Yesterday, after taking my daughter to the doctor, we went to the chemist to fill her prescription. It was busy—the usual hum of people waiting their turn, all looking a bit tired.
A man, maybe in his early 40s, was sitting in one of the waiting chairs, scrolling on his phone. A few mins after I had been served, an elderly lady with a walking stick shuffled up to the counter. After being served, she was told it would be about 15 mins if she would like to wait for her prescription. The lady was clearly struggling and I would think the thought of standing for 15 mins wasn't filling her with excitement!
The man looked up, clocked what was happening, and stood up without a fuss. “Here, ma’am, have a seat,” he said. She hesitated for a second, then sat down with a sigh of relief. You could see it all over her face—she really needed that chair.
It wasn’t flashy or dramatic. Just a small, thoughtful gesture from someone who noticed. But in that moment, it felt like the kind of kindness we don't see much of any more, and that we all hope for on a hard day: simple, human, and exactly what was needed.
