In Charlotte, North Carolina, a Walmart shopping day became a very touching story: a women named Julia Stultz and her son found an envelope on the floor, in the children’s clothing section. And inside, there was five $20 bills and a handmade note.
Queen City News reported that what happened showed that empathy, solidarity, and generosity still exist today. And the truth is that stories like this one, are being often shared on social media all the time, especially TikTok.
But let’s not get carried away because the idea is not to make a viral video, is to help someone in need because your heart truly feels like it.
Where the misterious envelope was
Julia’s son noticed noticed something on the floor and Julia picked it up out of curiosity. “With love, amen,” was written on the outside. “Open this card if it found you… You own it. You are constantly blessed by God.” said on the back.
Inside the envelope there was a $100 card with another message: “May this gift bring you a little peace today. Please pay it forward someday. May you always be blessed by God! Your companion.”
“It was totally unexpected, but it reminded us that there is still kindness in the world,” Julia said to Queen City News about the surprise. And Akili Omari, another shopper, also gave his opinion: “I’ve always wondered if things like this really happen in the world, and I’ve always said that if I ever have the chance to pay it forward, I absolutely would.”
Nothing different was going on at that moment, she wasn’t being filmed or anything like that. Someone just decided to give a little help that day and encourage someone to the same next. Which show that this exact deed was not about getting attention, but to have an intention.
For Julia and hers son though, this probably became a very warm and important memory.
Why small acts spread
This was not that atypical. A TikTok user going by the username @wherestayo shared how she came across a homeless man trying to find refuge in an empty apartment. She asked about what he needed instead of confronting him or calling the police. Then she invited him to her porch and made him a burrito. After that, she paid for an Uber to get him to a safer location.
These kinds of stories spread quickly because they are easy to understand and replicate. Empathy doesn’t always need wealth. To practice generosity, you (for sure) don’t need a huge platform. Just showing solidarity, which doesn’t always involve planning a massive event… it can be as simple as watching someone, paying attention to them, and offering assistance in any way that keeps their dignity.
That’s also why the Walmart envelope was successful because the message showed that these “good deed” in order to be of impact needed to be reproduced later, and be passed to someone else.
A call to keep spreading good deeds
A whole community was inspired after a stranger left $100 and a blessing for a family to discover. But is nod that odd, people are constantly looking for evidence that goodness still exists. A lot of Instagram and TikTok videos are often reminding us that a hot meal, a ride, a nice chat, or a moment of respect can all be considered a way of helping.
Kindness is never a bad choice, and what sometimes can seem like a little helpful hand for you, might be a real push for someone else.
So share what you can; time, attention, a little help. Whatever you can give at that moment, will be enough. And with time, it may turn into a kind habit.