The Little Things

"Holding Hands" by CheekyD devinatart.com

"Holding hands is a promise to one another, that for just a moment, the two of you don't have to face the world alone." ~author Unknown

The people passing by throughout my day all have a story, and even before I became a writer I was prone to speculating the details of those stories in my mind... Wondering things like, what makes them cry, or laugh out loud...what breaks their heart and who helps them put it back together again...what secrets do they keep in the hopes that no one will ever discover said secrets lurking somewhere in dark corners of their minds...and who are they, really, deep down when nobody's looking? Sometimes I even wonder these things about myself, although the older I get the less those questions go unanswered for me. I am also now more mindful than ever that I should tread gently into the lives of others, while maintaining my own identity and sense of self (...sounds simple enough but not so much). While this can pose a great challenge, especially with people who are "difficult", I believe it's important because none of us truly know any story but our own.

The world can be a frightening and very uncertain place, but for me it has often been made less so by others who've taken my hand for awhile and held on tight, offered me words of encouragement at the exact right time, or simply given me big hugs infused with a secret promise that all will be well. They are little things that have a powerful impact, and frequently the "biggest things" grow from the smallest beginnings (...think of that little mustard seed). Hug someone today. Take someone's hand and offer them the promise that they're not alone. I believe that there is no shortage of regrets to be had in one's lifetime, but helping someone is never one of them.I write those moments, as often as possible, onto the pages of my own story...and by doing so pour happy down into my bones.

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