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The Delight is in the Little Things by Andrea Haugen |
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I believe in a good cup of coffee. I believe in friendly smiles. I believe in buttons. In some way or another, all of these have made immeasurable differences in my life and in the lives of those around me. What I place my belief in is hard to quantify but impossible to ignore. I believe in the little things. People tend to mistrust grandiose acts of kindness and mercy, perhaps with good reason. This is why I believe so strongly in the power of the little things.
For example, we are all able to give someone a smile as we pass by them during the day. I believe that something as simple as that smile, an invitation to meet for a cup of coffee, or a plate of chocolate chip cookies has the profound ability to encourage those around us. These small exercises of time, money, or facial muscles can mean so much to those who fail to see their importance in the world.
I believe in buttons. My Grandma Carol had a bulletin board with the wackiest, most random buttons you could ever encounter. Many had to do with events occurring in the town my Grandparents lived in, such as the button advertising the "Cando High School Spaghetti Bowl 1984." Several came from Grandma Carol's nursing days, like "Caution! Laughter May Be Hazardous To Your Illness," or from Grandpa Don's occupation as the town barber. One of my favorites was his "Shaver Permit" button. For hours I would stand looking up at that board, coveting those beautiful and silly buttons. Graciously, Grandma Carol allowed me to take whichever ones I wanted during my last two visits there. Now, I have my own bulletin board hanging in my room that is well on its way to being completely covered in buttons. With Grandma Carol's death occurring earlier this year, those buttons and everything they represent have taken on a new meaning. They connect me to a part of her life that I didn't get to see happen but that made her the amazingly beautiful person she was. How could you not love a grandmother who at some point wore a button that proclaimed her to be "High On Stress"?
I believe that our lives are filled with tiny moments that can surprisingly change us and fill us with joy. These are the kinds of things that you don't expect to have a lasting effect on you but that you remember at just the right time whenever you feel lonely or unloved. One such moment might be receiving an unexpected letter or e-mail from an old friend. It might be walking out to your car to find a daisy placed under your windshield wiper. It might be as simple as someone holding your hand. Whatever those moments are, I think they will consist of things that make us feel close to someone, things that remind us that we are loved. Thus, I have committed myself to sharing more of these moments with as many people as I can. For I believe that the power to change the world lies in the little things.
Andrea Haugen is a psychology major from Spring, Texas.
