Random Act of Kindness

I visit my son and his wife on Russell Island in Moreton Bay regularly.  It is a 30 km drive from my home, to the Marina, and it is a challenge sometimes to get a park in a very busy car park.  On my last visit, I easily found a park, and headed to the terminal, and had to run as there was a ferry preparing to depart.  I made it. Phew!

On boarding, I walked to the closest “Senior’s Seating” and watched the sea on the short trip to the island.  It was a very high tide, higher than I had ever seen before, and it was a little rough with the sea not as calm as it usually was.

As we approached the first stop, a man who was seated not far from me, stood up and walked to get to the head of the line of passengers departing at the first stop.  He didn’t notice that he had dropped his keys as he stood up, and I called out to him  and pointed to his keys.  He looked with surprise and quickly retrieved them.  I noted that he didn’t say anything to me.  No thank you, but that was ok.

On my return trip, I departed the ferry at the terminal and made my way to my car, and as I reached it, a car pulled up nearby, and the man in the driver’s seat, wound his window down and asked if I was about to leave.

The Beautiful Rose

I said “Yes, you can have this spot, but there is one there.” I pointed to a vacant spot close by.  It took me only a few minutes to load my little trolley and get to the driver’s seat ready to depart, and just as I was to turn the key on, a lady approached my car.

She was a passenger in the car seeking a parking spot.  In her hand, she had a lovely rose, and she handed it to me, thanking me for being kind and helping her and her husband quickly find a spot to park.   I smiled and thanked her, as I accepted the lovely gift, and as I departed I reflected on the two events of that day.  The man who couldn’t even say “thank you”, and the lady who was so keen to do so, and made my day with the lovely gift of the rose.  (The photo is of the rose she gave me.)

When I returned home, I picked up a special book that I have had for some years – stories of Random Acts of Kindness.  It was published in 2002, and has wonderful stories.

I have decided to promote Random Acts of Kindness in 2026 – and note it is World Kindness Day in November this year.

Do you have a good Random Act of Kindness story?