Kindness quietly floats around with no-one noticing. It’s high-time we gave it the attention it deserves. (SouthWorks/Getty Images)
Amid the chaos and suffering that seem to dominate our world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless, but Tracy Cohen’s article sheds light on the profound impact of kindness, showcasing heartwarming stories of how small acts of generosity and care have brought joy and comfort to people in need.
The state of the world is brutal. There are ongoing wars, protests and people are generally struggling at every turn. What’s worse is that so much suffering is out of our control, leaving us feeling helpless and hopeless. But, before you get even more depressed, there is a silver lining. Kindness quietly floats around with no one noticing. It’s high time we gave it the attention it deserves, so read on to discover the magic of a single act of kindness in the following people’s lives.
Tyler Pike, 28, who lives in Cape Town, is a South African parasurfer. Last year, he was given the opportunity to participate in the World Championships in Los Angeles, California. He had to raise funds for his airfare, accommodation and spending money. It was tough, but he recalls a friend making a donation to assist him in his fundraising efforts.
“She donated a large sum of money, which really made a difference. It was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me,” he says.
Tyler travelled to California and participated in the competition, and although he was knocked out in the second round of the kneel division, he had the time of his life and was able to meet other parasurfers from around the world.
ALSO READ | ‘I would hate to be 22 in 2024’: Nomzamo Mbatha breaks down body politics in the digital age
Carmen Williams, also from Cape Town, remembers shortly after her partner passed away, she had a bunch of roses that he had given her nearly two weeks before he died.
“I was sad that I couldn’t keep them because, you know, flowers die,” she says. But then a friend of hers visited and they spoke about preserving them somehow.
“My friend remembered a person on Instagram who sets flowers in resin. So, she contacted her, got the flowers from me, had them set in the resin and brought it back to me,” she recalls. She adds that it was paid for by her friend and because of her kind gesture, she will always have the last flowers her late partner gave her.
Azande Sidyiyo, a 30-year-old woman, had just been discharged from hospital in the middle of the night, and after requesting an Uber to take her home, her cellphone ran out of battery. Feeling unsafe, she walked to a nearby petrol station to see if anyone there could help her charge her phone. Instead, a man who lived in the building next door to her offered to walk her home and vowed to keep her safe. When they left, the neighbourhood security guard joined them, and soon after that, a patrol car followed them.
“Eventually, I had two men on each side of me and a car following behind us, all making sure I got home safe,” she recalls.
“One of my best friends in the Netherlands turned 82 yesterday and her daughter offered to pay my fare so that I could also be at the party,” says Jean Mackenzie, a woman who used to live in the Netherlands.
Kindness, however, doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. Sarah Basiak-Arrenburg tells of how her husband cared for her when she was sick with the flu. “His general caring gestures were really amazing,” she says.
It costs nothing to lend a hand or offer support. While it may mean nothing to you, it has the potential to make the person on the receiving end feel uplifted, ushering in a moment of happiness. So, go and smile at a stranger because it is really cool to be kind.
