Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.

In most cities in Taiwan, we don’t have public trash bins on every street corner.

Instead, garbage trucks come at fixed times during the week, and we all head out like clockwork to catch them.

One evening, I had just finished throwing out my trash when I noticed a woman struggling with two bags—one big, one small—trying to catch up with the garbage truck.

I wanted to help, but I also didn’t want to miss the truck myself.

So I acted like a pickpocket in reverse—swiftly grabbed the big bag out of her hand and dashed toward the truck.

She looked surprised at first, but smiled and thanked me once she realized what I was doing.

It all happened in seconds, but it stuck with me.

Kindness doesn’t always come with preparation—it just needs a window, and a willingness to act.

That moment reminded me of something else.

In Taipei, you don’t often see people begging or living on the street, but once in a while, you do.

Whenever I notice someone like that, I don’t approach them immediately.

I usually walk past quietly, just to observe from a distance and make sure everything seems safe.

If it does, I double back and quietly leave something—a coin, some food.

It’s a similar feeling to the garbage bag moment.

A quiet kind of kindness.

No big gestures, no need to be seen.

Just doing a small thing, if it might make someone else’s day a bit easier.