THE RARE ANTIDOTE

So, we've been preparing for a couple of weeks now or more, getting my little brother's things ready for boarding school and it was hectic. He had just finished elementary school, about to start middle school and Dad decided that he would also go to a boarding school like the rest of us did.

Apart from us being close siblings, he was the last born/ baby of the house, and he was resuming later than others, so I worried a lot. It was going to be his first time leaving home for a long period and although I know he's a smart kid, I still worried a lot:

Would he catch up?
Would he be able to cope in his new environment?
Would he be able to take proper care of himself?
I hoped he would meet nice friends and people

Moreso, I've been frequenting the market trying to get all he'll be needing personally as well as the items on the school prospectus, and I was so stressed out and exhausted--going from the registration processes to the checking in processes. I found myself torn between wishing that he would just go back so that all the stress could just stop & being so worried that he had to go back to school. Actually my mom passed, a couple of years back and my Dad is always busy working, so I had to become 'mom' to the rest of my siblings since I'm the eldest and it hasn't been easy.

A day before my brother left for school and amid one of my most hectic days, I had forgotten to get one more item he needed, so I rushed to a supermarket that cold evening to get it, a lantern. So, I just entered the supermarket quickly just picked a lantern, paid at the counter and made for the door. The check-out employee, checked me out and later called me back as I was leaving;

'did you test the lantern before paying?' he asked.
I had totally forgotten I was supposed to test it at the charging point.
'No' I replied a bit embrassed.
So, he called his co-worker to assist me. The lantern was tested and confirmed to be working, so I thanked him.
Then he said 'cheer up, you look like you have a lot on you, you'll be alright' and gave me a warm smile.

Although I knew he was just doing his job. I felt great relief and suddenly felt lighter and happy. All the day's stress just disappeared.
A few days on, I had to be in my brother's school for something and I was so relieved that he was doing great. He told me, he met nice friends who helped him catch up with the school's activities and I was so glad that he met really nice people at start of his new journey.

A part of the definition of social cure emphasizes on how the people around us improve both our mental physical health .
Every person in the society have their struggles and whether or not to can see through them, offering kind words and gestures to people could be a turning point, source of relief or encouragement to them. Let's show more kindness and make the world a better place.

*Share a short story of how a total stranger's kind words or gestures has caused you to have great relief.

I hope I did well @tarazkp.