A couple of good reasons to say the little things on your mind

Simple exercise: Imagine you know that you are going to die in a week. Is there anything unsaid?

You might think that only big things matter like telling your loved ones how you feel. There is absolutely no doubt that. But what about everything else? What about all the ‘small’ things?

Now, do you remember some of the nicest compliments you were given, some of the most encouraging or motivating or inspiring words you heard? They often come from a person you barely know, a stranger you met, a friend’s friend who you bump into at parties once in 4.5 months.

There are two reasons I encourage you to say ‘the little things’:

• They might be the the most wonderful little things you said. Either because saying them made you feel brave (think: speaking up for a classmate), strong (think: speaking up for yourself), courageous (think: saying literally anything to a person you find attractive and looking them right in the eyes).
• They might be the most wonderful little things someone heard. They might make someone feel: important (think: someone spoke up for you when classmates played an “innocent” joke), big (think: someone spoke up for themselves and made you feel empowered too), remembered (think: an old friend or an old flame randomly messaged you to just say Hi), warm (think: a person said that your smile is bright).

I remember so many small things.

Once, 4.5 years ago, I was walking on Queen Street and gave a coin to that guy with a hook for a hand and he did his little performance. A random passerby said to me: “You made his day brighter with your smile”. I was wearing a blue shirt that day, I remember.

Once, I was chatting to someone at a conference and told them I did some painting classes and they said: “I only know you for 10 minutes but you seem like a great teacher!”

Once, 2 years ago, me and my partner had dinner with his friends. There was a girl who I haven’t met before. We barely talked during dinner but before I left she commented on how awesome my eyebrows are.

There are so many of these and not only from strangers but from close friends. The little things. They matter so much.

Remembering them made me feel very warm inside, so I will make sure, I will say more of these little things. Hope you will too.

If you are reading this: I love your pants, your smile makes me smile, you are great at your job, I noticed that you started working out — you look great, your eyeliner is on fleek, I like your way of thinking, I think about you, I miss you too.