What you don't see

At work the other day my finger hurt whenever I pressed it. It wasn't like it was excruciating or anything but just enough to be annoying. When typing or using fine motor skills repetitively, it could get painful enough to make me stop whatever I was doing.  I would look to see what was causing it. Honestly, I couldn't see anything. There was a small bit of what seemed to be dirt under my fingernail. Not the usual kind of dirt that I normally clean out of my fingernails… Too much information, I know! It was so small and so difficult to get out.

How could something so small annoy me so badly? How could something so small impact my every day activities so drastically?

So, I sell cars. I actually care about my customers and I send them birthday cards on their birthday. I sold this one couple a car and in the meantime they had a birthday and I sent them each a birthday card. They came back and bought a second car for me. The reason they said that they came back to me was because I sent them a birthday card. Really? A birthday card? It didn't take much for me to send them their cards, however, it made such a huge impact. It really was important for them!

How could something that takes such little effort affect someone so profoundly?

Shortly after my divorce, my grandfather died. Now I'm pretty sure I didn't cause it, but I'm sure my divorce didn't help. I took some time off of work to be sure to be a part of the funeral. Now my divorce left several of my immediate family members a bit confused and I don't blame them. They were left in a state of hurt and shock! I had portrayed to them a perfect marriage and happy family. It was almost like I lied to them. So at the funeral, I walked in to the funeral home kind of like the first day of my freshman year in high school asking myself, "where am I going to fit in?" As I stepped in the doors I looked around the room searching, feeling like I didn't fit and didn't have a place in the receiving line. My Aunt Peg, however, catches my eyes and motions me to her. As I began walking toward her she meets me half way, embraces me with a hug and says, "you can stand here with us," motioning next to my cousins. Wow! I tear up just thinking about it! Something so little as acceptance! I didn't deserve it, but she gave it to me anyway! So little of a gesture, but I will remember it the rest of my life!

The little things matter! It's what we don't see that we do that makes such a huge impact on those around us! The simple "hello" or "I like your shoes!" The small act of carrying something for someone or holding the door for an extra second or two for a person about to pass through. These tiny things are huge and could be the very thing that changes the trajectory, emotions or fate of that person's day!

Whatever you do, it matters! Your smile, your pat on the back or even just your thumbs up gesture, it matters! Don't give up, your life and what you do, matters! It certainly matters to me! Thank you!