The Power of a Moment

Image @ cartoonstock.com

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." ~Shakespeare

It only takes a moment to smile at a stranger and change their whole day, to say "I love you" and warm someone's heart, to text, "I'm thinking about you"...and remind someone just how much you matter to them. One small act of kindness, a single kiss, the touch of a hand...such little things that pack a powerful punch, and yet we do them (or not) almost without thought. These simple acts are one heart speaking to another, saying, "I see you and it is beautiful." I've been thinking about this a lot today and marveling at just how B-I-G little things can be.

This morning I was sitting in my training session learning about the ramifications of reading (or not) to a child. I thought about all of the nights I tucked my daughters in bed and read to them before lights out...two, three, sometimes five stories we'd go through before their eyelids were heavy, sleep almost upon them. It wasn't until my first year of teaching that I realized not every child had someone in their life who read to them regularly. Now here I was this morning, nine years of teaching under my belt and for the first time I watched videos, read research about the unbelievable impact reading can truly have on a child. Sure, I knew how much my girls and students loved having my full attention while being read to, but I didn't know how in doing so I was helping their brain grow neural pathways that aided them in learning to read by themselves. It also helps children to make connections to things and others, while developing and exploring their own feelings about the world around them.

The science behind the simple act of reading to a child was fascinating, but the truly extraordinary part transcends scientific data. The beauty lies in the feelings created by those words...the joy and connectedness a child internalizes, and what they can do with those things once that happens. Their success rate increases. Their desire to take more risks, try new things, and push through difficulties that they will absolutely face in life become more deep-rooted. All of that just by reading your kid a bedtime story? Amazing! Strength from just holding someone's hand? Incredible! Lightening someone's burdens so they can face whatever trouble their day brings just by saying "I love you" (and meaning it)? Magic! Here's to all the good things that come in small packages! Salute'!