The kindness of strangers
Perhaps there is a lot of bad news, but there isn’t much good news, about positive things that happen.
So, when we hear good news about generosity and kindness it can make us feel good. One good news story happened in Barcelona, Spain recently. The story is about a woman, Beatriz. She stopped her motorcycle at the traffic lights in a busy street to tie the shoelaces of an elderly woman who was crossing the street. The woman, Núria, was carrying heavy shopping bags.
Beatriz saw Núria crossing the street. She saw that Núria’s shoelaces were not tied. She called out to Núria, "Madam! Your laces. You'll trip on them." But it was impossible for Núria to stop to tie her laces. Beatriz parked her motorcycle on the sidewalk. She tied Núria's laces.
Núria was surprised and didn’t have a chance to thank Beatriz. She couldn't see Beatriz's face because she was wearing a helmet. Beatriz tied the laces and then got on her motorcycle and left.
When Núria got home she wrote a letter to the La Vanguardia newspaper. She explained what had happened. She ended her letter saying how much she wanted to thank the woman who helped her. The newspaper published Núria's letter a few days later, and then it was also repeated on the radio. By chance, Beatriz was listening to the radio that day. She heard the story and realised that they were talking about her.
A meeting was arranged for Núria and Beatriz, and Núria finally hugged and thanked Beatriz for helping her. It was a happy end to the story, and also a reminder of the important things in life, kindess and generosity.