An act of kindness is one of the best gifts you can give to anyone, not just because it's the right thing to do but also because it goes on to give people hope, a chance to live again, and much more. Several people out there are going through a lot, and a simple act of kindness could just be that thing they needed to reshape their lives for good. And when it comes to kindness, we shouldn't only show it to people we know but also towards total strangers who need our help. I, for one, have been on the receiving end of acts of kindness from strangers on several occasions, and today I'd love to share one of those scenarios with you.
Like I said above, I've been privileged to be helped and shown kindness on several occasions, which I've talked about here, one of which I can't forget in a hurry: when I was given shelter and was well fed by a total stranger for about two years during my undergraduate days. It's one thing to be shown such kindness by a total stranger; it's another thing that such is coming from a fellow student who's of the opposite gender, and that's not forgetting the manner in which she did it. Despite rising concern and challenges from her roommate and boyfriend, she insisted on helping me, and that's why I call her the lady with a heart of gold.
Another such act of kindness was even mind-blowing, especially because it had to do with a total stranger saving my life from the hands of one of the most dangerous terrorist groups in Nigeria, Boko Haram, to be precise. In this article, I had disregarded the warning of my supervisors at NYSC all because I was clouded by my desire to explore the beautiful landscape of the Sahel, and that decision almost cost me my life. Luckily for me a fellow passenger whom I've been playing with his kid stepped up in my defense when the gang started killing people of other tribes in the vehicle ahead of us; I definitely can't forget that man as well.
The act of kindness I want to talk about today happened recently, just about two weeks ago, when I had to travel to my workplace, the district headquarters, for my promotion exercise. Though this act might sound so simple when I'm done sharing it, for someone who has found himself in such situations on several occasions and knows how he was treated then, I can't help but recognize a kind gesture when I receive one. So I'm certain you're wondering what it is. Well, during that trip, I developed a running stomach that makes me want to poo, but there's no toilet space I can use around the office.
So I had to run out looking for any offices or business owners that would allow me to use their toilet space to relieve myself before the pressing became unbearable and I'd shit my pants. To cut the long story short, I had approached at least 8 business places, including their security guards, but none agreed to let me relieve myself in their toilet, and so with sweat running down my head and clothes wet, I proceeded until I got to a certain restaurant and told the security guy my ordeal. He immediately asked me to follow him inside and showed me the rest room, where I finally relieved myself.
By the time I was done and had cleaned up, I walked up to him and tried to appreciate his kind gesture by giving him some cash, but he refused. I even went back to the restaurant to buy the kind of intercontinental food and snacks they're selling so I could give them to him, but he declined it, saying he just helped me because he knew I needed it and the toilet space is just there and would be clean daily regardless of if anyone used it or not. I was overwhelmed with emotions, and I thanked him before going back to continue my promotion exercise.
Despite how simple these acts of kindness might seem, I'm very grateful to the security guy, because had he turned me down like everyone else, I might have shit my pants, and only God knows how I'd have found my way back home that day, given the fact that I'd have had to board at least two vehicles in that state to get home. Also I'm grateful because I've only been in that situation during my primary school days when I was pressed, but on getting to the school toilets, they were so messed up that I opted to get home before I relieved myself. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't hold it while walking home from school and shit myself and had flies following me down the street as I walked home.
All photos are taken and edited on canva application photo library.
