On The Kindness of Strangers
The world can be an ugly place and it feels like it’s getting uglier with all the hatred that is on display lately. Sometimes, I’m so overwhelmed by the heaviness of it all that I question if there’s any goodness in human beings. Thankfully, I am reminded that there is through the kindness, generosity and love I have been fortunate to experience over the years.
2017 has been a tough year for me but I wanted to end the year with gratitude. It’s easy for people that know you and love you to be kind to you, but another thing all together for strangers to go out of their way for you. I want to share some stories of kindness I experienced from strangers this year that made 2017 less terrible. I don’t know these people and I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again, but I am so grateful. Thank you!
1. I forgot my wallet
I was having a rather stressful morning as I had an unexpected meeting that I could not miss. I basically ran out of the house and thought I’d done really well time wise considering the short notice I’d been given. Just when I was starting to relax, the conductor started making his way to me and I realized, when I reached into my bag, that I hadn’t carried my wallet. My bag can be a blackhole so I pretty much emptied it on my lap but it made no difference. At this point, it was already too late to alight as we were getting into the CBD.
Just when I was wondering if the conductor would agree to MPesa, a lady old enough to be my mother handed me a 100 bob note. I gave the money to the conductor and after thanking the lady, I asked her for her number so I could MPesa the money back to her. She would not have it and was even slightly annoyed that I had asked. She told me I reminded her of her daughter, wished me a good day and alighted. I let the conductor keep the change as my little way of paying her kindness forward.
2. My shoe sank
I love my city Nairobi but truth be told, Nairobi can be ugly when it rains. It gets especially bad when you’re a pedestrian and the city is flooding. I was unfortunately, caught up in one of those thunderstorms that turns Nairobi into a river and leaves it at a standstill for hours. By the time I got close to home, it was well past 9pm yet I had started making my way at 5pm. The road to the house was flooded and I had to wade through muddy water. Luckily, I had a dress on so I just lifted it up a little and tried to keep my mind off what exactly was in the water that I was wading in. I tripped on something and in the struggle in trying to keep my balance, one of my shoes slipped off.
After about 5 minutes trying to find my shoe, phone flashlight on and everything, I was ready to give up and hobble home with one shoe. This man came up from behind me and asked what I was doing and I cautiously explained. To my surprise, he dipped his hands into the muddy water and looked for my shoe. When he found the shoe, he cleaned it as best as he could and handed it to me, helped me navigate to a shallower place to wade through and then bid me good night. That act of kindness made me forget what a stressful evening I had just had.
3. I left my phone in a bus
I alighted a bus in hurlingham and started walking down Chaka road for a meeting I had there. All of a sudden, I heard someone shouting, ”Madam, madam!” I turned to look and there was a man standing at the stage, waving frantically. I figured there’s no way he was waving at me because I did not know him and kept walking, increasing my pace as the shouting was a little annoying.
The shouting did not stop and when I turned to look back, there was the man running and waving. I looked ahead and there was no one else there so I started to wonder if I was the madam he was referring to. I panicked as I went over the reasons as to why a strange man would be shouting and running towards me. Just to be on the safe side, I stood next to a nearby residential gate and waited for him to catch up. To my surprise, he handed me my phone. Apparently, I had left it on the bus seat after alighting. He had gotten on after me and realizing what had happened, opted to alight and give me my phone. I was incredibly grateful and offered to buy him lunch but he declined and made a joke about how I was fast walker and should share my secret. He was then off without another word.
There are so many stories of strangers who have been kind to us and I would love to know some of yours. Share them with me in the comments section and I will reward 5 of the best with Ksh 1000 each worth of airtime courtesy of Safaricom. Follow the conversation online on #Twaweza and #OneGoodThing
Happy Holidays!
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Angels in Nairobi
Yes, there are quite a few thankfully! Thank you for reading.
I was meeting someone along Mombasa road and I wasn’t too familiar with the place. unfortunately my phone got stolen on my way there in the matatu and a stranger at the stage where i alighted offered to help me with his phone to make a call. #onegoodthing
This year I was forced to resign from my former work place. So finances have been a challenge. How am I even alive? I tried suicide and a stranger spoke life to me. Sometime in September my house was locked over rent arrears. Two strangers, one of them on Twitter paid my rent. Another has done my shopping. Random people that I don’t even know. I have a million reasons to say thank you for this year. The person who paid my rent has also been patient with me to get back on my feet, always checking on me and encouraging me. If that ain’t kindness I don’t know what kindness is.
Hi Erick, thank you for reading and for sharing! I am so sorry to hear that your year has been difficult. I’m glad that generous people were brought your way to help you get back on your feet. Share your details (full names and phone number) to my email hi@mwendengao.com so I can send you the airtime. Happy holidays!
Devine Biker’s Friend and the Ooh soo Good Doctor.
Battling with endometriosis I did not know what it was then. Just thought of the pains then as normal cramping. One day it got worse to a point I thought I was almost dying. All I could do was toss,turn and cry. Called my rider turns out he was off work..Unlucky ey? Turns out not.
Some minutes later I hear someone at the gate. Turns out my rider had asked one of his friends to come pick me (I later learnt that he was not even a rider himself. He was called to help and was more than willing to since my rider’s bike was available) and so he did. Getting to the clinic I was at a point where the pain was soo unbearable I couldn’t even cry, to date I do not know how I managed that ride. He carried me in and the doctor attended to me. An hour or so later the pain was minimal and I decided to go back home and not keep the guy who had brought me waiting. My Mpesa balance catered for testing but was not enough for medication. The doctor just wrapped the meds for me and with a smile said ‘you need them. It’s on me. Either way we’re sure to meet’ LMFAO we’d later date Idk how and I’d find out he dropped by the clinic to help and pass time on his off days from his work.
My riders friend would then drop me off back home and wish me well saying he was glad to help. #Twaweza #OneGoodThing
Hi Carol, thank you so much for sharing and for reading! I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Endometriosis is no joke and I’m glad you’re managing well. This is such a heartwarming story and I’m so glad it has a happy ending. Share your details (full names and ID number) to my email hi@mwendengao.com so I can send you the airtime. Happy holidays!
My Secret Santa last year got me books and what made it so special was the fact that I didn’t know anything about him and all I got him was 50bob airtime. I was so mortified because I didn’t put much thought into mine.
It know doesn’t sound big but it made me feel quite special.
Hi Martin, thanks for sharing and for reading! I’m glad you were happy. Hopefully, you were a better Secret Santa this year… Share your details (full names and phone number) to hi@mwendengao.com so I can send you your airitme. Happy holidays!
#Twaweza #OneGoodThing I was from shopping didn’t have enough cash for a nduthii home. Someone noticed that I was with heavy luggage and they offered me their assistance till somewhere near where I stay
Hi Nathan, thanks for sharing and for reading! I’m glad you came across someone willing to help. Share your details (full names and phone number) to hi@mwendengao.com so I can send you your airitme. Happy holidays!
The way Safaricom came through for me in July after my incident. I still can’t believe their kindness and awesomeness towards me. From paying to a therapist to checking up on me daily, I’m still in awe
Hi Susan, thanks for sharing and for reading! I’m so glad you’re okay and you were able to get the support you needed. Share your details (full names and phone number) to hi@mwendengao.com so I can send you your airitme. Happy holidays!