First, let’s start with this: I regularly have positive random encounters with people (well, about 95% of the time). I’m one of those people, for better or worse, that strangers want to talk to, which has led to some great conversations and sometimes even friendships. But this isn’t actually my story. It’s a friend’s. But I was there, and I have this prompt, plus I have a keyboard and feel like telling a story, so here we are.

Some Detail You’ll Need

Several years ago, she and I volunteered to man the table for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at a local festival. (If you know this blog, you’re already familiar with my work with the organization. You may have even participated in the walk as a team member. Go you!! North Star Team last year, baby! Whoop!)

A few pieces of information that will help with context:

• The event was the annual Austin Pride Festival.
• Coming out isn’t always met with support. According to Psychology Today, nearly half of LGBTQ+ young adults report being estranged from at least one immediate family member, and about a third say they’re not confident their parents would accept them. Many LGBTQ+ people lose connection with immediate family after coming out.
• Research shows that LGBTQ+ young people who face family rejection are at significantly higher risk for depression and suicidal thoughts, not because of who they are but because of how they’re treated.

This is why I felt it was important to be at Pride, manning a table to provide support and resources. And my friend was there because she has kids in that community, so it’s deeply personal to her. As their “adopted” aunt (aka “favorite” — just ask them), and as someone who has many friends in the community, it’s important to me, too.

That Random Encounter

That hot Texas day, my friend proudly sported her navy blue t‑shirt with a Pride‑flag heart in the center and the words “Free Mom Hugs” in big, bold letters. If I remember correctly (which, look, I’m old and things get dodgier each year as I grow closer and closer to my Jell‑O gumming years), several people complimented her shirt as we passed by. A few even went in for some quick hugs.

And then there was this woman…

I’m not sure where she came from, because I was derping around, like I do, thinking about how hot it was and wishing for more shade, more hair ties, more water, more clouds, more trees, more “not June in Texas,” and wondering why my friend was being so weird about me wanting an “I Love Tacos” shirt — because tacos are a staple here and objectively the best breakfast/lunch/dinner food ever — when out of nowhere this tall, thin woman wrapped herself around my friend and started sobbing.

I was briefly taken aback, like you are when tall, thin strangers suddenly grab your friends, and then settled as my friend wrapped herself around the woman in turn. Then I understood.

Here was a woman who desperately needed…

A mom to hold her. A mom to tell her she was seen and accepted for who she was — who she is. A mom to reassure her she was okay in this world.

A hug from my friend. A protective mom who used her body to shield this woman from all the bad, all the heartache from her past, for at least a few moments.

When she pulled back, the woman thanked her, and my friend reassured her that she was okay in this world.

As I hung back, I was reminded that a simple act of kindness from a parent‑figure can mean the difference between someone feeling alone and someone feeling like they truly belong.

As I prepare to kick off this year’s fundraising effort for the Austin AFSP walk, it’s a good reminder that that difference can shape a person’s sense of self‑worth. It can influence how they move through the world. And it can play an important part in helping to lower the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. One simple act.

Every now and then, I think about that encounter. I think about how one small, beautiful gesture — one act of kindness, one hug — became something profoundly important to a stranger. And honestly? We can’t fix everything, but by doing one small thing, we can make the world less harsh for one another. So as you wander through your own world, remember to be gentle. Be kind. Offer the hug, even if it feels small. Small things can make a difference; they can save people, even if you don’t realize it in the moment.

For someone who has had their share of random encounters, this one that happened to a friend sticks with me.