobbing, tears of gratitude, I thanked everyone. It restored some of my trust in humanity and deeply touched my soul.
The money helped me to get a room for two nights. Not much you think, but in those two extra days in Las Vegas, I ended up with a job. I ended up staying in the city for almost 3 years. And the rest is history.

Conclusion

Neither one of those stories was about the money people offered. Of course, it happened when I needed it the most. But it wasn't about that. The knowledge, that there are people on this earth, willing to help complete strangers, or at least someone they'd never met in person, is proof that there is still good in this world. Especially in these times, they are good memories to have and remember.

How about you? What experiences do you have of acts of kindness from others?