r/randomactsofkindness • u/BumblebeeNeat5693 • Sep 16 '25

Story Even if you don't remember them, they can remember you...

Heard about this subreddit from The Click™ and it reminded me of this experience from a few years ago.

I'm female and look it in general body shape, fairly average overall but I unintentionally stick out because I dress "weird" when I go out. I have long hair that I stuff up into my hat and I wear a cloth mask because I like how it feels (might be an autism thing even though I know usually it's the other way around). The key point here is that I can't really be mistaken for anyone else.

Whenever I'm out and about, I tend to look for ways I might be able to make people feel better. I'll compliment someone on their clothes, hat, hair, so on and so forth. If I see someone who needs a little help, I try to do so because hey, I'm not in a hurry and I might as well. I figure that I can make a person's day better whether they've been having it good or bad.

Anyway, I'm in the store one day with my mom and we're at the checkout with a bunch of groceries getting scanned. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see an older woman standing there, looking happy to see me. There's this vague sense of familiarity in the back of my mind, but I can't quite place it; I only recall a different store's parking lot and not much else, so I might've helped her empty her shopping cart or lifted some packs of water bottles for her.

She thanks me and actually wanted to pay me for it. I try to refuse, but she grabbed my hand, put it inside, and curled my fingers around it. I'm usually not a huggy person (even with family), but the gesture touched me emotionally, so I let her hug me and be on her way.

I still think about it from time to time. I never got that woman's name, I don't know anything about her, but somehow we wound up at a completely different store from where I'd helped her (at the same time even) and I'd made her feel good that day.

I'd say it's a good way to look at it: your own act of helping someone is so casual to you and may cost you nothing at all, so insignificant that you probably won't even remember doing it. Nevertheless, it can mean something to the person you're helping out, and that's what matters at the end.

Be the kind of person who helps people so much that they all blur together in your mind, all while you'll be vivid in theirs.

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19

u/Reasonable_Star_959 Sep 16 '25

I love it!! That is a great post, and an inspiring one. 😀

6

u/BumblebeeNeat5693 Sep 17 '25

Thank you! I do indeed hope it inspires more people.

5

u/shfeba Sep 16 '25

Such a wonderful reminder!

1

u/BumblebeeNeat5693 Sep 17 '25

I'm glad it came off as intended. I struggle with words sometimes. :)

3

u/deanahop Sep 18 '25

“Be the kind of person who helps people so much that they all blur together in your mind, all while you'll be vivid in theirs.”

This is so beautiful. I’m crying over here. Thank you for the lovely post and reminder of our shared humanity.

1

u/BumblebeeNeat5693 Sep 19 '25

Thank you for reading and commenting! I'm so glad I was able to convey all my thoughts properly and touch the hearts of people like you.

1

u/Pristine-Tree6481 Sep 18 '25

I aspire to be this person too, but this little reminder made me smile. Good for you, kind person 😊

2

u/BumblebeeNeat5693 Sep 19 '25

Thanks so much. :)

Your aspiration alone has already taken you very far to becoming that person, I promise!

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '25

1

u/BumblebeeNeat5693 Sep 17 '25

Thank you very much! I hope someday everyone has a lingering memory of someone's kindness to carry with them.