Today, something unexpected happened at a gas station that reminded me how small acts of kindness can have a huge impact.
I was just going about my day, pumping gas, when I overheard a young woman — she looked like she was in her late twenties — telling two men to leave her alone. You could hear the discomfort in her voice, but they weren’t listening.
Without thinking twice, I walked over to her. I looked her in the eyes and said, “How was the meeting today, darlin’?”
She paused for a split second, and then her eyes softened. “It was good,” she said, playing along. “I’ll tell you more about it when we get home in a few.”
“Wonderful,” I replied. “I’ll pick up your favorite for dinner.”
The two men got the message immediately. They left in a hurry, probably realizing they had lost their chance to intimidate her.
As they walked away, the woman turned to me and said, “You have no idea how much that meant to me… thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, ma’am,” I told her. “You can never be too careful.”
I waited until they were completely out of sight before I walked back to my car. And as I did, I kept thinking, I hope a man would do the same for my future daughter one day.
It was a small moment — maybe only a few minutes — but it carried a powerful reminder: we are all responsible for each other.
Sometimes, it only takes a few words to create safety, to show solidarity, and to let someone know they’re not alone. In a world that can often feel cold and indifferent, choosing to step up might seem insignificant… but to someone in need, it can mean everything.
We should all hope to live in a world where people look out for each other this way — not because it’s heroic, but because it’s simply the right thing to do.