After 27 years. On August 18 2011, partly in response to the recent riots which had just swept through the U.K (remember that?), partly from feeling overwhelmed with the constant news of war, climate change, human and animals suffering etc., feeling helpless and blue, in this mood I went into my local post office to buy some stamps.
In front of me was a man, I overheard him say he didn't have enough money for his stamp, he had thought his document was freepost.
I offered to pay it for him; it was about 50p, no big deal. He said thank you and went on his way.
It was a small and fairly mundane exchange with a stranger, but that small interaction changed my life forever.
I realised giving that man 50p had cheered me up. It wasn't much, but it was something. So in a reckless moment, I decided to try an experiment.
I thought I'd try and replicate what had just happened in the post office by trying to do something kind for a stranger every single day for a year.
To see what would happen. To give me something to try instead of despairing at the news.
So I did exactly that. In that first year of kindness I got up to all sorts including dog walking, cat sitting, shopping and suitcase carrying, gardening, and washing up.
I sang happy birthday on the phone to people I had never met, made banners during the London Marathon for 25 strangers who were running, gave away possessions, money, time; I met so many people and had a massive amount of fun.