“That’s How You Know that Someone Thinks and Cares About You.”
The significance of little things and acts.
We humans have a tendency of wanting to feel loved and be cared for, and overall, that makes us happy. It’s a natural thing and feeling. It is no wonder that I am a happy soul.
At the start of this week, my best friend had phoned me early in the morning and we had a pretty cool short conversation. From the conversation, I was amazed and delighted to find out that prior to her phoning me, she was reading through one of my pieces that I had sent her some months back (last year I think). She further inquired why I hadn’t written something on my blog for a while. If you were also wondering, my honest justification is; academia hasn’t been friendly enough but hostile. Our relationship has been one heck of a toxic one. One to end you up in some mental hospital seeking for therapy. But at least, we are now getting somewhere and the light at the end of the tunnel is slowly getting visible.
To me, that conversation though short, was priceless because in one way or the other it has lead to this write up.
Yesterday, another good friend of mine (one I consider a big bro) sacrificed his time and paid me a visit after a very very longtime. We conversed for a good amount of time, updating each other on life, and how we can better ourselves in this constant changing and volatile world. It was a good time spent.
The other day, I came back home late evening from checking up on a couple of friends, when I heard news that Yandila, my therapist had passed by and left me something (a gift). Yandila? The last time we met or talked? Honestly, I don’t remember. It’s been a minute man!
Me and Yandila (Aka Uncle Yandi) had been acquaintances for the longest of time (close to a decade as far as my dim-witted memory can remember) but officially became friends sometime last year, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I wonder why It took us so long just to become friends.
Our friendship came about when we discovered that we had so much in common. To start with, We are MSFTS — we create, inspire, and disrupt. Our taste in music is also quite the same. We also discovered that we shared similar interests — reading and writing to be precise. But even before then, we had major commonalities, — We were both Witness privileged—born and raised in Jehovah’s Witnesses families, learned Bible truths firsthand, and attended the same Kingdom Hall (We still do even though our meetings are now held on Zoom due to the COVID-19 restrictions).
Meemaw (Grandma — as Young Sheldon would say), handed me my gift. It wasn't as big or fancy as you would think but small and of insignificant cost. But it meant the world to me at that particular time. Upon receiving my gift, my heart and soul were filled with great awe — feelings of gaiety and glee. The kind of sensations that you would feel when you receive an unexpected gift from a loved one — be it a friend, a family member or your other half. I remember telling my meemaw with a smiley face, shacenekela ifyamusango uyu. Kale twamonanepo na Yandila (I didn’t expect this. Me and Yandila haven’t seen each other in a long time). To be frank, I didn't expect such kind of an act. Meemaws’ response enlightened me. She said, ekwishiba ati umuntu alakuntontonkanyapo kabili alikubikako amano (That’s how you know that someone thinks and cares about you).
Yes, my meemaw was right. That’s one way you can tell or know that someone thinks and cares about you — when they share the little that they have when you least expect, when they make personal sacrifices and efforts for you, and when they remind you of your greatness by genuinely commending and highlighting your good deeds. Aren’t all these great signs of love and care?
Candidly speaking, the little gestures expressed by my dear friends made me feel loved, cared for, and most of all, happy and I’m grateful for that. And it’s pretty obvious to me that you too might (will) have felt (feel) the same way if at some point you were (will be) in my shoes.
From those experiences, it also occurred and dawned on me the words said by Ellen Hopkins that, sometimes the little things in life mean the most, and that these ‘little things’ that we sometimes tend to overlook really matter in our human relations in that they can have positive impacts on others. For instance, earlier this week when I was skating, I found a man whose drawings and paintings caught my sight and admiration. I stopped by, cheerfully greeted him, commended his works, and wished him a good working day. From his response and facial expression, I could certainly tell that my little acts had left a positive impression on the man.
No doubt, you too, may have noted that it’s simple things like being kind or just smiling at someone (a stranger) that can change and lighten up another persons dark world.
Hence, it’s not a must that big things or expensive things must be done or bought in order to make someone happy. The small things or little acts can make a difference, and in most cases, it’s these very little or small things that we overlook that make someone feel loved, cared for, and truly happy.
I don’t really know about you, but from my experiences, that little things in life mean the most is one of the truest statement that I have ever come across.
