Even the kings of creation truly appreciate a little kindness.
Food for the Soul
Eight years ago, I went through a really tough breakup that hit me hard. The next two months were awful—I cried every single day. One day, the new neighbor girl in the elevator asked if I was okay. I just blinked at her, not sure what she meant. She said she’d moved in two months ago and noticed I’d lost a lot of weight. I just mumbled that I hadn’t been eating well lately and said goodbye when I got off my floor. The next day, she knocked on my door with a plate of food she’d cooked. Then she brought me meals the following days too. When I finally asked if I could take her out to dinner, she gently stopped me. She wasn’t upset—just kindly explained she had a boyfriend and was bringing food because she saw I wasn’t doing well. I thanked her. She kept feeding me for weeks until I really got back on my feet. We’re still friends, and I even invited her to my wedding last year.
A Little Extra
The cute ice cream girl winked at me and gave me an extra scoop for free. That little gesture did wonders for my confidence.
The Planner
My best friend started organizing my surprise party two years (!) before my 30th birthday to make sure everyone important to me could be there. Half my family came from all corners of the country, two of my buddies and my brother even flew in from abroad. It was the best party of my life.
My Heart
My local greengrocer was always so sweet, greeting me with, “How are you, my dear? Are you well, my dear? What are you cooking, my dear?” When I moved to Budapest, I was a hungry college student who didn’t know anyone. My mom and friends were far away, and I felt lonely for years, but the kindness and words of my greengrocer (Klárika) always soothed my soul. Back then, she was the only person who offered me a kind word. I visited her for years, and it hurt deeply when she passed away, but her memory lives forever in my heart.
The Grill
My ex knew how much I loved grilling and rented a cool spot for my birthday, but it poured rain that day. We went home disappointed, but she wouldn’t let me feel down—she put on a raincoat and set up a rickety tent in the backyard, pulling the grill under it. We almost choked on the smoke and burned the tent, but we laughed a lot, and the grilled meat turned out delicious. It’s one of my favorite memories from that relationship—she didn’t let bad weather ruin my birthday.
The Bigger Sin
I was 16 when my sister asked why I was so down. I told her the teacher said I’d have to retake my math exam, and I was terrified to tell my parents—they’d kill me. She thought for a moment, then said to trust her and tell them calmly, that it would be fine. I sat my parents down in the living room and nervously explained. They were about to yell when my sister walked in and loudly announced she was quitting college. My parents immediately forgot about me and turned on her. That night, she told me she’d planned to wait a few months before telling them but was glad it happened sooner. Her selfless distraction worked so well that Mom even forgot to punish me for the retake.
The Compliment
A girl walked past me on the street and told me my legs looked nicely toned.
The Loneliness
In high school, I ate lunch alone at a big table. Every other table was full of chatting students, and I’d never felt lonelier. One girl noticed and left her friends to sit with me and chat. She didn’t want anything from me—just didn’t want me to eat alone.
The Sandwich
I had a deadline and no time to go out for lunch. To my surprise, a colleague—who everyone in the office disliked for being strict and tough—brought me a sandwich. I thanked her, surprised, and she patted my shoulder saying, “Don’t starve on me!” Somehow, her words felt as good as the sandwich. That little positive boost was exactly what I needed to finish my work.
The Mini Morris
The first date went well. Nothing spectacular—no sparks flying—but I was happy when she said yes to another meet-up. Then, during a walk, she surprised me with a small package. She said it was a "surprise"—a little Mini Morris matchbox car. On our first date, one passed by and I mentioned it was one of my favorite cars because of its iconic, cute design. It meant so much that she remembered and brought me a gift—I fell for her right then and there. We’ve been together for four years now.
