Fact: stories of small, thoughtful actions can inspire and delight others in unexpected ways. Here’s a for instance.  

My wife and I recently had a travel adventure— when we went inter-railing and backpacking through five countries in Europe in less than four weeks. And as we neared a bus station in Bar, Montenegro—the final stop of our journey—my wife was scrolling through Google Maps and said:  

“Ah, nuts. Our hotel is nowhere near the station. According to this, it’s a 35-minute shlep to walk there.”  

“Okay, let’s just take a taxi,” I suggested.  

Immediately, a young woman sitting nearby chimed in:  

“Oh, don’t do that.”  

Curious, I asked, “Why not?”  

She hesitated a moment, then explained, “I’m sorry to say this about my own people, but they’ll try to cheat you. They’re notorious for charging tourists €25–€30 for a ride that should cost €4 or €5.”  

I nodded. “Oh. Right.”  

While waiting for our bus driver to retrieve our backpacks, I quickly began thinking of ways to negotiate—anything that might help us to avoid getting fleeced by a greedy local taxi driver.  

Just then, the same young woman—whose name we later learned was Maria—tapped me gently on the shoulder and said:  

“I’ve just spoken with my dad, and we’ve decided—we don’t want your first experience in our city to be a bad one. We’d hate for you to start with a sour taste. Would it be okay if we gave you a lift to your hotel? It would be our pleasure.”  

We were SO touched by her amazing and considerate gesture. Naturally, we accepted her generous offer.  

And it got even better. During the five-minute ride, Maria shared awesome advice on things to do and not do while in Bar. Wow. We were delighted to hear her local knowledge.

Her hope that our first impression of her city was a positive one succeeded beautifully. Not only did it make our day, but we also shared her story with countless others—in our hotel and since.  

Here’s the interesting part: that small act of kindness didn’t just lift our spirits; it clearly lifted Maria’s as well. Her father, Zohan, was as proud as could be of her. Her simple gesture created a ripple effect, raising everyone around her—an inspiring reminder that choosing to go beyond what is expected of you can be so uplifting for others.  

PS: It didn’t surprise us to learn Maria is studying to become an event planner. She’s clearly chosen a career that’s all about creating meaningful experiences others will value and remember. She’s definitely on the right path.