Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
- Leo Buscaglia
I’ll start off by saying I’ve had a horrible few weeks. I’m
not sure what has changed but recently I’ve been feeling really down. Yesterday
I was completely stressed out and anxious because I hadn’t finished an
assignment for my class (at university) and I just couldn’t do it. I struggled all
week, desperate to concentrate but to no avail. It seems that unless you have
depression, it is near impossible to understand why it takes such an enormous effort
to get out of bed and complete tasks that others take for granted. For lack of a better analogy, it’s like sinking
in quicksand while you struggle to get out.
The assignment was due in 24 hours and I felt like giving
up. On a whim, I contacted a friend of a friend who had previously offered to
help since he knew the topic well but I wasn’t expecting a miracle. I assumed
that he would be too busy to help me and I would be wasting my time. I honestly
felt that since we weren’t close friends that he would have no incentive to
help me.
However he spent over
two hours with me re-writing my essay. He gave me insight into what was
important and what key points I should cover. Even now, he has no idea about my
depression and no idea that I was struggling so badly. But his act of kindness
changed my whole day, my whole week and even my whole month. As cliché as it sounds,
he helped me to restore some faith that people care for others. He still has no
idea how his act of kindness has impacted me.
I just wanted people to know that no matter how
insignificant you think an act of kindness is, it may be of paramount
significance to the person you’re helping. I’m not a religious person but I
believe strongly in “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Has
anyone else experienced an act of kindness in a moment of despair that meant a
great deal to them?
Interesting read. Two weeks ago, I had a horrible day at school and on the ride home I felt depressed and isolated and everything.
ReplyDeleteThen a good friend of mine casually phoned me up and we spent the rest of the day together. He has no idea how much that meant to me; it was the difference between happiness and suicidal thinking.
So yeah, I know what you mean.