Curating an anthology of random acts of kindness

"Seeing beyond the blind man". Sharing small moments that offer big hope.

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Sometimes we need to be reminded that even the smallest acts of kindness offer hope.

I’d like to curate these small acts into an anthology of moments we can share and return to. Not just for carers but everyone who’s looking for hope in our human-ing.

Whether you’re the person acting in kindness or the person receiving it, I’d like to hear your story.

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Desmond Tutu

Seeing beyond the blind man by Victoria

We finished the hospital appointment. Tired but relieved, we decided to get a coffee from the small coffee shop while we waited for our taxi. I manoeuvred the wheelchair to a table, slightly apart from the rest. There were the usual stares. I don’t know what attracts the most attention these days: the masks, the wheelchair, or being Asian. Certainly, the combination of all three seems to guarantee an audience. The seating area was functional. It wasn’t set up for warmth or welcome. Practical and clean over comfort. Still, it was a restful spot in a busy city hospital.

I took Mum’s coffee back to our table and sat down. As I stirred in the sugar, I saw a nurse guide a tall man with his white stick to a seat. I tried not to stare. I marvelled at how he managed all his belongings. Two large bag straps criss-crossed his body. Saddled with his wide load, he sat with a sigh, reassuring the lady he’d be fine. She couldn’t see the concern on her face as she patted his arm and left.

Mum and I started to debrief about what the doctor had said. There wasn’t a hum of chatter around us. Conversations were stilted, stuttered and awkward. I could feel the tension between one couple, and hear the tearful anxiety from a woman near us. Their actions and faces spoke volumes

I saw the tall man get up. He’d disentangled himself from one bag and was heading to …the coffee shop? No, the toilets.

Mum was asking me something, so I turned away. The coffee lid was stuck again.

The guy was in front of the toilets, but the women’s. He was trying to feel for a braille sign. Why isn’t anyone getting up to help him?

One couple was obviously trying to ignore him and move away. Others were staring but immobile. These are the times I get frustrated.

I checked Mum was okay, got up and walked over to the man.

“Hi, Sir. Can I help you? I think you’re looking for the men’s toilet, but that’s the women’s?’

“Ohhhh thanks! Yeah, can you?”

We backed out slowly from the women’s toilet. He took my arm, and I guided him through the doors of the men’s toilet.

“Ok? I think you just need to step forward and the urinals are there”

“Thanks so much, Luv”

“No problem! Have a good day”

I walked out. People sitting around were staring into their cups of coffee.

As I sat down, Mum asked if the guy was okay.

I kept an eye on the man’s possessions until he navigated his way back to his seat. I think the most daring thing he did was leaving his things unattended.

I hold on to the hope that anyone would’ve done the same despite the higher levels of anxiety and tension palpable in the sterile, hospital environment. I was just the first there.

Still, a cynical and sad part of me wonders if we’re all being conditioned to be spectators, observing, scrolling, and passing by? Are we too overwhelmed by our own worries to help someone else? Can we widen our view beyond what we need to get done, and offer small acts of kindness?

Can you share an act of kindness?

• Share a random act of kindness in the comments below, as the giver or receiver.

• Or share the URL to something you’ve written on Substack, an article, or a note

  • Please keep it to 550-words or less. I’d like to keep these gems short!

  • If you write something new, please mention this initiative and, if possible, use the logo. Thank you!

• I’ll curate an anthology of experiences to help fuel our hope.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop

Please share this request, and press the ❤️ to guide others to this Anthology.