When meeting our need to feel safe, secure and loved, we tend to focus on our friends and family. But what happens when you cast your net wider, whether by choice or circumstance?
Travel trouble
“Rushing to catch the metro in Moscow I tripped on the steps and nearly fell headfirst. Two people caught me and helped me to the train, while a guy on the train put his foot in the door to stop it closing. Then a young man got up and gave me his seat. In my experience of living in Russia for many years, such kindness to strangers is commonplace there.” – Andrew, Australia
“I was recently travelling by tram and bus, looking at Google Maps on my phone, and evidently appearing lost and confused, when a very friendly man came up to me and said: “Put that away and talk to a human.” That instant of human connection made all the difference to my journey and my day. The phrase ‘Talk to a human’ will live with me for a long time. And I’ll try to put it into practice as often as I can.” – Claire, Brighton, UK
On important days
“I got lost on the way to a family meeting to scatter my father’s ashes. A stranger talked to me calmly, gave me directions, and made me repeat them back to him to make sure I had understood them. I got there in time and have never ever forgotten him, even 25 years later.” – Jennifer, London, UK
“On Christmas Day my family, including two small children, were driving to visit my mother. We didn’t own a car, so we rented one. It broke down and we had no idea what to do. A man stopped and fixed the car for us, and we were able to spend the day with our family. I will always be indebted to him and thank him for this act of kindness.” – Roger, London, UK
Found friends
“In Switzerland, strangers helped me a few times. Once I met a bunch of travellers on top of the mountains and they shared a snack and some water with me. Another time, I got caught in the rain and a cashier who didn’t even share a language with me just gave me her umbrella.” – Keine, Japan
Supporting children
“During a heatwave, heavily pregnant, I queued for an hour with my two very crotchety children, aged about five and two, to get into an outdoor pool, only to be told that it was strictly one adult per child. Both children were in tears, and I was quite close myself when the man behind me announced he was the children’s dad, giving us the correct ratio to go in. Despite it being a transparent lie we were allowed in. Luckily his real wife was very understanding. The children still talk about ‘fake daddy Simon’ to this day.” – Catherine, London, UK
These people opened their hearts and homes to a child who needed love and sanctuary
“I ended up in three foster homes between the ages of two and five, and three more between the ages of twelve and a half and 15. Except for one, all offered me not just refuge, but warmth and love and the opportunity to see good ways to live and connect. These people opened their hearts and homes to a child who needed love and sanctuary. They laid the groundwork for my current 69-year-old very good life.” – Sharon, British Columbia, Canada
At critical moments
“My husband and I were running through a very crowded Chicago airport as we tried to make a connecting flight home. I very suddenly experienced a medical crisis. As I sank to the floor, a woman immediately gave me her seat and purchased a bottle of water for me. Another woman arrived with a wheelchair and sprinted me to the plane, which the pilot had held for us for a full half hour. Three strangers within one hour helped me to remember that we truly walk among angels all the time.” – Wendy, North Carolina, US
“I was feeling suicidal one day. Sitting on a park bench I prayed that God would give me a sign that I should carry on living. A man who had just walked past with a young child came back and asked me if I was OK. That was my sign that I should carry on. I am glad that I did.” – Kate, south-west England

Keine, in Japan, recalls the kindness he received while hiking alone in the Swiss mountains. Image: JulPo
“Aged 19 my old car broke down in the countryside on a deserted road on a cold, foggy, late night – this was before mobile phones existed. A middle-aged man stopped and said the five best words I’ve ever heard (excluding ‘I do’ and my children’s first words!) ‘Do you need some help?’ he said. It was like a surrogate for my dad had pulled over.” – Ed, Wiltshire, UK
“Heavily pregnant, I’d had contractions for 36 hours, so decided a walk might get things moving. Things became so intense, I could only move metres every five minutes, when a couple offered to drive us home. It was minutes in the car but would have been an eternal, painful waddle. They dropped us off just in time for active labour to start.” – Chrissie, London, UK
Main image: imgorthand
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