I’ve always believed that strangers are simply friends you haven’t met yet. And sometimes, if you’re lucky, the universe proves you right in the most unexpected ways.
About five years ago, I had one of those days. I was still adjusting to life with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and one of the hardest changes was giving up driving. It just wasn’t safe anymore — I couldn’t always tell when I was about to go down, and that unpredictability scared me.
I remember it was a normal day. I’d been shopping and was walking near Worthing Town Hall when I started feeling light-headed. The world tilted, and the next thing I knew, I had collapsed. But not just anywhere — I’d passed out in the middle of the road.
It was terrifying.
One of the people who rushed to help me was a woman named Barbara. She didn’t hesitate. She helped me up, guided me to a bench, got me some water, and made sure I felt safe again. What really stuck with me was that she didn’t just leave it there — she asked me to ring her later that day to let her know I was okay. She genuinely cared. I saved her number in my phone and rang her that evening to thank her. And then… life happened. We lost touch.
Fast-forward a few years, and I’d had my daughter, Amelia. One of our midweek rituals is a Wednesday afternoon playgroup that we absolutely adore. One day, I got chatting to a lovely lady who clearly had a soft spot for the little ones. We made plans for her to come over and play with Amelia — she said she needed a bit of joy and time away.
We exchanged numbers, and when we did, something clicked.
We already had each other’s number saved.
It was Barbara. The same Barbara who helped me when I was at my most vulnerable all those years ago. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. What are the chances?
Now, every time I think of her, I smile. Not just because she’s a friend — but because of how our friendship started. Sometimes, all it takes is one act of kindness from a stranger to make a lifelong difference.
Call to Action
Have you ever had a meaningful encounter with a stranger who became something more? I’d love to hear your story — let’s celebrate these moments of human connection. Leave a comment below, like, and subscribe for more real stories about parenting, neurodiversity, and the power of community.
References:
POTS UK – What is POTS? NHS – First aid: Fainting Worthing Town Hall History
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
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