Small Things

Something happened to me the other day that may help to illustrate what we mean by a “giving lifestyle.” And it might also help to show how small things we do spontaneously throughout a day can make a difference to someone else.

A young woman called me up to sell an insurance policy of some kind. She was pleasant, with a warm and gentle voice. I declined politely, as I always do with telephone solicitations, and asked if she would take me off her call list. She agreed with a sweet, “Yes sir,” and was about to hang up. But a thought occurred to me just then and I blurted out, “Before you go …” So I told her what I’d been thinking during my conversation with her: “You have a very pleasant voice and manner on the phone. It made a difference. Even though you didn’t make a sale, I wanted you to know.” She thanked me in a way that suggested the remark had meant something to her.

I had found a small opportunity to express myself through an action that might help someone else, just a tiny effort to reach out during my day. But who knows what impact my comment may have had on this young woman? Maybe it provided nothing more than a brief ego boost before it rolled off her back. But maybe not. Haven’t we all had the experience of hearing just the right comment at just the right moment in our lives – and always remembering those words? I know I have. It’s possible that my remark will help deepen her self-confidence somehow. Maybe the fact that someone went out of their way to say something nice will touch her and help renew her faith in humanity. Who knows? But it can only do something positive, I think. I offer all this, not to call attention to my own minor action, but rather to illustrate that small things CAN make a difference. And that doing those small things, and the larger things that we also can contribute to others – that’s what we’re talking about at The Humanity Project. Living a giving lifestyle. It helps others, it helps ourselves. And it can help to make a better world.