By james art 
This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series by the Hidden Brain team. It includes stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.
A few years ago Brian Perkins started walking with a cane. It was an adjustment that affected his daily life in small but significant ways.
“The thing about walking with a cane is that you only have one arm to carry things,” he said.
One day he was at the dry cleaners putting away his clothes.
“I was standing at the counter with my cane paying and apparently I had more than I could carry in one hand,” Perkins recalled. “And this woman, she was sitting by the washing machine and she looked at me and she said, ‘Do you need help?’ And I said, ‘No, no, I’ve got it.’ I have it.’
Perkins walked out to his truck, opened the door, and began putting his clothes in the back seat. When he turned to make his way back for the second load, the woman was walking toward him with the rest of his laundry in her hands.
“And she put it in the truck and looked at me and said, ‘I know you.’ You’ve been helping people all your life. Now it’s your turn. Accept it.
With these words the woman turned and left.
Perkins did not know the woman. She was a stranger. But she saw something in him and knew she needed the nudge to accept help.
“Her words had a ripple effect on my life. Over the years, I’ve gone from being grateful to my one unsung hero to a whole chorus of … unsung heroes who have helped me in very small ways and changed my life,” he said.
“[I’ve] I learned that people love to help other people and that kindness is not something that is forgotten. And for that I will be eternally grateful.”
My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes released every Tuesday. To share your unsung hero’s story with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice note on your phone and send it to [email protected].
Copyright 2024 NPR