Every new year, many of us make resolutions that we stick to religiously for about two weeks before completely abandoning them and vowing to do better next year.
But not retired elementary school teacher Ruth Reed.
For years, she has faithfully kept her resolution to pick up a stranger's tab once a week at her local Wawa. Sometimes, she does it more often.
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So, back in 2018, when she happened across a "down and out" stranger in line who was struggling to pay for his things, she did what she always does - she helped a person in need.
Only this time, the "person in need" turned out to be multi-millionaire, superstar country crooner Keith Urban. It's a small, small world.
How a Retired Teacher Ended Up Meeting Keith Urban in Wawa
Ruth lives in Medford, New Jersey, just a hop, skip and jump from nearby Camden, New Jersey, which, coincidentally, was one of the stops on Keith Urban's 2018 Grafitti U World Tour.
Feeling a need for some munchies before hitting the stage, Keith stopped in at the convenience store to grab a couple of things. Unfortunately, however, when it came time to pay, his credit card wouldn't work. (Celebrities, they're just like the rest of us).
Ruth overheard him ask the woman he was with if she had $5 and that's when she decided to carpe diem and seize the day. She immediately jumped in and said, "I'll get it."
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"For three years, I have made a resolution to once a week treat someone at Wawa. Occasionally it happens more than once a week," Ruth wrote in a now-viral social media post. "This man was short a few dollars. He asked a lady with him if she had money. I jumped in and said I would pay and explained why."
While she was paying, she couldn't help but think that he looked kind of familiar. But she still couldn't place him. Keith thanked her and the two exchanged first names. When Ruth heard his name was Keith, she realized who he reminded her of, and innocently asked, "Do people ever tell you that you look like Keith Urban?"
His response? "I am Keith Urban."
How Ruth Reed Responded When She Discovered Keith Urban's True Identity
While most mere mortals would have been struck dumb right then and there, not Ruth Reed. It was going to take a lot more than that to convince her. She needed proof that he was, in fact, THE Keith Urban. So she grilled him: "Really? Really? Then where's Nicole? And who was that woman you were with?"
He took it all in stride and told her the woman accompanying him was his assistant and she was welcome to ask his bodyguard. At that point, Ruth finally took him at his word. "And I just fell apart, fell apart and he was gracious," Ruth said.
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Keith then happily took a photo with a beaming Ruth in the parking lot to thank her for her act of kindness.
The photo quickly went viral after being shared on Twitter by one of Ruth's former students and being picked up by numerous news outlets. People praised Ruth for her kind heart and good intentions.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
Ruth's act of kindness was returned tenfold. She got tickets to Keith Urban's concert and attended it that night with her son and daughter-in-law.
But that's not all. When Mastercard heard her story they were inspired. They reached out and offered her a year's supply of prepaid Mastercards to continue paying it forward.
“Ruth, your next 52 acts of kindness are on us,” the credit card company said in a Tweet. “We’d love to send you a year’s supply of prepaid Mastercards! Let’s connect! #StartSomethingPriceless."
Ruth was rewarded for her good deed but for her, the biggest reward is in the giving. In an interview with Pickler and Ben, Ruth said that doing these random acts of kindness has done wonders for her.
She hopes her story will help people realize the importance of stepping up and being kind to each other. After all, we're all in this together. And you never know, you may just meet someone famous in the most random place while you're at it.
