A random act of kindness is something that you can’t really compromise.
I’ve just returned from a trip to Britmums, a huge conference for bloggers and social influencers. It’s been a fab weekend, exhausting but fantastic and filled to the brim with advice, friendships and inspiration.
One of the things I’ve bought home with me has nothing to do with the conference itself, but it has stuck in my mind and it probably will for a long time to come.
On the way to London (where the conference was held) I was heavily ladened with Edith in her carrier – no point in taking the pram when she won’t sit in it and she isn’t big enough for the pushchair bit – an over night bag filled with both our things and my HUGE, stuffed to the brim handbag that is filled with nappies, wipes, notepads and god knows what else. As soon as I arrived at the station in York, the guard took my bags and helped me down to the coach, where I managed to get to my seat without bashing too many people in the face with my behind or baby strapped front. As I sat down I heard this friendly, irish voice say, ‘Oh would you look at that, what a beautiful baby! Can I hold her while you get settled?’. This was the voice of one of the kindest people I met on my trip, his name I never really caught – it began with O – and for that I’m truly sorry. He (and the lovely geordie trio sat at the table with him) kept me and Edith entertained the whole way there. There wasn’t one tear from her as she was passed around, told she was such a beautiful and strong little girl and I had my hands free. This delightful man regailed me with chatter about his wife and sister (who had a 12lb baby!) and then offered out all of his food and drinks. He bought everyone (including myself) a coffee and chocolate bar as he chatted away.
I don’t really think this small quartet of people will ever realise how much they improved my journey, or how they brightened my day. I was nervous about heading down to britmums, especially with Edith – it would be the first time I’d done a big conference with a baby and I was worried she’d scream or make a fuss all the way through. I was worried that she would need changing and there wouldn’t be anywhere to do it… like most overwhelmed, tired mummies I was worried about everything.
Fortunately the conference was as fab as always and everyone was smitten with Edith – they loved her and she was such a treat. As I went for tea that evening, just to a small Wasabi fast food place at the bottom of Chiswell Street, I realised I had forgotten my purse. This wasn’t a big deal but an already over-tired, over-whelmed Edith was fed up and grumpy so running back to the hotel, back to the shop and back to the hotel was probably going to land me in a whole world of shrieking from her. I asked the man behind the counter to put my order to one side and I would be back in no more than 10 minutes, ‘I’m so sorry, I’ve left my bank card and picked up a business card instead’, I said. He took one look at me and one look at Edith, handed me my food and told me that if I come back another time I can pay for it then, but for now to just take it and enjoy it on him.
So, why am I telling you this?
Random acts of kindness are everywhere, and we don’t always realise how important they are. These people MADE my weekend, they were the highlight amongst a flood of highlights and all because they were randomly kind to a stranger with a baby. I wanted to share this because I have made it my mission to try and pass on the kindness and I’d love it if my readers could too. I don’t know how I’ll do it – it could be paying for someones drinks when they are struggling to hold on to their active toddler and get money out of their purse. It could be offering to carry shopping to the car for a pregnant lady who looks as tired as I feel. I just don’t know. What I do know is that I will do something, because I want my children to grow up and see that random acts of kindness like these are what makes the world tick.
So a little challenge for you – be the dude on the train who lifts a persons spirits and then tell me about your random act of kindness ideas, please.
Harriet x
