I’ve been in London seeing clients at my Harley Street practice today.  I’d intended to buy a sandwich and a coffee at the station when I arrived, as there is always an elderly homeless man sat in the same spot along the Euston Road who I see every time I walk to my office – I wanted to give him something because he never asks for anything, never makes eye contact.  He just sits there, his hands neatly folded in his lap, looking at the floor.

Unfortunately my train was late arriving into London and if I’d have stopped at the café I’d have been late for my client.  I felt quite guilty that I had to make the choice and knew that I probably wouldn’t be able to do my random act of kindness for today, but then, as I bowed my head in readiness to carry on past him along with all the other commuters, I saw something wonderful.  A woman ahead of me walked past him, stopped suddenly, then turned around and doubled back against the flow of people.  She crouched down in front of him and pressed some loose change into his hand. The look of gratitude in his tired old eyes as he smiled at her was lovely.

My journey home was equally eventful.  I left my office just after 3pm, heading home early with the plan of getting home at 6pm in time to see my girls before they went to bed.  The weather was against me – a huge storm caused delay after delay, until eventually all services going North were cancelled (the roof of one station had blown off, stations were being evacuated, a tree was on fire and numerous power lines were down).  I was forced to abandon my journey just half an hour away from Stafford, and called home for my partner to come and pick me up.  As I ended the call I stood in a corner of the station, sheltering against the rain and the wind, quietly watching the flurry of activity around me.  People were lending their phones to other people whose phones had run out of battery, others were offering to give people a lift home, some were offering to share taxis…

It’s incredible how a crisis brings out the kindness in people – it’s inherent in all of us and has a wonderful way of uniting us.

It’s also amazing just how many kind acts go on every single day all around us.  We just don’t notice it until we look for it.

Today I witnessed many small acts of kindness, and each and every one of them made a difference to someone.  I feel very lucky to have seen them all.

I’d like to know what acts of kindness you’ve witnessed recently – little things that you’ve seen someone do for someone else.  Share them below in the comments – you never know, you might inspire someone 🙂