What’s a moment when a stranger completely restored your faith in people?
Oh, let me tell you about today’s WP writing prompt. ☺️
I’ll call this man (Jeremiah).
It was around Christmas time, and I was finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping online.
I had also been chatting with a random stranger online because he needed someone to talk to and he felt lonely.
It started in one of those chat rooms people used to mess around in when they were bored, but I remember it was a chat room that my best friend and I were in – just making each other and others laugh.
When I noticed that this guy wrote something like, “Does anyone care to chat? Feeling lonely. No sexual stuff. Just a friendly conversation”.
I messaged Jeremiah. (PM = Private message) – as they call DMs now. 😆
I told him I’d love to chat with him, and asked him what was on his mind.
He told me about his family and how they’re in another state. He won’t get to see them for Christmas because he has a lot of work to do with his small business he’s trying to open.
He told me that he doesn’t have a spouse or anyone to share the holidays with, and no kids.
He told me about many of his troubles over the last few months – that led him to need someone to talk to.
He told me he was just feeling anxious and overwhelmed, but wanted to talk about other things besides himself and his issues once he got everything off of his mind.
So, we talked about him for a bit and what he was dealing with, and then – he asked me to change the subject.
I asked if he had animals. We talked about that.
I asked what his favorite movies and genre of music were and we talked about that.
We laughed about some of our best birthdays and childhood memories.
We talked about many different things, and eventually – he said he was going to get some sleep, but I gave him my phone number because he seemed normal and if he ever needed to talk again, I never wanted him to feel alone.
He seemed like a decent guy.
The next morning, he asked me for my Cash App.
He said he wanted to send me some money for the holidays, especially because he knew I had kids.
I told him he absolutely DID NOT have to do that.
He kept insisting and told me that I was there for him the night before – like nobody else had ever been. He said he wanted to thank me.
I told him it was just me being kind and being a good human being.
He kept asking if I was going to give him my cash app or not. I said no. He joked that he may have to look it up by my number – which would prompt him to stalk me.
He kept insisting and wouldn’t leave it alone, and begged me to let him do something kind for me for the holidays.
He wouldn’t let up, and told me he wasn’t going to, so I finally gave him my cash app – thinking he’d probably send me money for a coffee or something small because we also chatted about how much I love and need my coffee in the mornings, and the way I wanted to decorate my nails for the holidays.
He got my cash app, and this man – this random stranger – ended up sending me $1,000.
I was speechless. I had to look at my phone twice, and then I had to insist it was way too much and that I’d send it back to him.
He told me if I sent it back, he’d be upset and told me to do something nice for myself or for my kids. He told me to go on a little mini weekend getaway somewhere or to do whatever I wanted to do with it.
His reason? “You were better than any therapist I could have gone to”.
Would you believe I never heard from him again?
Sometimes – during the holidays – I think about him and pray he’s alive and doing well.
This happened a few years ago, but it made me feel like if we give others hope, love, kindness, and restore their faith in humanity – the universe gives us the same hope, love, and kindness and does things that will restore our own faith in humanity.
I tried to message him a few days after that – to see how he was doing, but he never replied and when I tried to call him, the number was disconnected.
He never even got online again.
It worries me still.
I’ll never know about that random stranger or where he is, but he gave me back a random act of kindness I truly didn’t expect and it restored my faith in people as well.
One of my favorite rappers (Lil’ Wayne) says in one of his songs, “Karma is a b****, well – just make sure that b**** is beautiful”. What goes around really does come back around, so spread kindness out into the world if that’s what you want back.
It has nothing to do with the money.
It has everything to do with the way he wanted to repay my kindness and being there for him – in a way I never saw coming – at a time where everyone should feel loved and happy.
Christmas.
I have no idea who that man is or where he is, but his kindness made me smile, and I can only hope and pray that my kindness did the same for him that night. ❤️
I’m the type of person who wants to see people happy, wants people to know that somebody out here cares, and never wants anyone to feel alone, so I just did what I always do that night and his generosity was beyond what I wanted or expected.
So, to that random man that night – I hope and pray that you’re still on this earth and you’re doing amazing!
In other news – if you’re ever having a panic attack – people watch!
……. This morning, I felt like I was having a panic / anxiety attack and I don’t get those. It’s very rare.
I have to be super stressed out to feel that way, and I’m usually a calm and relaxed person.
I woke up feeling like I couldn’t breathe, and I almost wanted to run downstairs and sit outside for a bit, but Simba was in the window looking down, so – I walked over there to see what he was looking at.
I started (people watching).
It’s amazing how many people are coming and going at 4 AM, so I just stood there and watched them all.
I watched cars parking and watching who got out or what they were doing. I watched cars leaving and the people who went to those cars to start their days. I watched people walking by – and let me tell you – it really calms the nerves and helps you relax.
If you have a panic / anxiety attack – try people watching!!!!
I laid back down and I ended up watching the lights from someone backing into a parking spot outside. The lights hit the ceiling and I smiled – remembering the times I spent the night at my grandma’s house when I was younger – and I’d watch the lights from the bakery trucks that went by – on her ceiling in the dark.
The bakery was right on the corner of her house (Grand and May) out here in Chicago, but if I remember correctly, they had a warehouse across the street as well. Maybe the warehouse was something different, but either way – trucks passed down her street a lot early in the morning and I’d watch the lights on the ceiling.
Anyway, I’m about to shower and make some coffee. 😊
Have a beautiful day my loves.
🩵 Shel 🩵