A couple of weeks ago, I was driving a rental car when I noticed something tucked away in the side pocket—an old, well-used wallet.
Inside was a stack of credit cards, a driver’s license, and a decent amount of cash. Whoever this belonged to was probably in a panic. Losing a wallet isn’t just about the money—it’s about the identity, the access, the security, and, in many cases, the sentimental things we carry inside without even thinking about it.
A quick look at the ID told me his name, and with a little digging, I learned it was his birthday that very day.
I imagined how the day must have started for him: maybe he woke up to messages from friends and family, maybe he had plans to celebrate—and then, somewhere along the way, he realized his wallet was gone. That sinking feeling, the mental checklist of “What was in there? Who do I need to call? What do I have to cancel?” Not exactly the birthday anyone hopes for.
I knew what I had to do. I packed up the wallet exactly as I’d found it—every card, every bill—and mailed it back to him. No conditions, no expectations. Just the hope that it might restore a little faith in the goodness of people.
Weeks later, an envelope arrived in my mailbox. Inside was a handwritten note:
“Jamie, I can’t express how lucky I feel that our paths crossed when they did. It’s so rare for someone to return a wallet, especially with everything still inside. I’ve probably said it 100 times, but thank you so much! The world needs more people like you. Nick”
And then came the part that made me laugh through my smile:
“I know you said not to send anything, but I had to cover your expenses, and that $11 looked so lonely.”
Sure enough, tucked in with the note was the $11 from the wallet. Not a penny more, not a penny less—just his way of saying, I noticed. I appreciate you. And I want you to know it mattered.
Sometimes, kindness isn’t about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s just about doing the right thing without expecting a reward—and finding, in return, a little proof that gratitude still runs deep in the world.
