Yes, a dentist really handed $1,000 back to this teenager in a moment of kindness.
Earlier last month a doctor tweeted out the unbelievable story of how a random stranger selling his Acura TSX to her 19-year-old son handed him back $1,000 and told him to pay it forward in the future. Just a few days ago NPR dropped the official story interviewing both the seller and the doctor’s son, which you can read here. It’s indeed 100 percent true!
My 19-year-old son bought a car today. The guy who sold it to him took the cash, counted out $1000, and gave it back to him, saying “good luck in college. Pay it forward” Unbelievably kind, and brought tears to my eyes. ❤️
— Shannon Wiltsey Stirman, PhD (@SWS_FASTLab) November 21, 2020
Basically NPR’s post goes over how the 19-year-old UC Santa Cruz Student, one Henry Stirman, saved up for several years doing odd-jobs and internships for a car.
Looking at the TSX he eventually bought, it looks like he had a certain car in mind, something reliable, sporty, semi-luxurious, and a car that flies under the radar. This TSX looks well cared for with authentic Work Wheels (worth thousands on their own,) a tasteful drop, and bolt-ons from reputable JDM aftermarket performance companies.
The seller, Bay Area dentist Hua Kuan, upon learning about Stirman’s story of scraping money together, really related to his plight. Kuan was once a young man working as a buss-boy in a restaurant to make ends meet. His TSX was a gift from his parents.
According to Kuan, why he gifted the money back,
“To me, if I could give him the joy of having something that he didn’t expect to have, it would teach him about kindness. And I think kindness is not something that you can learn; it’s just something that you can receive. And once you’ve experienced it, then you’re able and more willing to give it out.“
Both have recounted their stories on social media for everyone to learn about.
Ripples of kindness
The Mom’s initial tweet went viral, RT’d close to 40,000 times, liked 647,000 times, and with 5,500 comments. Not only did Kuan’s kindness spark an NPR interview, dozens of social media accounts picked up on the story, putting their own spin.
And therein lies the real story, how kindness, a lot like anything, can ripple, affecting everyone it meets.
Several shared their own stories.
Years ago I was broke and needed to get home. A regular where I bartended gave me a check for $300 & told me to pay it forward. Two years ago my neighbor needed to get home to her dying mom. I knocked on her door and handed her a check for $300 w/a note saying the same.
— Tami Wood (@twoodpdx) November 22, 2020
We worked a food drive yesterday. 2 woman came up separately & both donated FULL shopping carts. They shared the same story…”years ago I needed help & someone was there when I needed food. I’m in a better place and want to pay it forward.” I teared up both times❤️
— Michelle Kennedy (@MPHMCHES) November 22, 2020
I talked to this woman while waiting in line explaining I was visiting my grandma & took her to lunch(I live 2hrs away). Later we came to find out that woman paid for our meal. She said “I hope my grandkids come to visit me like this”? my grandma cried.
— Vanessa Poveda (@Nessaboosie) November 23, 2020
Kindness can be something as small as a smile, letting someone less fortunate cut in front of you, or just being patient, it doesn’t have to be some grand gesture.
The ripples and waves it forms, you never know how large an effect you’ll have.
