Here's something that a total stranger did for me and I will always be very thankful.
I'm hypoglycemic..that's kind of like being diabetic, but instead of your glucose levels getting dangerously high, they get dangerously low. Not enough sugar/glucose makes you feel really dizzy and f I don't eat for a while, I end up feeling like I have no energy and as though I'm going to faint. When I travel, I always pack high protein snacks and also some with sugar in case I need the instant energy.
A few years ago when I was in college I had to take the train with my luggage. My flight out of San Francisco (60 miles away) was at 8 am. I live in San Jose so I had to take the 4:45 Caltrain to make sure I got there.
When I was on the train, someone stole my bag with my snacks. I thought "oh well, I'll just buy more snacks at the airport". When I got to the airport, the magnetic swipe on my debit and credit cards wasn't working, they'd somehow been demagnetized. I had just figured that I'd stop by the ATM at the airport and hadnt stopped by at the bank since it was early. I wasn't going to get home to Fort McMurray for another 12 hours or so (flying from SF-Seattle-Calgary-Edmonton-Fort McMurray - it was a flight I booked using airmiles so thats the reason for all the connections).
I knew that soon, I wouldnt be feeling well because when you're hypoglycemic, you need to eat or your glucose level DROPS to dangerous levels. What was worse that my flight got delayed out of SF. When I got to the Calgary airport around 3 pm or so, I felt so sick, I thought I was going to faint. I knew that my blood sugar levels were dangerously low. I went through all of my pockets and everything for change, and only had $0.67 - not even enough at any of the fast food restaurants. I was in the airport Harveys, and I was so hungry, I asked a few "nice looking" people if they could spare some change because I had been awake since 430 and hadnt had much to eat since my snack bag was stolen. They all walked away
. I know that normal people wouldnt feel so sick for skipping lunch, but my severe hypoglycemia makes me feel really sick, like I'm going to pass out there. Well, some nice lady (in a flames t shirt nonetheless) asked me what's wrong? I said, Im sorry, this is really dumb, but...and then I explained to her what had happened. She handed me a $5 and said go "get yourself some food honey". I bought myself a hamburger and a soda and went to give her the change, but she refused it. I asked for her business card, and when I got back to California, I sent her a box of chocolates from the local Ghirardelli store as well as a thank you email because she saved me from fainting. Random acts of kindness are so nice.
I know most people wouldve done the same, but the truth is, no one else asked if I was okay.
So when you help someone, remember that one day, you may need help too.