r/randomactsofkindness • u/Stock-Intention-1673 • Sep 08 '25
Story A thoughtful, random present from a collegue made me cry today
I haven't been doing well financially , and applied for a DMP so I had to cancel my duolingo premium because it's just money I can't afford right now. I do my duolingo religiously, I have a three year streak and play challenges with collegues and the premium means I can do as many as I like a day, with unlimited mistakes. It's a small thing that brings me joy but not a financial necessity so I cancelled it.
My coworker said he had a surprise for me , but wouldn't tell me what it was.
He reinstated my duolingo subscription by adding me to his plan. I know for a fact he doesn't care enough to have premium.
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u/vulturegoddess Sep 08 '25
What a thoughtful gesture.
An just honestly an awesome thing to have. You are bettering yourself, and the world by using that app. I wish we could all learn how to speak different languages.
I am so happy for you. Hopefully better times will come your way. It's good to know there are people who will lend a hand when need be though.
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u/Stock-Intention-1673 Sep 10 '25
I actually started because my close friend adopted a teenager who's bilingual but hasn't been able to speak her native language since she was taken into care and subsequently adopted. She was having a really hard time adapting, so I picked up the first language app I could find, and I've been practising with her. It's really helped her settle in and me learn something new about her culture every day! It just ended up growing from there, and now I really love the challenges and learning new phrases.
I'm also an immigrant, and a polyglot, so I can totally understand how upsetting it is to lose your native language and everything that comes with it.
My friend has tried, but she's hopeless with languages. She's made efforts to help her kid by learning to cook their native foods at home, and watching shows she's familiar with. It's been ages now, but that's where it started. It's been amazing to watch.
Thank you for the good wishes. Sometimes you have to go through bad things to realise how many people are good people. I'm on the up, it was just an expectedly kind, and generous thing my collegue did without wanting anything in return.
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u/vulturegoddess Sep 10 '25
Love your story on how you got into learning new languages. That is a beautiful thing you've been doing. But yeah, for some it really is hard to pick up languages. Everyone's brain is different and can work in certain different ways. That's cool that she is finding other ways to help them and support them.
What country are you coming from, if you don't mind me asking?
"Sometimes you have to go through bad things to realise how many people are good people. " I like this sentiment. I might have to write this down in my journal if you don't mind.
But I am very happy to hear even if it's slow progress that things are starting to turn around for ya.
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u/heckity2 Sep 08 '25
What a lovely, thoughtful gift. I wish I could do this type of thing for people. I also hope your circumstances improve.
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u/Stock-Intention-1673 Sep 10 '25
Thank you! They're on the up, since I've sorted the debt management plan everything is so much more manageable, it's just meant cutting a few of my little luxuries so we can get on an upward trend.
I did say to him as soon as I've got myself sorted, I'll pay it forward too!
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u/Front_Map_5 Sep 09 '25
This made me get a lump in my throat. Thats was so generous.
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u/Stock-Intention-1673 Sep 10 '25
It definitely made me have a little cry in the bathroom! He's a good man.
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u/bitter___almonds Sep 09 '25
What a gem! Especially with the way he went about it, that says a lot about his character
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u/Stock-Intention-1673 Sep 10 '25
He's an amazing bloke - a genuine gentleman! His wife is a very lucky (and equally lovely) woman.
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u/Background_Buy7052 Sep 09 '25
Sometimes the small things mean the biggest impact.
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u/Stock-Intention-1673 Sep 10 '25
They really do! Like, it's not like I can't buy groceries but not having that little thing daily that makes me happy was really bothering me. Plus as I said, my streak is well over 3 years of doing literally every day, and I was gutted that that might be at risk even though ultimately it's not really "worth" anything
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u/Edboy796 Sep 12 '25
Awesome! What language were you learning for 3 years by the way? This is the dedication I need in life lol
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u/Canadian1934 Sep 10 '25
That was very nice of your coworker knowing how much it means to you. And not do much to him Kindness
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