Well, I did something today I've never been able to do before.
I performed a random act of kindness. A big (for me) one.
I was at a local servo and the lady ahead of me went to pay for her fuel and a can of dog food. Card one? Declined. Card 2? Also declined. So, the operator suggests she wander over to the ATM and check her cards. While she does this, I pay for my fuel, and then step back, just as the lady finished on the machine. She tells the op she needs to make a phone call and try find out what happened to her money.
I try to pay and the operator says he needs her nod to do it (and somewhat understandable, as well) so I wander out to her and ask her if she'll accept a random act of kindness. She tries to say no, but I tell her I'm willing to pay, so she then tries to get my number. I refuse to give her that, but I do tell her that, just as I'm paying it forward to her, she needs to take her receipt and pay it forward to someone else who needs the help. It doesn't have to be all in one hit, but just to someone who needs it more than her, and when she was able to do it. She accepts, and we wander in. I pay for her stuff, and the poor lass has tears in her eyes, and even the operator looks a bit glassy-eyed from moisture. She gives me a bit of a hug and we part ways.
All in front of the cameras, fortunately.
I don't mind if she doesn't get to pay it forward for a while, though I hope she eventually does. I've been in the situation where I couldn't pay for some fuel and a stranger helped me out, and I made the same promise I got from her. To pay it forward when I was able to do so. Sure, mine was only $10, but I was in a place to help, and I had the money, so I did. I did it without wanting a reward, but DAMN it feels good to have helped someone like that.
Maybe if more people did that, the world might be a touch nicer
