You might not be aware of it but tiny segments which tell what kind of person you are, exists in the memories of all the people you have met in your life. These impressions breathe a life of their own, being unforgettable at that, especially when it has had great impact on the people you’ve touched.
I was in a long chitchat with a friend recently and during the course of our conversation, he remembered something which he found amusing and touching.
A stranger had approached him at the public market to ask if he ever visited a certain place. When he said he did, the stranger then introduced himself and bowed deeply with a hand to his chest, thanking him for a favor my friend had given a long time ago. His only son had died and he was greeting people on the street, asking for small assistance. He said my friend, without fanfare, reached deep in his pocket and handed him 500. The stranger then mouthed the exact words my friend had said that afternoon. I too have lost a son so I know how you feel.
When our brother died in ’96, I happened to chance upon a small group of silent farmhands who were at our gate in the shadows but didn’t want to enter our house where my brother lay. They said they came from the farms (where my brother worked) and added, their appearance was a bit ragged and dirty, they might displease some visitors. What touched me deeply, they said they just wanted to be near him at his wake, even if it meant sitting outside during the night. It was clear to me my late bro had been a good friend and must’ve helped them in some small way during his work at the farm.
Oftentimes, because we tend to take things lightly, we miss out on a very simple truth, little things mean a lot. Whatever kind of interactions we have with people, they be good or not, leave indelible marks on them; so that, in many cases, wrong impressions are common.
During one time, a common friend once told my partner how thankful she was, they had talked about her personal problem because what my partner said back then stuck on her mind and helped in her recovery. Funny thing, since that had been too long ago, my partner told me she had already forgotten what she said or when their encounter happened. That may have been a good thing, the little kindness that we share. But what if it were the opposite?
In our experience, how many times have we encountered negative first impressions when talking about someone we know? It is here where I post one of my late mom’s advices. She said plainly, be kind. And I totally get it now. Little bits kindness will always find their way back to you. It’s not a do unto others kind of thing. Never expect a reward. Positive begets positive, the universe will loop whatever you cast in the wind.
