So I'm on the train, heading from London to Preston. It's rush hour and there are no seats. My colleague and I are standing and I offer to go and buy a couple of bottles of water.
At the till there is a guy in front of me who looks particularly stressed. His tie is pulled down and his top button is open. He looks frazzled and flushed like he has just sprinted to the train.
He offers his loose change over in exchange for two cans of lager. The lady shakes her head as she counts through it and looks up to tell him he is a pound short. With a resigned look he turns to put one back.
Without really thinking I put my two bottles of water on the counter and gave a £5 note to pay, telling the assistant to take the shortfall out of my change and let him have the two beers. "He looks like he needs it," I said.
He couldn't believe it. He couldn't speak! "Really?" he gasped, finally. "You wouldn't believe what a day I've had, mate -- You've just restored my faith in humanity!"
Well now, what's a beer between a couple of blokes who don't know each other?
I just hope that when he got home and his wife asked him -- "How was your day?" -- his answer was changed by my random act of kindness. And I hope his evening with his family (if he has one) was just that little bit better for him and them as a result.
Interestingly, I don't actually care if that happens or not. I felt good about it and a little bit of me changed with the gesture.
Pay it forward!
