Small
gestures, huge impact
We are so ingrained in
the whirl of materialistic world that, we are ignorant of small things
happening around us every moment. One thing that life taught me is to value and
cherish every small thing in life. We usually neglect the worth of small things
and often yearn for big that you cannot achieve. You don’t have to invite your
entire neighborhood for dinner or present your friend a chocolate each day to
impress them. Just a simple “good morning” “have a good day” or just smile are
enough to light some body’s day.
It was in 2014, I was
traveling to Thimphu from Dagana. I was waiting for a bus at a junction where
bus coming from Dagapela passes by. There were other people who were also
waiting for the same bus. Finally, the bus had arrived and I went the driver to
inquire if he could accommodate me as I had not booked a ticket. He said he has
one ticket left. I was happy as I did not have to go by taxi whose fare was
almost the triple of what we pay for bus. As I was about to get into the bus, I
saw a woman with an infant who could be barely a month old. She was insisting
the driver to take her but he was refusing as there wasn’t any empty seat
available.
I thought for a while
and I decided to give my ticket to her. She had a heavy luggage and a baby whom
she had to take care of. I did not feel
ease to see her in that situation. Initially she refused to accept my offer but
I told her not to worry about me so she accepted. The smile that I saw on her
face was infectious. I was also very happy that, I could help someone in need.
Though it was a negligible act but it gave me an immense satisfaction. The
point here is the joy you get after helping others is something that can never
be forgotten.
Similarly, this time I
was traveling to Dagana from Thimphu. Again in the same junction, I was waiting
for a taxi to Drujeygang. The road to Drujeygang was rough and bumpy that
hardly any vehicle used to be seen. After, one hour of waiting, a taxi came
by and I looked at it from the far and saw passengers inside so did not bother
to stop. But the guy sitting beside me, who claimed to be the senior student at
my school, who I could barely recognize was also travelling to
Drujeygang. He stopped the taxi and the driver told him that he could take in
only one person. But I was very surprised when the guy asked me to go by that
taxi he looked for. I refused to go as I felt little awkward. But he insisted me saying, “You are alone and
it’s getting dark. You should reach home early. I will wait for other vehicle”
Then he lifted my luggage and dropped me till taxi. I could not believe my eyes. In a place,
where we could hardly find a vehicle he sacrificed it for me. I realized that
the world is not as cruel as I thought before. This small gesture of kindness
really made me happy and I believe it did to him too. In the earlier case, I
helped her and in this, I was being helped. Both the acts contributed to my
happiness.
How enlightening it is to read from you that small things such as 'hi, how are you?' Or just a shallow hello can give people immense joy. People these days are so engrossed in their work which they think is most important (Of course it is though) that they forget to keep knowledge of what's going around. It's a great deal to be asked 'how have you been doing there days' Or 'are you well these days?' I don't even expect it from people, specially ones who are occupied to neck with their works. But i like the way you think and propagate that people around you should be asked as to how they are doing.
ReplyDeleteBut also they may not be smiling because they have a persistent seed in them from which sprouts sorrows, pain and confusion. And when a man is in this whirl of emotions, I think it's little less humane to ask him to smile as he walks by. But just my thoughts, it is.
I hope you will have a great day.