Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The small things

Have you ever noticed how the small things make people happy? I think that sometimes it's just a smile or an expression that you care that can make a person's day.

Yesterday I took some time to go with a good friend to visit his aunt. She is 80 years old. She lives alone now, after the death of her husband three years ago. She seemed to be thrilled to have a visit from us. We drove her around the town for about 30 minutes because she doesn't drive anymore. She wanted to show her nephew some of the places from her past: where she grew up and where she and her husband first lived.

And today I checked in on my father-in-law. He hasn't been feeling well, so I stopped by before work, made him a poached egg on some toast, and chatted for a bit. He'll get some of the great chili that was simmering on the stove this morning, when my wife stops by later to see her dad.

It's not large gifts that make a difference to most people. It's these small things that indicate that you care. Just a smile, a phone call, a short visit--these are things that not only make the other person feel good but make me feel good too. When I tell myself that I'm too busy, I hope that I'll remember the appreciative smiles that I received from doing a few small things.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Syd, I guess October must be the month for me to get great memory prompts - and you just provided one for me: This would be of my beloved hubby teasing me and calling me a cheap date, because my favorite meal out would be a whopper from Burger king, with a gift of a hummingbird feeder for a gift on a special occasion. Those things meant a lot to me. Now he's gone, but I still have the feeders hanging in the windows as a reminder of his thoughtfulness. You are right. A small thoughtful remembrance goes a long way. Thanks for the thought. Have a wonderful autumn day. It is truly a special one today! Hugs to you.
    Anonymous #1

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  2. Small things are the best. Recently my husband made tomato juice from scratch using his grandmother's recipe because she was not well enough to make her usual batch. She is so tickled by his gesture, you'd think he'd invented canning. I think she's told her whole town about it.

    Life is sweet when you are able to appreciate the small things.

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  3. I agree with you 100% it is the littel things that mean the most - I need to take time to remember to make time. Its important. Cat

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  4. You should see my grandmothers face when I say I will be stopping by. At 96 she doesn’t get out too much anymore. She goes on about how things were when she was growing up.

    And even though I’ve heard it five hundred times before, I love watching her face light up when she speaks.

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  5. Very good. Very true. Very giving.

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  6. you are so right! it's all about the little, the everyday things...

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  7. Nice post.

    Do you have any Al-Anon lit you could recommend my girlfriend? We're getting married next year and she's showing a real interest in my 12 step life.

    Thanks.

    Kenny

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  8. It truly is the small things. Without them life would be empty. The large things prove markers, but the small things are the grit of life. Thanks for sharing with us and those folks you visited.

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  9. I'm hungry now! I love how you live your life. You are one of those rare jewels God delivered to remind us of the good in people.

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  10. To have self esteem we need to do esteem things. I heard that in Al-Anon this week.

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  11. Good reminder Syd. I don't do these things nearly enough. I think I usually feel so spent on helping my own kids.

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