The world revolves around acts of kindness because that’s what reminds us of our humanity. It’s the little things that matter most, and it doesn’t take too much to extend a kind gesture that could turn someone’s day around. Transport systems are among the places where opportunities crop up to show some compassion.
No one can ever anticipate how their day will go, but you can always be on the lookout for anyone who needs a helping hand. That’s precisely what an airline passenger did when a regular flight he took transformed into an extraordinary experience. It started with just one act of kindness, which then spiraled into a series of other heartwarming moments.
Just An Average Joe
Our story begins with Denny Kuklich, who is by all accounts your typical average Joe. What perhaps makes him stand out from the rest is his penchant for kindness. He firmly believed in the ability of goodness to transform people and make the world a better place.
It’s the reason why Kuklich never hesitates to contribute to the process in his unique way. If there was any chance that he could inject some happiness into someone’s life, he always rose to the occasion.
Catching A Regular Flight
On one exceptionally ordinary day, Kuklich caught a domestic flight. He boarded the plane, took his seat, and proceeded to settle in. He loved flying, which made him comfortable being in the craft, and it didn’t hurt that he had a window seat.
He had all the comforts needed to make it through the flight, including a good book. It just happened that he had a long flight ahead of him, and Kuklich expected to spend most of the time catching some much-deserved shut-eye.
Indulging In Some “People-Watching”
One of the aspects Kuklich liked about flying was observing the people around him. He would imagine who they were, what they did for a living, and generally, the kind of lives they led. He also wondered about their world view and beliefs.
Trying to get inside people’s minds helped connect him with others. When boarding closed, Kuklich couldn’t help noticing a group of soldiers, clad in their uniforms, settling into their seats. He counted ten of them in total.
Grabbing A Meal On A Flight
Kuklich always appreciated the great men and women who offer their services to the country. Curiosity got the best of him, and he wondered where they were headed. It wasn’t long before he struck up a conversation with one of the soldiers.
He found out that they were headed to Petawawa, Canada, for training before they deployed off to Afghanistan. Impressed, Kuklich thanked them for offering their service to the country. Soon after takeoff, an inflight announcement alerted the passengers that lunch was on its way.
Choosing To Forego A Meal
On the menu for the day was a sack lunch going for $5, and it wasn’t anything fancy but enough to help passengers fill their hungry bellies. As the flight attendant inched closer to Kuklich’s seat, he fished for his wallet, ready to pay for his meal.
In the midst of it, he overheard a conversation between two of the soldiers. They were trying to figure out whether or not the sack lunch was worth it. They concluded that it was rather pricey and decided to forego the meal altogether.
Touched By Their Predicament
Kuklich felt for the guys because it was a long flight, and they were big guys who could use something to eat. It broke his heart when he soon realized that the entire troop of soldiers had decided to skip lunch that day.
He didn’t want to see anyone going without a meal, especially men who put their lives on the line for their country. They were probably hungry, just like he was, and Kuklich decided to see what he could do about the situation.
Helping How He Could
Kuklich handed over the $5 for his meal and started digging into his sandwich. It didn’t feel right, and he felt compelled to ask the flight attendant, who had just finished serving the meals, if they had any more left.
She confirmed that they had plenty of food left. Kuklich knew that all wasn’t lost, and he made a $50 payment to cover meals for the soldiers. The flight attendant’s reaction caught him aback, and he wondered if he had miscalculated the situation.
A Relatable Situation
The flight attendant had been touched by Kuklich’s generosity to the point of almost shedding tears. She explained that her son had served on several tours to Iraq, and his kindness towards the soldiers hit home for her on a personal level.
She felt like he was extending the same gesture to her son. What were the odds, Kuklich thought, as the flight attendant shared her story? He felt grateful that his random act of kindness already had an impact on someone.
A Plane Filled With Happy Campers
Kuklich sneaked a brief look at the soldiers and saw that they were all enjoying their lunch. They needed the meal, and he couldn’t help but feel happy that, in the end, they had something to eat.
He didn’t expect anything in return, but the flight attendant walked over to him and asked him a question. Like most folks who extend a helping hand, Kuklich was just happy that he had been in a position to help, and that was enough.
Upgraded Meal
The flight attendant asked Kuklich if he would prefer to have chicken or beef. He had just had the sack lunch, and her question puzzled him a bit. A short while after, the flight attendant returned with a first-class meal for him.
He didn’t believe that they had gone out of their way to get him the meal. He thanked them and dug into the delicious meal. Kuklich knew that anyone would have done what he had done, and he didn’t expect the flight crew’s response.
A Chain Reaction
Kuklich took a walk to use the inflight facilities after finishing his meal. A fellow passenger stopped him for a brief talk. The man had witnessed his act of kindness, and the noble gesture had touched him. He also wanted to help out.
The man thanked Kuklich for what he had done, and while shaking his hand, he gave him $25. It essentially meant that Kuklich had gotten back half of the money he had spent on the soldiers’ meals.
Seeing The Captain
When Kuklich returned to his seat, he felt content that the spirit of generosity had rubbed off on others and traveled around the plane. Not every passenger has the opportunity to rub shoulders with the captain of the aircraft, but Kuklich earned that honor.
The captain walked up to him, which was already a treat of its own. News about Kuklich’s generosity had reached the cockpit, and the captain had to offer his gratitude and meet the man behind the act of kindness.
More Than Just Lunch
The captain had a story of his own to share, and as it turned out, he had also served in the military as a pilot for a time in the past. Someone had also once bought him lunch. The captain could relate to how the soldiers who Kuklich helped must have felt.
The captain was overcome by gratitude to have someone offer him a meal, but it was more than just a lunch. That’s why hearing about Kuklich’s generosity warmed his heart. He had to let Kuklich know that what he did was simply outstanding.
Not Your Typical Flight
Once the Captain and Kuklich had finished their conversation, the two men shook hands. The entire plane also lauded Kuklich the best way they could. They started applauding his act of charity.
Everyone’s reaction left Kuklich feeling embarrassed, but at the same time, he allowed a grin to form on his face. He felt pleased to have helped, but he couldn’t fully accept the applause. He also thought that all the attention should go to the soldiers and not him.
Finding Inner Happiness
We face several stressors in life, but despite it all, we always find a reason to smile and feel at peace. That’s what Kuklich thought for the rest of the flight as he basked in the glory of the praise he’d received throughout the flight.
It wasn’t how he had expected the flight to turn out, and he could never have imagined that a simple act would change his outlook on life. Kuklich knew that the soldiers would have done the same in a heartbeat, and he also knew that kindness attracts kindness.
Reimbursed For His Kindness
Eventually, Kuklich managed to catch a snooze, and when he woke up, they were moments away from landing. He gathered his belongings as they touched down, and like everyone else, he proceeded to the nearest exit.
Once again, a man stopped him on his way out. The man didn’t say a word and simply placed some cash in Kuklich’s shirt pocket. It was another $25, and even though he never asked for it, Kuklich got back the $50 he had spent on the soldiers’ lunch.
One Last Thing To Do
The eventful flight finally ended, but the impact it had on Kuklich, as well as just about everyone on that flight, wasn’t over. It was one of those moments that would stay with him and undoubtedly a great story to tell his grandkids one day.
Kuklich made his way to the exit of the terminal, and he saw the soldiers once again. He had given and received much more than anyone could wish for on that flight. However, he still had more generosity left in him.
Extending More Generosity
Kuklich approached the soldiers telling them that he knew that they had a long way to go before they reached the base. He handed them the $50 he had gotten from the two passengers saying that it would help them grab a sandwich on their way.
The soldiers couldn’t thank Kuklich enough; he had managed to give once again. The sweet moment showed that kind people exist in the world, and they never get tired of giving. He parted ways with them after wishing them well and bidding them goodbye.
Soldiers On Flights
It’s often ordinary people going about regular days, which end up spearheading extraordinary events. That’s what Kuklich did, and it also describes the soldiers who are on the frontline of protecting our security beyond just being a fighting force.
Soldiers go through a lot, and Kuklich couldn’t have known if the group of soldiers was facing any kind of hardships. He just felt compelled to give back the best way he could to the men and women who selflessly risk their lives for us.
Love What Matters Picks Up The Story
Once the flight was behind him, Kuklich decided to share his story on social media. Love What Matters; the story-sharing platform picked up the story. They dedicated a post to the men in uniform and Kuklich’s act of kindness.
The post explained that too many people don’t know the value of being honorable in today’s society. Kuklich’s actions remind us that it doesn’t take much to be good to one another. If only one person could take away something from the story and pay it forward, that’s the only thing he hoped would come out of sharing his experience.
Touching Stories Go Viral
Several more websites picked up the story, and it blew up with thousands of people sharing it with others. Touching stories always go viral because they inspire everyone and serve as a reminder that goodness exists. Since the story went up in 2016, it’s received 350K likes and 250K shares.
Twenty-three thousand people chimed in with comments, most of which were from people sharing their heartwarming stories. One commenter explained that her son is in Afghanistan, and reading the story moved her to tears.
A Profound Sense Of Appreciation
Another person who commented on the post said that he was a veteran, and the type of gratitude displayed reminded him why vets dedicate their lives to defend the country. He explained that he’d been struggling lately, but the story lifted his spirit.
Kuklich’s actions resonated with the majority of the people who left comments on the post. The simple act of buying ten soldiers a meal conjured up emotions of appreciation. Everyone facing a similar situation felt touched, and many more learned from it.
The Life Of A Soldier Isn’t Easy
Soldiers are among the group of professions who have it rough. The nature of their job and the psychological impact isn’t easy to handle. The moral support extended to our men and women in service goes a long way in boosting their morale.
The isolation they feel also makes things difficult, especially when they are smack in the middle of battle zones in foreign lands. That is why when others recognize their plight and extend a helping hand, it touches every person in service and their loved ones.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
They say that “no good deed goes unpunished,” and Kuklich’s act of kindness didn’t bask in the glory of an endless stream of praise. Some people questioned the credibility of the story and thought that it sounded too made-up.
On the other hand, it didn’t make sense. Why anyone would make the story up because nothing extraordinary came out of it. A myriad of opinions littered the comment section, which, in the larger frame of things, is a good thing.
Doubting The Story
Kuklich’s story sparked an online debate; for starters, a select group of skeptics pointed out the holes in the tale. They said that Petawawa is a known training ground for Canadian Soldiers, and you wouldn’t typically find American service members training there.
Kuklich held onto the fact that the men were American soldiers, but perhaps he might have misunderstood or misheard that part. At the end of it all, he didn’t stand to benefit from it in any way except for knowing that he had helped someone out.
It Comes Down To Humanity
A majority of people agreed not to dismiss the skeptics because a couple of things didn’t add up. However, they also defended the post, saying that whether it happened word-for-word as Kuklich had narrated or not, it is still an inspiring story.
Soldiers, their families, and just about everyone who came across the story left with a more powerful lesson out of it. Simply that we can purposefully take the time to be kind to each other, and we should also keep the men and women who work hard to protect our security in mind.
An Inspiration To Everyone
Everyone who supported the post agreed that the more significant takeaway should be the story’s positive ripple effect. It made everyone take an audit of how they interact with each other, and even how they react when they cross paths with service folk.
The subliminal message is that we should never hesitate when it comes to helping fellow citizens. We all benefit from living in a society with several Kuklichs, and we should all aspire to try and be more like him.
The World Is Unkind
The harsh truth is that we live in an unkind world. Everyone approaches life as it’s a boxing ring where the scales tip in favor of the fittest. That doesn’t mean that people aren’t good, but we just have to put ourselves first as much as we can just to survive.
We are all filled with kindness, and when we look at things from a different point of view, we realize that it doesn’t take much to help each other out. Still, some things hold us back from doing good deeds.
Keeping It Under Wraps
In the episode of Friends, “The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS,” Phoebe sets out to do a selfless good deed. Joey points out that selfless good deeds don’t exist because even feeling good afterward is a reward in itself.
After all, the markers of an act of kindness include not expecting something in return or being showered with praise because of your generosity. People don’t like being put on the spot, and even if it’s receiving showers of praise for their generosity. We know that we are innately good, but for some reason, we don’t want others pointing it out.
Our Deepest Fear
Author/self-help guru Marianne Williamson summed it up with the famous quote, “our deepest fear is our power.” We are not inadequate, just that we do not explore the full extent of our capabilities. We can go the extra mile to do good but the fear of the repercussions, good or bad, hold us back.
Williamson further added that we tend to make ourselves appear smaller so that those around us can feel more secure. It’s one of the limiting factors that prevent us from helping out when the need arises.
Going On An Ego Trip
No one wants to appear egotistical, and that’s how most people conclude the actions of those who decide to actively do good. Williamson continues, saying that making ourselves smaller achieves nothing because we end up not helping anyone; neither is it a service to ourselves.
We don’t want people saying that we are showing off, but when you think about it, most people fear the same. It’s all in our head, and if no one helps, it means that we are slowly losing our sense of being “each other’s keeper.”
Just Do Good
Perhaps the biggest lesson from the story is just to do good. Kuklich didn’t second guess anything, and he jumped right in to help where he saw a need. The only problem he had was accepting the applause and attention from his fellow passengers.
Kuklich got embarrassed when it happened, and he didn’t feel like he deserved the admiration of everyone else. He even thought that it’s something anyone else could do, but it was only him who stepped up at that moment, and his action got the ball rolling.
Sending Care Packages To Those In Need
Plenty of people send care packages and help the armed forces whenever they can. Several organizations that specifically send care packages every year to soldiers based abroad. They always accept donations all-year-round to help with this effort.
Each package typically includes essential toiletry items like deodorant, toothpaste, and soap. They may also include treats and luxuries like candy bars, which are a welcome comfort to anyone who has gone for weeks or months without them. Most people also include personalized messages to truly make the packages extra special.
Spreading The Festive Spirit
The festive season is the most challenging time to be away from home and those you love. That is yet another price our armed forces have to pay. Christmas care boxes are popular, and they help share the festive spirit with soldiers who can’t be with their families.
Soldiers still try to maintain a semblance of their ordinary lives even when they are miles away from home. They celebrate the major holidays, and Christmas is one of them. Receiving a care package even from an absolute stranger makes a world of difference.
It Goes A Long Way
Service people appreciate the cards more than most of us realize. Several schools often ask students to pen down unique letters or make cards for our army folk. It’s a great feeling for everyone to wake up to something at Christmas.
One little girl sent such a card, and she couldn’t have imagined that it would have a lasting impact on one soldier’s life. The soldier in question never forgot about the card, and he wanted to meet the girl who sent it to offer a proper “thank you.”
A Stranger’s Good Deed
The soldier we are talking about is John Metzler, who was lucky enough to receive a special card back in his service days. Metzler, who was 23 years old at the time, offered his services to the army as a helicopter sniper.
Most of his days were consumed with concerns about the future, worrying that he may not make it back to his loved ones. Metzler needed a boost in morale, and he couldn’t have known where it would come from and the series of events to follow.
Beyond Family
One Christmas morning, a card Metzler received from a stranger changed things completely. Like many soldiers around the camp, he was excited when he found out that he had received a special package for Christmas.
Metzler found an envelope tucked inside, and he found a card. He opened it and realized that it wasn’t from any of his family members. Best still, it came from a kind stranger across the planet who took the time to send him something for Christmas.
A Special Message
The card came from a sixth-grader, and it was back in 1970. The card started off addressing Metzler as “Dear Serviceman.” The next line held a special message for Metzler, and it really tugged at his emotions.
The six-grader thanked Metzler for his hard work and finished off by thanking him for fighting for the nation in the war. The author of the special note also said that they were all rooting for Metzler and his troop to make it back home.
Thank You Is Enough
It comes naturally for most of us to thank the veterans and soldiers we encounter for their service. We can’t help but feel the respect that they are out there keeping us safe. But thinking it and saying it are entirely different things altogether.
Metzler felt grateful that someone appreciated his work even though he didn’t join the armed forces for that purpose. Still, hearing it from people regularly and reading it reminded him that he is appreciated. That gave him the morale boost he needed to keep going.
One For The Books
The card Metzler received stayed with him all the time, and he had it with him throughout his service. The card had been precisely what he needed to keep him going, and he always believes that it’s what pushed him for the rest of his service.
Eventually, Metzler returned home, and it wasn’t long before he settled into the next chapter of his life. Metzler still thought about the card, and he made the resolve to meet the sixth-grader who sent it.
Returning The Kind Gesture
Metzler asked his family to help him track down the sixth-grader who had written the card. They weren’t successful at first. Metzler didn’t think that he would ever meet the person who had helped him get through the war.
The remarkable bit is that Metzler’s family told him a white lie, but they had tracked down DonnaCaye, the sixth-grader who sent the card. They arranged a surprise meeting so that Metzler could fulfill his promise of thanking her in person.
Years Later, They Finally Meet
Metzler couldn’t believe that it had taken years, but he finally had the chance to meet up with DonnaCaye. The first order of business was hugging her and thanking her for the kind words she wrote that helped him push through.
DonnaCaye also had the card in mind, and she always remembered writing the message. She took it very seriously, and as we can see, it had a tremendous impact. She was pleased that her message had the effect it did on Metzler’s life.