15 People Share Encounters They’ll Never Forget

Many of us spend our days surrounded by people. However, most of the time we stay in self-imposed isolation from strangers because we underestimate the power of connecting with others. For example, having a conversation with a stranger on your way to work may leave you both feeling happier than you would expect. You might think this is only for outgoing people, but in fact, research shows that both extroverts and introverts are happier in situations where they need to behave in an extroverted manner.

Here at Bright Side, we were all amazed by the following encounters people have experienced, and that’s why we wanted to share them with you.

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I would see a homeless woman every now and then on my way to the grocery store. She asked for money once, and I said, “I’m sorry, but I’m too broke.” She memorized this and never asked me again, but we greeted each other in a friendly way every time we met for several years. One day I saw her, and she hugged me out of nowhere and told me she found a proper job and got an apartment and that she was spending the day in front of the grocery store to let the people she knows from seeing them for so long, so they won’t be worried. This was one of the most joyful moments in my life, and I sometimes think about her when I’m in that area. I used to live there a few years after that, and I never saw her again.
© rock_in_steady / Reddit

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I was 17, with dreams of becoming a music teacher. On the way to the mall, I ran into a woman who looked like she was in her 30s. She asked if she could have a dollar to buy a cup of coffee. I told her if she walked with me, I’d buy her lunch. Over the course of our walk and lunch, she told me she was a music teacher. Her father was diagnosed with cancer, so she moved in with him to take care of him. She had to take him to so many medical appointments that she couldn’t work full time, so she became a substitute teacher instead. Her income dropped and was inconsistent. I could tell that she was being honest, based on the mutual music teachers we knew and the details she gave. That was the day when I realized the importance of not judging others and instead showing compassion. I ended up studying music, but instead of becoming a teacher. I’ve dedicated my career to working at nonprofits that help people.
©Iamwinning2022too / Reddit

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When I was 9 and my sister was 4. We were on the third floor of the mall. As 9-year-old kids tend to do, I soon got distracted and walked over to look at something in a neighboring shop window. A few moments later, I heard a very loud man’s voice shout, “Little girl, I don’t think you should be climbing on the...” I turned around just in time to watch my sister slip and catapult herself over the railing. She’d been climbing on the planter next to the bench. We were 3 stories up. That fall should have killed her. When she started to fall, that stranger moved faster than lightning, closed the gap, and caught her around the waist just as she cleared the wrong side of that handrail. He hit the rail so hard that the entire thing rang like a church bell. My mom, came flying out the door at that point and scooped her out of his arms. The guy just smiled and said, “You’ve got a real climber there. I’d keep her away from high places.” And then he turned and walked away. He saved my sister’s life.
© codefyre / Reddit

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When I was a kid, we didn’t have a lot of money, so we often shopped at thrift stores. What I loved about that was that you could get 10 books for a dollar. One day, an older lady saw me sitting with my piles and asked if I liked to read. I told her I did and showed her a few of the books I found that I liked. She smiled and then pulled a dollar out of her purse, handed it to me and said, “Promise me that you’ll keep reading.” I was so happy and immediately stood up and said that I would. She smiled and walked away, and I went back to my piles, able to pick out an extra 10 books to take home. It was just a small act of kindness for her, but for me, it had a lot to do with my continued love of reading. This was over 20 years ago, but I still think of her whenever I buy a new book.
© -eDgAR- / Reddit

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One night, my daughter and I were in a restaurant, sitting across from an old man who was alone.
I noticed him a few times listening to us talk, and I caught him smiling a few times at our conversations. When he was about to leave, he stopped at our table and said, “Hello there, I’ve been watching you 2, and I just felt like I needed to tell you something. Cherish these moments because they are long gone way too fast, I’ve lost just about everyone in my life, my wife and my daughter included, and for now, I live to see moments like this.” As this man walked away, I instantly started crying because I already knew how fast time was going, and I always tell myself the same thing he told us. I’ll never forget him.
©thelilmandan / Reddit

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I was traveling alone at 23. On my first night in Paris, I walked to the Eiffel Tower and sat in the grass to write. Some dude hustling keychains sat down next to me, put his arm around me, and told me “nobody should be alone in Paris,” then tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and started to pick up my stuff to leave, while he continued to talk about how he would keep me company, so I wouldn’t be alone. Then a guy walked over and said, “Oh, there you are, I’ve been looking all over for you.” The keychain hustler got up and walked away without another word, and the stranger sat down next to me. He said it looked like I could use some help. I only knew him for 10 minutes, but he may very well have saved my life that night.
© greengalacticat / Reddit

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I got married earlier this year, and obviously our marriage is far from perfect. We argue, and disagree, and sometimes can’t stand to be around each other. I grew up in a very hostile environment, and having an argument with a family member was awful. Personal attacks were always used, instant anger, and no mutual understanding was ever to be had. It was always about who was right and how to make them feel bad. When I got married, I quickly noticed that my fighting habits were toxic for our relationship, and my husband said something to me that I use in every relationship I have. He told me, “It’s not You Vs Me, love. It’s You and Me Vs Problems. We are always a team.” It helped me overcome some serious rifts in my personal relationships, and I will never forget it.
© catmaster711 / Reddit

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Have you ever had a similar experience? What was the one thing someone told you that you’re never going to forget? Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comment section below.