It really is cool to be kind – and these stories prove how even the smallest of gestures can have the biggest impact.
What better way to mark Random Acts of Kindness Day 2018 than reading stories from people who have benefitted from the kindness of strangers.
Random Acts of Kindness Day aims to encourage people to do small (or big) altruistic acts.
From handwritten inspirational notes to once-in-a-lifetime trips, these 13 people share the random acts which put a smile on their faces.
I was on my way to an awards evening/garden party last year and chose a white dress for the occasion.
In true British fashion, it rained from about 2pm through to me leaving my office.
Walking along Oxford Circus, a red bus drove past and soaked me in Bridget Jones style with the water from a kerbside puddle.
My entire dress went see through – you can imagine my embarrassment and the meltdown I was about to have.
However, an amazingly kind guy stopped me, checked I was ok and gave me his jacket to wear over my dress.
I was able to run to the ladies and get my dress underneath a hand dryer.
I will never forget how kind he was!
Six years ago, I was put at risk of redundancy, along with many of my colleagues, in a fraught meeting at head office.
I was six months pregnant and really worried about how I'd support my baby if I lost my income.
I walked tearfully to St Paul's tube station, wheeling my suitcase behind me.
The escalators were broken and everyone was jostling to get down them.
It was chaos – all the hormones and concern about my job became too much and I burst into tears right next to the barriers!
I felt someone tug at my suitcase, and pull it from my hands.
At first I thought I was being robbed, but the reality was much nicer.
A young man of about 17 took it from me, asked people to move out of my way, and led me to the bottom of the escalator.
He kept turning to check I was okay and by the time we reached the bottom I was properly crying.
He put my suitcase down next to me, said simply 'I hope your day gets better' then disappeared into the crowd.
It may seem small, but in that moment, that man really transformed my day.
I didn't ever get to thank him because it was so busy in the station and he'd left before I gathered myself up.
Every time I'm at St Paul's I think of that man, and wished I'd been able to tell him how much his kindness had meant to me.
Someone bought me a coffee while I was queuing to buy one for myself.
I was so happy that I paid for the person's behind me.
It was just one of life's lovely moments.
I once picked up a handwritten note folded up in the centre of London on top of a traffic light button.
I could see there was a message and inside someone scribbled 'Big ideas have small beginnings'.
No name, just love. I never forgot it and I now send them to people myself.
I didn't have any change once at the fruit and veg stall on my way into work and the lady manning it told me not to worry and gave me my goods for free.
When I cycled from London to Paris for charity I had a horrific crash that saw me crash a road bike into a barbed wire fence at over 50mph and being carried off on a spinal board.
Leanne Hennessey, a hypnotist, gave me free sessions to help me overcome my fears.
Her sister is my business mentor and she mentioned what happened to Leanne.
I was a total mess and she did two sessions with me and some recordings as we don't live in the same area.
She even came all the way from Nottingham to do one of the sessions.
She was newly qualified and wanted to give something back and I think my story must have struck a cord.
I'm so grateful to her – she gave me back love of cycling.
I was walking around a health food store and found an envelope with 'Open me' written on it.
It had £10 and a note inside which said #givemondays.
I paid it forward by buying some Oxfam mosquito nets.
A lovely man gave me £5 in Asda cafe after their card machine wasn't working and I only had £2 in cash and my girls were arguing over what to share.
Said he'd like to think somebody would help his wife and kids if she was in that situation.
Bus driver let my daughter on for nothing after school.
She had her purse out ready but he just waved her and her two bus buddies on.
We bought two little rings for my daughters from a stall.
My youngest's was a little big and we went into a shop, she dropped it.
Aafter getting her out of her wheelchair checking clothes, floors, moving rails, it had just disappeared into nowhere.
A customer helped us look, asked how expensive it was and I explained we only just got it from the stall outside.
We continued looking – then this random lady reappeared with another new ring, dropped it in Georgie's hand and just disappeared out of the shop saying nothing!
I was at a craft fair and a carrot I'd been using as a prop on my Santa Platter displays was looking a bit manky.
There was no way I could use it so I popped it in my bag to chuck away later.
After a few hours, Two ladies were admiring the platters and one remarked that I needed a carrot.
I explained what had happened and she said there was another stall holder selling ceramic carrots.
I said I had seen them and thought they were really cool but that I had promised myself that I wouldn't spend any money at the fair or I would end up spending all my profits on the beautiful items for sale.
The ladies agreed with me and moved on.
A short while later, one of the ladies came back, thrust a package into my hand and walked off.
When I opened it, I found one of those ceramic carrots we had been talking about.
She had bought it for me out of the kindness of her heart.
I chased after her and gave her a hug and she told me to make sure that I pay it forward.
Thank you so much mystery lady. You really made my day.
A complete stranger took me to the Paralympic opening ceremony.
Jane invited me as we are both into comping (entering competitions) and felt she could trust me and that I wasn't an axe murderer.
She met me at Victoria coach station which was the first time we'd ever met.
Jane didn't have any family to go with, they were all busy .
We went on to become best friends, message every day and visit each other each year.
I'm so glad I've made such a special friend who is more like the sister I never had.
Our videos are always inspired from mental health topics and issues, which is why random acts of kindness play a huge role.
Kindness is such an interesting topic.
Often when we approached people with a gift or token of gratitude they were always confused, they didn't understand why we would do this for them, they didn't think they were worthy of something nice.
I think to see someone light up from such a simple gesture is something more people need to experience in the world.
It's a ripple effect. They felt good, we felt good, the people who watch our videos feel good.
It's almost safe to say that no bad can come from being kind to others.