Small things

(Apologies to m., who has read some of this before.)

Here I have been thinking a lot about how the small things end up being so huge. Your friendly acquaintance saying that s/he wants to hang out, but then bailing, that's huge when you're in a different country and have no friends in this city. A stranger helping you to understand a simple word so that you can buy food, when otherwise you might have starved--also huge. Those people don't realize it, but those things are huge.

I finally understand why my foreign friends in Canada seemed so ridiculously grateful for things that I would help them with, which to me seemed small. For example, I often helped an immigrant Indian friend talk to official people--not because she doesn't speak English, just because I am more assertive and I know my shit, and I won't let her get taken for a ride. Or I helped her buy stuff, or told her where to go to get a certain thing. There's just no way to know or do those things for yourself sometimes, and that's why you have friends and fellows.

Sometimes you don’t know what a big effect one of your small actions will have on someone. I think that this applies to teaching too, especially given that a teacher can also be your friend and fellow. Maybe you think the kid isn’t learning anything in your class, but you smiled at him once and made him feel more confident about himself, more willing to try something new or challenging.

Think about it. And know that I am grateful to have had your small kindnesses making huge effects in my life.