Thank you for noticing a stranger’s distress. Thank you for asking if there is anything you can do to help a person who just found out their parent was put in hospice and is now scrambling for pet care and flight tickets. Thank you for asking if I have Venmo so you could buy me a cup of coffee or something.

You heard me on the phone asking for emergency boarding care for my cats, and rather than ignore someone else’s distressed voice, you waited until I was off the phone to ask me how how you could help.

When I kindly, but sadly deferred, you asked if I have Venmo.

When I said I do, you asked if you could send me money for a cup of coffee or something.

Thank you for being a decent person and not turning a blind eye to someone else’s distressed voice. It makes me have hope that there are still good people in this world.

Illustrative image used; no photo provided