Prompt Of The Week: Write about a time when someone was unexpectedly kind to you

When someone was remarkably kind to me

By: Turtle

Turtle loves to fly, and Turtle flies often.

Over the last eight years or so Turtle has developed a terrifying response to turbulence. Turtle panics, cries like a baby, grabs onto the chair's arms, squeezes Turtle's teary eyes shut, and prays to a god that Turtle does not believe in.

It is surprising to Turtle that no one else seems to have this reaction. When Turtle opens their eyes, people are talking and laughing and seem not bothered by the turbulence. It's weird.

One time Turtle was flying alone and came upon some turbulence. Turtle let out a few whelps as the plane jerked around. Turtle's seat neighbor held the Turtle's hand and told the Turtle it would be ok.

@SirenOfSerenity

It was on some sort of kid's show that I was watching. Moo Goo Gai Pan... I wanted to try it so bad. When I came back from my aunt's, I told my mom and grandma about it, and they were both amused and excited to let me try Chinese food.

It so happened that my grandma was friends with a couple that owned the Chinese restaurant next to her barber shop. We went in and sat at a table, and when the lady was taking orders, I enthusiastically ordered Moo Goo Gai Pan, and it was enough to make her laugh. I then politely asked her if I could go watch the fish in a giant tank that they had, and of course I was allowed.

I not only loved the food, but I tried more, and the lady was teaching me how to eat with chopsticks. The next time I came back, I showed the couple how good I'd gotten with chopsticks... I was indeed good, but I was doing it wrong because I hold a pencil differently than other people... They didn't correct me.

That time, they showed me back in the kitchens. It was like a different world to me back there, and I was in awe of how the food was made. After that, they even asked my mom if it was okay to go to their Chinese New Year celebration. I remember having so much fun, learning about the holiday and seeing the people in the dragon costumes dance.

It's all vague memory at this point, but I'm really grateful for all they did. They went out of their way to show a curious child some of the coolest things that most kids like me would've never experienced.

Write about a time when someone was unexpectedly kind to you.

When I was in college, a long time ago, I started having grand mal seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. It was in the middle of a busy fall semester and I wound up dropping one of my classes, which threw off my plans for finishing school. I would have finished in only one more semester, but now I couldn't do my senior thesis until the following fall. It was difficult to adjust to my new situation - the medication I was prescribed left me nonfunctional. I had to quit taking it, which meant I went back to having seizures. I continued on with the rest of my classes, though, because there I was.

There was this one professor in our department who seemed very cold. He was all business. The guidelines in his classes seemed strict, but they really weren't bad, and you knew what was expected, too. Still, he was not friendly at all. One day as I was walking across campus, I bumped into him and said hi. He said hi, too, and he said (knowing of my situation) "If there's anything I can do for you, you just let me know." This shocked me. I didn't expect to hear something like that from him. I didn't ask him for anything, but knowing that I could ask was nice.

@SirenOfSerenity

In the hush of the nocturnal air

My fretful heart caused despair

As waves of worry wracked my mind

And sleep, elusive, I could not find

Yet there beside me, steadfast, and true

My friend remained despite their due

Of rest and respite, which they denied

In solidarity, at my bedside

Their weariness was a plain to see

But their devotion was clear to me

For they knew the struggle of the night

And stayed with me until the first ray of light

With every comforting word

The eased my burden, oh so much

And though the hours slowly ticked by

My soulmate was there and so was I

And as the dawn began to break

My heart once more began to ache

For I knew the morning brought relief

And my friend's exhaustion, now at peace

But in my heart, I'll always hold

The memory of how they did unfold

Their comfort and care, till the dawn

And how they stayed with me all night long

I'm coming to expect them to ignore

But that's alright I'm getting used to it

A moment of panic then I sit still for a while

"Will they come?" I wonder every time

WIll they come for me?

Will they notice I've stepped out for a minute?
I stare at a wall and yes- she does at least

Sitting on the floor rocking back and forth

She seems to think I'm more than what I'm worth

She's here she's here all the time everywhere

And that

That is how she shows her care

It's rough today but when she says hey

I know that it'll be okay

She makes it easier just by the brush of a hand

A glance in my direction

Or even if she doesn't see- but I see her smile

That

That is the unexpected kindness of every day she gives to me

And I am eternally grateful

As a listener, I am focused on being there for others. I recently had a moment where a long-term member reached out to me, and the reason was simply because they realized that we hadn't chatted in a while, and although their issues had resolved, they missed our chats. They reached out simply to say hello, and I felt so honored and comforted by that. As if we were old friends reconnecting. The interaction was brief but meaningful. I appreciated the kindness of being remembered. It makes a positive impact, for those of us who don't always know if our support makes a difference in the lives of those we interact with here on 7 Cups. Thanks to this member (who knows who they are!).

My unexpected kindness I received from my mother-in-law with whom I have had an unfriendly relationship for the past 40 years. We were in hospice, my husband and I and my children who were grown, and I had called my mother-in-law to tell her it was time.

She and my husband's sisters came up and thankfully everybody was able to see my husband before he passed. But the act of kindness was her offering me money to help pay for my husband's funeral. It's something I never would have expected in a million years. Like I said we haven't had the best relationship.

My husband and I met when we were 15 and in high school and went steady --I guess I'm showing my age there. We were married at 18 and stayed married until his passing March 31st of this year. So it was a long time that I had been dealing with this woman who never thought I was good enough for her son.

I was absolutely floored and if you've ever lost a loved one you know that mind numbness you get? Where your mind is just a blank? That's where I was-- no thoughts. No ability to make thoughts.

And then out of the blue she asked me if my husband had life insurance. I told her no, he lost his life insurance when he left work and nobody would ensure him having cancer and she just asked me how much we needed.

That was the most unexpected kindness I've ever received. And I don't know what has caused her to mellow but it has opened a door that has been firmly held shut for 40 years. I won't say that we're best friends but we are definitely on better terms now