People have this idea that traveling is oh so dangerous!

“Were you ever scared?” and “Have you ever been robbed?” and to be perfectly honest, no.

In fact, more often than not, people have been incredibly helpful and kind!

I will share four personal stories of strangers demonstrating small acts of kindness towards me.

Act of Kindness 1

While I was in La Union, Peru, I had gotten dropped off at the top of this bluff to go check out the Huanuco Pampa Ruins. As I walked over, there was a nice man cleaning a nice jeep. We chatted a moment and I eventually shared that I didn’t have a way back down. He offered to wait for me and take me to the terminal when I finished exploring the ruins. Lo and behold! He waited! and He gave me a ride to the terminal. I asked him why he did that for me and he said “I have a daughter and would hope someone would do that for her.”

Act of Kindness 2

This was also in Peru. After a whole half hour of sleep in Huaraz, I got on a 3AM bus to Chimbote, then from Chimbote to Trullijo. I was tired, on my period and unsure of how I was navigating/going to get to my destination: Cajamarca.

I happened to be sitting by a nice man named Jesus who saw me crying (over the movie White House Down *eye roll*). He asked me if I was okay and where I needed to go. I tearfully told him I needed to get to Cajamarca. He told me the bus I was on was going to the wrong bus station. Then offered to share a taxi with me to the correct terminal. We got to the terminal, and he paid for the taxi. He made sure I got the right ticket for the right bus, and that my bag got into the right place. He didn’t leave until my bus departed.

Basically, Jesus saved me.

Act of Kindness 3

I was driving from Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park to Bozeman, Montana. As I was about to leave the small town of Gardiner, Montana, I saw a Chinese woman sitting on a suit case with her thumb out. I decided to pick her up. She hopped in my car, and we began to talk. Apparently her tour bus had left her and she needed to get to some hotel in Bozeman. We talked the whole 90 minutes to Bozeman, and when I dropped her off, she gave me $60 for gas! Totally unnecessary. But a total blessing.

And a great reminder that hitchhikers aren’t always malicious.

Act of Kindness 4

Peru. My friend Kathryn and I were traveling from Juliaca to Puno and wanted to stop and see some ruins on our way. At the ruins there was a van full of these really nice youths on a mission. They were in from Lima doing a service mission in the area. They shared their stories and interesting food and let us ride for free to Puno which was several hours away. Their driver even dropped us off at the airport.

We were sitting in the airport, doing nothing when the whole group showed up! They brought us dinner! They sat and waited with us in the airport until we needed to go.

Act of Kindness 5

My all time favorite story is this… My friends and I were road tripping through Canada. We were camping in Waterton National Park for Shelby’s birthday, and we decided to do a little hike. On our way down, we met this really nice mother and daughter. We started talking and long story short, the daughter said we could all come sleep at her house, and she’d throw Shelby a little party! We followed them to their house, and they let us name their kittens, ride their horses, sleep in their beds, eat their food… and they even washed our clothes!

Moral of the story?

These small acts of kindness only prove that people are inherently good and want to help everywhere you go.

People don’t generally wait around hoping to rob you. Most people wait around in hopes of helping others!

I wrote another article about the art of giving more and taking less. You can read that HERE. It goes into great detail about about how to adopt the attitude of compassion and giving.

What are some small acts of kindness you’ve received or extended to others?