Small things can make a big difference for me. I remember once getting a broken door knob in my house fixed. One that I used five or six times every day. When that knob was fixed I went through that door with ease, thinking each time, this makes my life easier. That little miracle made me want to keep up on small things around the studio and the house that cause an inconvenience. Little things like having scissors, staplers and tape where you need them. Fixing a brurnt out light bulb, or having a lamp where it is needed. Little things that make our daily life easier.
Little things are lovely. Having your favourite soap by the sink. That scent you love that carries you away as you wash your hands. A small luxury. Warm socks in winter. A pottery mug. A latte from the coffee shop. Little treats.
Then there are the small things others do for you. Yesterday my friend bought me a tiny single serving carrot cake from the bakery in Pugwash when she was out for a drive and dropped it off to me. Sometimes my husband brings me a glass of ice water up to my little studio so I will drink more. A hand written thank you note comes in the mail. Small things that bouy you and set your sails right.
And it isn't just things I suppose. It's a gentle hand on your back to reassure you. A kind text to let you know they are ok. A few words of wisdom from someone you trust. These things are important too.
Knowing that I love these things, it is so important to give these things. To make sure that sometimes it is me doing the delivery. To write thank you notes, to drop off a loaf of bread to a friend, to reassure a friend. Whether it is needed or not, doing small things for others not only sustains them, it sustains us. We are meant to share.
The tiniest thing can make such a difference in a day. In our days, both in the giving and in the receiving. Yesterday, I received a handwritten card from someone with a thoughtful note inside. I put it above my desk to remind myself to be kind. Upon receiving it, I immediately thought about who I needed to thank and I wrote one out. You know there is almost always someone I need to thank for something when I stop to think about it.
We all know "it's the little things in life that matter." We have heard it a million times. In reality all things in life, the big things and the little things matter. We need our health, our home, our family, these are big things. They matter immensely. We need the big things and the little things for a good life. The little things though add a richness and sustain us. They add texture to our lives, keeping it interesting. They sometimes make our days.
The little things.
May they be abundant enough that I can count them and of course count on them. May I know my blessings. May I know that the small things I have come to love are indeed a luxury and that not everyone gets them. People struggle and the small things I sometimes take for granted deserve be appreciated and savoured. The little things might not really be so little after all.
1 comment
Vivien Thompson
Now that I am aging, grey haired, slow and a little stooped, I’m finding more young men opening doors for me and smiling as I thank them. It makes my day a little lighter and the struggle to move a little easier. So much better than walking on past me and making a crack about women’s lib.