💜 Random Act of Kindess Post 💜

Yesterday I delivered my favourite random act of kindness to date…I think it is around number 40 something but, in honesty, I have lost count. Let me tell you a story…

Friday 23rd December I went to visit one of my sisters in Edinburgh. We visited the Christmas ice sculptures (highly recommended), went for dinner and watched Pitch Perfect 3. Our family tradition is for my sisters and I to spend the 23rd December together with our Mum and Dad visiting the theatre and eating (lots of) food. Rather than coming home after the cinema, I stayed the night with my sister so that we could travel in the train together to meet the rest of our family together.

So, yesterday morning (23rd December), I found myself boarding the train from Edinburgh to Perth with my sister. It was super busy, with many people heading home for Christmas, their arms filled with presents.

To get some extra space we opted to sit in first class, thinking that (as it’s Christmas) we would pay the seat upgrade when the ticket person did their rounds – as it happens they never did come to check our tickets so, thank you universe for a little bit of free luxury.

Anyway, I digress, as usual…

There we were sitting enjoying the view with an American couple very much in love to our side and a lady traveling alone behind us. Then through the doors to our carriage arrived a young man and his daughter. He was carrying luggage and a sack of presents as he ushered his ‘mumma bear’, as he affectionately called her, into the carriage.

I estimated she was about two years old and I was struck by how they looked at and spoke to each other. Love literally radiated from them both and filled our tiny carriage.

During the journey she was peeking over the seats to talk to and laugh with her fellow passengers. Leaving her seat and walking the aisles she was soon offering us cuddles and wishing us happy Christmas, giggling and smiling as she talked about Santa coming soon.

The American couple struck up conversation with her dad and he shared with us all how he is a single dad, looking after his 2 year old daughter on his own 5 days a week.

I was struck by the emotion of his words and the sheer love he had for his baby girl as he looked at her like she was the only person in the world. It was clear to all that she was his life force, his reason for breathing and being.

As they stood to leave the train at their stop, I dug into my purse and retrieved one of my random act of kindness enveloped which, for those of you who don’t know, contains £20 and a card stating the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The money comes from donations and is my way of raising awareness for the disease that threatens my life whilst also spreading joy and kindness in the world.

This is what happened next…

Him – “I can’t take this, it’s far too much!”

Me – “Yes you can, please it’s just a simple act of kindness. You don’t have to keep it, you can pass it on.”

Him – “thank you very much”

Then, his daughter approaches me

“Thank you nice lady”, she smiles as she embraces me in a hug.

Him (to her) – “it’s important to be kind like these nice ladies have been, remember that.”

Him (to me) – “This means so much to me. I was a football player for Hearts and I had a heart attack during the night. Thank goodness I was feeding her at the time because she saved my life. It was the wake up call I desperately needed. I stopped playing football and she became my world. I now care for her on my own. I owe her my life.”

She giggled at this, not knowing the gravity of his words but clearly feeling the love that he was sending her as he spoke.

As we parted ways I was overwhelmed by the love between them. Most of all, however, I was overwhelmed by the clarity with which he had taken his ‘wake up call’ and allowed it to change his life and follow his heart. He truly was an inspiration to me and, I hope, to many others.

Each person we meet, whether a stranger or a friend, has a story to tell. If we just take a moment to stop and connect with others we may be surprised, and honoured, to hear what is shared with us. Most of all, we may be inspired to share our own story and, with it, put a little more love and light out into the world.

Merry Christmas and love and light to you all and to all who love you xxx

#StageFourOvarianCancer #Kindness #Christmas #MerryChristmas #Love #ShareYourStory #LoveAndLight #Blogger #HealthBloggerOfTheYear #DaddysGirl

This random act of kindness was made possible by the £600 prize money given to me by HealthUnlocked when they awarded me ‘health blogger of the year 2017’ xx