On days where it feels like there are no truly good people left in the world, remember this: a Scottish bus driver named Jackie Downie once stopped his whole route to help one man.
Bus drivers don't always get the credit they deserve. Not only do they have to get commuters from point A to point B on a rigid timetable, these professional motorists also get called into action as heroes more often than most of us realize.
It was a bus driver who saved a little child from abduction, and it was a bus driver who stopped a devastating school shooting before it could begin. Not all heroes wear capes, but some of them drive buses.
And their heroics aren't always on a grand scale. Jackie stopped the bus to perform one tiny act of kindness that created a ripple effect across the world.
Scroll through below to learn what made Jackie stop his vehicle on that fateful day.
[H/T: BBC]
The world may never have known about Jackie Downie's act of kindness if it hadn't been for a passenger named Leah-ashley Brown.
The commuter spotted the act of kindness unfolding from a seat on the bus. She shared a dramatic photo of the moment with Jackie's employer, Lothian Buses.
The photo, posted to the Lothian Facebook page, became a minor sensation, with hundreds liking the original photo and the version later shared by the bus company.
The photo shows Jackie pulling the bus over to the side of the road and hopping out of the driver's seat to talk to an elderly man. Jackie had spotted the elderly man walking down the sidewalk, using a walking stick to support himself.
Jackie also noticed that the gentleman's shoelaces were untied.
When Jackie jumped off the bus, he immediately took it upon himself to bend down to the ground and tie up the man's shoelaces himself.
According to BBC, Jackie saw the laces and was immediately concerned that the older man would trip over them and fall.
It's not clear if the gentleman failed to notice the untied laces, or if he was unable to tie the laces himself.
In any event, passengers and Lothian Buses alike are praising Jackie for his kindness.
Leah-ashley shared the original photo with the caption: "Kudos to the driver on bus service number three for getting off to tie this elderly gentleman's shoe lace."
Lothian, upon sharing the post, added, "Well done Jackie!"
The company later explained that Jackie has been with the bus company for 41 years.
When reached for comment by BBC, a company spokesperson added: "We're very proud of Jackie for taking the initiative to help this gentleman. He is a true asset to our business, and it's great to see that his act of kindness didn't go unnoticed."
Still, we somehow doubt that Jackie (pictured above) was expecting to become a viral sensation for his quiet moment of kindness.
In fact, that's the best part of the story.
Jackie had no idea that his actions would give him 15 minutes of fame — he did it purely out of the kindness of his heart. In fact, we bet he has likely been performing similar kindnesses for passengers and pedestrians for years, with all the deeds left unsung. He's simply a good person.
If you love seeing such a simple and humble act of kindness getting noticed, be sure to SHARE Jackie's sweet gesture far and wide!
