{"id":20776,"date":"2026-02-15T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/2026\/02\/15\/kindness-of-strangers-my-new-sofa-was-left-outside-and-a-burly-gym-guy-helped-me-move-it-upstairs-interior\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T14:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T14:00:00","slug":"kindness-of-strangers-my-new-sofa-was-left-outside-and-a-burly-gym-guy-helped-me-move-it-upstairs-interior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/2026\/02\/15\/kindness-of-strangers-my-new-sofa-was-left-outside-and-a-burly-gym-guy-helped-me-move-it-upstairs-interior\/","title":{"rendered":"Kindness of Strangers: My new sofa was left outside and a burly gym guy helped me move it upstairs | interior"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><span style=\"color:var(--drop-cap);font-weight:700\" class=\"dcr-15rw6c2\">me<\/span>I bought a nice new sofa after my Labrador chewed up the first one. But I didn&#8217;t put it in the apartment right away. My plan was to replace the old sofa with a new one right before my parents came to visit from overseas so the dog wouldn&#8217;t ruin it before they arrived.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Since my apartment was upstairs and my new sofa was stored on the first floor, I hired a removalist to replace both sofas the day my parents arrived. They took down the tattered old sofa but didn&#8217;t lift the new sofa. Instead, they left it out on the street for anyone to catch, and it was gone before I had a chance to fix it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A lovely neighbor saw what was happening and offered to help us set up our new sofa. But moving the bulky sofa up the narrow stairs took two people, and I wasn&#8217;t strong enough to lift the other end. I didn&#8217;t have any friends either.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"ab9f4a92-65f4-43c6-814c-6c64403c50c9\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{\"richLinkIndex\":3,\"element\":{\"_type\":\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\",\"prefix\":\"Related: \",\"text\":\"The kindness of strangers: my teenage son was on a date at a fancy restaurant when a fellow diner helped pay the bill\",\"elementId\":\"ab9f4a92-65f4-43c6-814c-6c64403c50c9\",\"role\":\"richLink\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/lifeandstyle\/2026\/feb\/09\/the-kindness-of-strangers-my-teenage-son-was-on-a-date-at-a-fancy-restaurant-when-a-fellow-diner-helped-pay-the-bill\"},\"ajaxUrl\":\"https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk\",\"format\":{\"design\":10,\"display\":0,\"theme\":4}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I was beside myself. I had to get this new sofa in before my parents&#8217; plane landed! So, in desperation, I drove to a nearby gym and asked the receptionist if anyone could help me. I thought it was a room full of people lifting heavy weights, but where better to find a strong man? The receptionist said she wouldn&#8217;t be able to ask anyone for me, but that I was welcome to approach people directly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Just then, a large, burly man started walking out. I stopped him and frantically explained that there was a beautiful leather sofa stranded on the side of the road and asked if I could help. He looked very amused, got into the car and followed me the kilometer or so back to my house.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">From there, he and my neighbor kicked me out and sent me to pick up my parents from the airport. When I got back, the couch was safe in my apartment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I expressed my deep gratitude to my neighbor, but never saw the man at the gym again. I wish I could have told him that he restored my faith in people. Without any judgment or asking how I got into that predicament, he offered to help.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I took a picture of my new sofa, posted it to Instagram, and captioned it: \u201cIf you want to give up the universe, show me this!\u201d Now, whenever I have doubts about humanity, I look at that photo and am reminded of the kindness of strangers.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-the-nicest-thing-a-stranger-has-ever-done-for-you\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"3390588f-4549-429f-957d-bd0be517c1de\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutBlockElementV2\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><gu-island name=\"CalloutBlockComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{\"callout\":{\"description\":\"\n\n<p>From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about the serendipitous encounters that stuck with you. <\/p>\n<p>&quot;,&#8221;prompt&#8221;:&#8221;Share your experience&#8221;,&#8221;displayOnSensitive&#8221;:false,&#8221;elementId&#8221;:&#8221;3390588f-4549-429f-957d-bd0be517c1de&#8221;,&#8221;title&#8221;:&#8221;What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?&#8221;,&#8221;isNonCollapsible&#8221;:false,&#8221;formFields&#8221;:[{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;what_is_your_name&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759333&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;What is your name?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;text&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;where_do_you_live_city_state_and_country&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759334&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;Where do you live (city, state and country)?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;text&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;tell_us_a_bit_about_the_kind_act_youve_experienced_&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759335&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;Tell us a bit about the kind act you&#8217;ve experienced? &quot;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;textarea&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;where_and_when_did_this_encounter_take_place&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759349&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;Where and when did this encounter take place?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;textarea&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;can_we_publish_your_response&#8221;,&#8221;options&#8221;:[{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, entirely&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, entirely&#8221;},{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, but contact me first&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, but contact me first&#8221;},{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, but please keep me anonymous&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;Yes, but please keep me anonymous&#8221;},{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;No, this is information only&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;No, this is information only&#8221;}],&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759336&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;Can I publish your content? Response?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;radio&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldRadio&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;are_you_comfortable_with_a_journalist_contacting_you_about_this_story_for_potential_publication&#8221;,&#8221;options&#8221;:[{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;Yes&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;Yes&#8221;},{&quot;label&#8221;:&#8221;No&#8221;,&#8221;value&#8221;:&#8221;No&#8221;}],&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759337&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;Would you be okay with a reporter contacting you about this story for potential coverage? Publication?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;radio&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:false},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;what_is_your_phone_number&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Your contact information will help us contact you for more information. Guardian.&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759338&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;What&#8217;s your phone? number?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;text&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:false},{&quot;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutFormFieldBase&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;what_is_your_email_address_&#8221;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Your contact information will help us contact you for more information. Guardian.&#8221;,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;180759339&#8243;,&#8221;hideLabel&#8221;:false,&#8221;label&#8221;:&#8221;What is your email address?&#8221;,&#8221;hidden&#8221;:false,&#8221;type&#8221;:&#8221;text&#8221;,&#8221;required&#8221;:true}],&#8221;_type&#8221;:&#8221;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.CalloutBlockElementV2&#8243;,&#8221;tagName&#8221;:&#8221;aus-callout-kindness-of-st Rangers&#8221;,&#8221;activeFrom&#8221;:1740528000000,&#8221;id&#8221;:&#8221;9c4533ce-53cd-4a8c-b922-c4a5827d92c4&#8243;,&#8221;calloutsUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/cal louts.guardianapis.com\/formstack-campaign\/submit&#8221;,&#8221;formId&#8221;:6112645},&#8221;pageId&#8221;:&#8221;lifeandstyle\/2026\/feb\/16\/the-kindness-of-strangers-my-new-couch-was-stranded-outside-then-a-burly-gym-guy-helped-move-it-upstairs&#8221;}&#8221;><\/p>\n<div data-gu-name=\"callout\">\n<aside>\n<div id=\"expander-6112645 form\" style=\"--background:var(--expandingWrapper--background);--border:var(--expandingWrapper--border);--collapseBackground:var(--expandingWrapper--collapseBackground);--collapseBackgroundHover:var(--expandingWrapper--collapseBackgroundHover);--collapseText:var(--expandingWrapper--collapseText);--collapseTextHover:var(--expandingWrapper--collapseTextHover);--text:var(--expandingWrapper--text);--horizontalRules:var(--expandingWrapper--horizontalRules);--expandBackground:var(--expandingWrapper--expandBackground);--expandBackgroundHover:var(--expandingWrapper--expandBackgroundHover);--expandText:var(--expandingWrapper--expandText)\" class=\"dcr-16jslbg\"><input type=\"checkbox\" class=\"expander__checkbox dcr-1acea34\" id=\"expander-checkbox-6112645 form\" aria-label=\"Expand 6112645 form\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"expander__collapsible-body dcr-7fyrb\" id=\"expander-6112645 form__collapsible-body\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div id=\"6112645\" style=\"--article-link-text:var(--callout-prompt)\">\n<div style=\"padding-inline:8px\" class=\"dcr-sdk583\">\n<p>Share your experience<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"dcr-1qoquav\">What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?<\/h4>\n<div class=\"dcr-1r3uzz1\">\n<div>\n<p>From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about the serendipitous encounters that stuck with you. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--background:var(--tabs--background);--text:var(--tabs--text);--border:var(--tabs--border);--inactiveBackground:var(--tabs--inactiveBackground)\">\n<div role=\"tabpanel\" id=\"form-tab\" aria-labelledby=\"form\" class=\"dcr-1m8xpey\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1af7plv\">Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only your guardians have access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide for the purposes of that functionality, and we will delete personal data that is no longer needed for this purpose. For other ways to connect safely, see:<!-- --> Tips Guide.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-191xdls\"\/><label aria-hidden=\"true\" for=\"expander-checkbox-6112645 form\" class=\"dcr-1oxs02n\"><span id=\"svgplus\" class=\"dcr-12dqv06\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"m10.8 13.2.425 9.8h1.525l.45-9.8 9.8-.45v-1.525l-9.8-.425-.45-9.8h-1.525l-.425 9.8-9.8.425v1.525z\"\/><\/svg><\/span>see more<\/label><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>meI bought a nice new sofa after my Labrador chewed up the first one. But I didn&#8217;t put it in the apartment right away. My plan was to replace the old sofa with a new one right before my parents came to visit from overseas so the dog wouldn&#8217;t ruin it before they arrived. Since [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[48318,6590,7160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-australian-lifestyle","category-homes","category-interiors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20776\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umang.pk\/ur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}