News / kindness
How one small act of kindness can save a life
Offering someone a listening ear or a warm embrace are simple acts of kindness which can make a big difference.
Brandy Babu, who lives in Clifton, was going about her day, accompanied by her 18-month-old, when she came across a woman who appeared “distressed and upset”.
The 31-year-old stopped and asked the woman if she was okay. The woman broke down in tears and Brandy offered her a hug which lasted for a few minutes, while the woman “sobbed and sobbed”.
After their long embrace, the woman thanked Brandy for stopping and said: “You might have just saved my life”.
A road in Clifton – photo: Betty Woolerton
Brandy, who is originally from Kenya, said: “She just kept crying, I feel like she just needed to let it out.
“I asked her if she was okay with me leaving her and she said yes.
“I walked away with my little boy and made sure there were other people walking by, so she wasn’t alone, and I kept looking back at her to make sure she was okay. We kept waving at each other.
“That’s all I wanted her to know was that no matter what she was going through she was not alone.
“I’m from Kenya, there people just stop and ask you how your day is going and how you are, people just talk.
“Sometimes we may have things we’re battling with internally, but speaking to someone is a really good way of letting things out.”
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Brandy said she’s “no expert” but felt compelled to stop and check on the woman after noticing her pacing back and forth.
“Nowadays, in this world a lot of people are communicating digitally behind their phone and it’s not a bad thing, but also we just need human touch and to look people in the eye and speak to one another”, Brandy continued.
“People should just be aware of their surroundings and people. It doesn’t take much to just ask someone ‘are you okay?’
“Just by talking to someone you may feel a lot better and even find a solution to your problem, you never know what could happen just by opening up.
“I want my child to grow up in a world where people can come up to him and ask if he’s okay and if he needs to talk, and that’s it.”
Need someone to talk to?
When life is difficult, Samaritans are there – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123.
If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans: [email protected]
You can visit Samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Photo: Rachel Sutherland
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