While hectic lives are set to become increasingly more demanding on already stretched tempers, November 13th acts as an annual worldwide reminder to take a small step back, touch base with your human side and perform an act of kindness. For most Maltese, kindness is an everyday vibe, as proven by a 2016 study which placed Malta 4th in worldwide generosity rankings. Nice one guys! It made us think of the sweet, everyday stories we come across on social media - here are eight heart-warming times Maltese people didn’t need reminding to be kind.
1. Bank card issues
No one really understands why bank cards randomly decide to be uncooperative. One woman found herself in a tight spot after ordering a warm beverage at a local coffee shop and was left unable to pay due to card issues. Cue our first super hero - another woman in the line stepped in and purchased the coffee on her behalf, completely refusing the offer to settle the debt via online transfer, simply replying “it could have easily been me!”
2. Car troubles
We’ve all experienced a minor heart attack when, after a day out, you return to your car to find a puncture. One such woman found a flat, but luckily, four guys chatting away in a nearby garage offered their assistance and had the tyre repaired in the bat of an eye. Their reply? “If it were us, we would have been happy that a good Samaritan helped us too.”
3. Car Troubles 2.0
Car troubles are anxiety-inducing enough on their own, but add a busy bypass to the equation and it can easily trigger a meltdown. One driver found that his bumper’s spoiler was hanging off. While he was trying to wrangle with it, another driver pulled up, and not only did he assist him in successfully removing it, but even took the trouble of partially going underneath the damaged car to do so. Where are men like that when you need them?
4. Cash-point embarassment
One lady found herself in a bit of a pickle when an hour-long food shopping spree went awry at the last second. With her bank card declined and the shop unable to accept cheques, a woman stepped in and offered to pay off the shop in exchange for a check. Talk about guardian angels!
5. Sneaky supermarket saga
Continuing the supermarket train, earlier this year an eight-year old boy walked into a shop with 20Eur in hand and walked out with nothing after realising (too late) that he had accidentally dropped the note. It took an employee three weeks to trace the person who had pocketed it from the floor, but eventually the money was restored to its rightful and very grateful owner. Customer service done right!
6. Misplaced phone
Forgetting phones in random places is a frequent event, but having misplaced items returned on the same day is a much rarer occurrence. A youth boarded a bus but by the time they realised their phone was still on the bench opposite, the vehicle had already taken off. After calling the number upon arriving home, he met up with the person who had picked up his phone shortly after and had his phone returned. Call that a happy ending!
7. Misplaced wallet
One man left his wallet behind after an evening out. Barely an hour after submitting a police report, he got a call back saying a person had located the wallet and had left it in a secure place for its original owner to find. As a sign of gratitude, the man asked the person who had found his wallet to keep all the money inside, but his proposal was refused under the basis of duty and good citizenship. Seeing this, the man proceeded to donate the money to Puttinu Cares.
These people certainly restore the original definition of happy endings!