Kindness, and the small things that matter the most
I once had the opportunity to thank an old teacher, years later, for saying something that had changed my life. He had no memory of the occasion. Yet my life was forever altered by what he had said -- altered for the better. Many of you may have also had that experience -- being thanked for something that in your mind was trivial, but in the thanker's mind was huge.
We think we understand the weight of our words and the import of our actions. We are wrong. Everything we say to each other, every decision we make, has import -- and it is often more than we would imagine. Do you recall that old Christmas movie with Jimmie Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life"? The main character does not realize how his life has touched so many others until he is shown by an angel. How stunned he was that he had meant something to people. That he mattered.
The truth is, we all had a chance to matter today --to make someone's day better, or worse -- or to help move the world along in some small way. Did we do it? Today I'd love if we could all do something wonderful. Look around you right now for someone you appreciate. Do they know it? Tell them. Just blurt it out. Be silly or sappy or blunt. Just tell them.
Did you get good customer service today? Ask to be connected to that person's boss so that you may compliment them.
Look at what you are going to buy in the market today -- and look at the market that you chose. Does what you buy and where you shop reflect your real values? If you drove a few more miles, could you find things and places that suit your values better?
Improve your day today, by improving someone else's. It matters when you buy fair trade items. It maters if you are kind to the beggar. It matters if you speak gently to someone today.
We blaze through our days thinking of all those things we have to do. Our mind is everywhere but here now. My 86 year old cousin Ida had something to say about that the other day.
In the business of our days we often forget to matter. We forget to leave a kind imprint on the world. We forget to say thank you. Yet all those things matter a great deal to those who receive such kindnesses from us.
We think we understand the weight of our words and the import of our actions. We are wrong. Everything we say to each other, every decision we make, has import -- and it is often more than we would imagine. Do you recall that old Christmas movie with Jimmie Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life"? The main character does not realize how his life has touched so many others until he is shown by an angel. How stunned he was that he had meant something to people. That he mattered.
The truth is, we all had a chance to matter today --to make someone's day better, or worse -- or to help move the world along in some small way. Did we do it? Today I'd love if we could all do something wonderful. Look around you right now for someone you appreciate. Do they know it? Tell them. Just blurt it out. Be silly or sappy or blunt. Just tell them.
Did you get good customer service today? Ask to be connected to that person's boss so that you may compliment them.
Look at what you are going to buy in the market today -- and look at the market that you chose. Does what you buy and where you shop reflect your real values? If you drove a few more miles, could you find things and places that suit your values better?
Improve your day today, by improving someone else's. It matters when you buy fair trade items. It maters if you are kind to the beggar. It matters if you speak gently to someone today.
We blaze through our days thinking of all those things we have to do. Our mind is everywhere but here now. My 86 year old cousin Ida had something to say about that the other day.
You know all those people who keep running around like they are crazy, saying, We have to go there. We have to go here. We need to get this. We better see that. Well I have two words for them.....................calm down!
In the business of our days we often forget to matter. We forget to leave a kind imprint on the world. We forget to say thank you. Yet all those things matter a great deal to those who receive such kindnesses from us.
posted by Mata H at Tuesday, May 12, 2009
2 Comments:
In the end, it's all about relationships and acknowledging each other as human beings with worth. Small acts of kindness go a long way towards making us all remember how much we need each other. Blessings to you today friend.
I couldn't agree more. Remembering that it's not all about ourselves but about community, relationships and happiness for everyone is what matters. I am not perfect at it by any stretch of the imagination but I try to smile at strangers, chat to anyone I meet in my day, send love to those who need it and mostly thank those who make a difference.
thanks for a thought provoking and reminding article
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