If we only look around, we’ll find that there are a lot of opportunities for us to do kindness. Whether we take them or not depends upon us.
23-year-old Alonzo Johnson from Massachusetts saw an old man at the top of the escalator at Holyoke Mall as he was doing some summer shopping. He thought there was something weird about his demeanor so he decided to take a closer look.
When he realized that the old man was paralyzed in fear, he did not hesitate to give a helping hand and assisted the elderly man to get on the escalator and stayed with him until they went down the lower floor. Their arms were linked and Alonzo kept the senior 83-year-old gentleman relax as they descended.
Little did the men know that someone took notice of this touching scene and snapped a photo of them as they were on the escalator with arms linked while talking to each other. The photo was taken by a hospice nurse who later on posted the image on Facebook.
The photo instantly went viral.
People online were moved by what the young man did and they were commending him for the kind gesture he extended to the senior citizen. It was definitely an inspiring moment that warmed everyone’s hearts and gave them something to smile about.
Alonzo did not expect that his simple act of kindness would have this huge impact.
“I saw an elderly man just looking for someone to show that they cared and to help him through the fear that he had,” Alonzo told Inside Edition. “We were talking going down the escalator and it was more of me just having him talk so he can get his mind off things. And I told him about how his hat looked really nice and how he looked very good for being an 83-year-old man.”
It is not a surprise that old people are scared to get on the escalator. There have been incidents caught on camera wherein the elderly get involved in accidents when they ride on one.
The elderly man whom Alonzo escorted had a previous mishap when riding the escalator and so, he felt frightened and got frozen while standing at the top of the mall’s escalator. It was fortunate that a kind man such as Alonzo was around to lend a helping hand.
The 23-year-old gentleman certainly touched a lot of hearts online with his simple yet genuine act of care. His inspiring gesture is definitely a reminder that even the smallest deeds made out of the kindness of one’s heart can affect a lot of lives in the most positive way.
“For me, it’s more of what my mom always taught me. To always do the right thing and to always help people whenever you can,” Alonzo shared further with Inside Edition.
Truly, a little act of kindness can go a long way.
For Alonzo, he simply had to help the elderly man in need. But for everyone who saw and heard about his story, this tiny act made with pure sincerity is another proof that humanity and kindness still lives.
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