Kind dad turns the day around for emotional stranger with inspiring talk caught on home security cam

Trigger warning: This article contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.

When a dejected man wanting to end his life showed up outside a stranger’s home, he probably never expected the owner of the house to spark a new flame in him. Through a kind gesture, the homeowner—a dad—helped keep the person moving forward. All of this was captured by a doorbell camera and shared on social media by Danielle Burnett, who goes by @danielleburnett__ on Instagram.

In the video captured on the CCTV, Danielle’s father was seen boosting the heartbroken man by extending his courtesy to him. The plus-size model, who posts lifestyle and mental health content on her social media, captioned the video by saying, “I’m so proud to call him my dad.” The clip started with the stranger sharing with Danielle’s dad about losing everything he had. “I lost my girlfriend and my job. Both my wife and my son as well,” the man said through tears.

The text overlay on the video stated that the man had shouted and approached Danielle’s parents' house. This was when the model's dad, who was present in the garden, talked him down from taking any drastic decisions. The seemingly old dad changed the mind of the individual in less than 30 seconds with apparently the “most valuable” advice the latter received in his life.

After hearing the shattering words uttered by the stranger, he simply responded by agreeing with him. “You lost a lot,” the dad remarked, adding, “but guess what? You didn’t lose your life. Tomorrow will come. Tomorrow will be better. You’ve got to stick it out till tomorrow.” The inspiring words from Danielle’s father touched the stranger. Following this, the broken stranger showed gratitude by thanking the old man. Both of them cherished the moment, looking at one another in silence for a moment before parting ways. Several people on social media lauded the dad for sympathizing with the random man who turned outside his house instead of ignoring him.

Among them, a therapist, @charismwesigwa, wrote, “I love that he didn’t say, ‘don’t hurt yourself’. He said, ‘just hold on until tomorrow’. This is actually a technique we use in therapy when a client is in crisis.” Adding to it, @lunariding_ said, “Your dad is amazing for talking to him. I’m sure many people would have heard him and ignored him because he was bothering them.” Reacting to the post, others opened up about the serious mental health struggles they faced and how a small gesture can bring change to someone’s life.

You can follow Danielle Burnett (@danielleburnett__) on Instagram for uplifting and lifestyle content.

If you have thoughts about taking your own life or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or dial 988.