Yet the encounter no longer felt like an insignificant interruption to my journey.
It had become one of the moments that gave the night its meaning.
Chapter 7: Why Kindness From a Stranger Can Feel So Powerful
Looking back, I think part of the reason the encounter stayed with me was that I had not expected anything from it.
When we travel, we often organize our expectations around practical exchanges. We pay for a ticket and expect transportation. We buy food and expect a meal. We ask an employee for information and hope to receive an answer.
These exchanges are necessary, and there is nothing wrong with them. They help public spaces function.
But the stranger's offer was different. They had no obvious obligation to me. I was not their relative, colleague, or friend. We had not arranged to meet, and I had not asked them for assistance.
They noticed a possible need and chose to respond.
