airplane

*Featured image contains photo by cottonbro studio*This story appeared on the Love What Matters FacebookEveryone wants to feel seen and appreciated in life. But sometimes, simply telling another person how much they mean to us just isn’t enough. Sometimes, we need to show others how meaningful their contributions are through our own actions.That’s exactly what one stranger did on a flight one day, and his actions resonated with passengers throughout the plane.A Simple “Mistake”One day, a woman named Jessica Titus was boarding a plane and getting ready to find her seat for the long haul ahead. In front of her was a woman in an army uniform doing the exact same thing. As they walked past the pre-boarded first-class passengers, a man who had been looking in their direction stood up.According to a Facebook post, the man stopped the servicewoman.“Sorry ma’am, I’m in your seat,” he told her.The woman was confused because she was not assigned the pricier, first-class seat. But the man insisted and asked her which seat was printed on her ticket.“What? No — I’m 31B,” she responded.The man then took his stuff and went to seat 31B, leaving his cushy first-class seat for the woman to enjoy instead.Kindness in ActionIt wasn’t a mistake or a mix-up. The man knew very well that the woman was flying coach, but he also wanted to acknowledge all of the sacrifices this stranger made for him and their country. So he did something simple and sweet without making any show about it.For a few hours, this woman got to experience a bit of luxury thanks to a stranger giving up his seat. It was a small action with rippling effects.That’s because Jessica, the woman who recounted the story, decided to pay it forward. Inspired by this man’s action, she sent a note and some money his way after they had all settled in.“Please accept a drink or snack on me,” she wrote. “If everyone treated people the way you treated the servicewoman, the world would be a better place.”Ultimately, the man didn’t take Jessica up on her offer, but many people deplaned feeling better about the world that day.The Importance of ActionOften in life, we know that people need our help or our kindness. So we reach out and tell them that if they need anything, we’re there to help or listen. Those thoughts are always appreciated, but sometimes it’s even better to take action like this man did.Sometimes people don’t know how to ask for help. Other times, they’re in a hard place and don’t necessarily even know what they need. Those are the moments when it’s time to step in and offer something tangible.Perhaps you can send a hot meal or voucher someone’s way when they’re overwhelmed and unable to cook. Maybe a friend needs someone to come over and watch the kids for a few hours while they run out to take care of an important errand or enjoy a rare night out. A curated gift basket or a "Thinking of You" card can also go a long way.Or, if this man inspires you and you want to do a small act of kindness for a stranger, consider letting someone in front of you in line at the bank. Let someone else take a coveted parking spot the next time two of you pull up simultaneously. Or bring dog treats with you on your next walk and see if you can offer one to a passing owner and their pooch.As this story proves, words are appreciated. But sometimes, it’s the acts of kindness that are truly what we need.More from Goalcast:Man Is Unable to Calm His Fussy Niece on Flight – Then, a Passenger Approaches Them and Reaches for the Overhead BinAirline Refuses to Let Man Board Flight With His Newborn – Then an Elderly Woman Takes Them Both AwayFlight Attendant Finds Passenger’s Hungry Baby Crying – Gives the Child Something Only She Could in That Moment