it matters.

Posted on 14 January 2018 by what sandra thinks

I have been thinking lately about how people are treated. In a general sense, yes… but I’ve been thinking more about those one-on-one interactions. And to be completely honest (and maybe far too self-involved), I’ve been thinking about myself.

• • • •

There are millions of people in the world. It’s easy to feel insignificant. It’s easy to feel like you don’t matter. Trust me, I know how easy it is. Am I someone? Do I have a purpose? Am I truly special to anyone? These questions weigh on me. And they’re always followed by… Does what I do matter to anyone?

Do you ever think this? Is it just me?

The truth is… your every action… your every interaction… your every word… matters to someone.

You may not see it. You may not feel it. But someone does. I promise. What you say, what you do, how you treat someone… it matters. Just because you don’t know it, that doesn’t mean someone isn’t there listening… and being affected by your actions… your words.

However minimal and meaningless the little things may seem, they might make someone’s day.

Or break someone’s day.

I’d love to believe I’ve never done the latter, but I probably have. That’s the thing. We don’t always know.

We make people feel things every single day whether we realize it or not. Don’t think that just because we are individual little specks in a much larger picture that what you say or do doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. It does. Likely, far more than you know.

Maybe these little things shouldn’t make or break us… but they can. I’m proof of that.

• • • •

The kindest, sweetest little gesture can mean everything to someone. [And the harsh gestures, too… but I’m ignoring the bad side for now. Yes… a first for me!] Whether it should or shouldn’t… that tiny thing can mean the world to the object of your action(s). And it can mean everything to you, too… because anyone could be taken away in an instant. It may not even be someone you thought you’d miss when that someone is gone… but maybe you will. And maybe you’ll be left smiling instead of crying because of one tiny seemingly insignificant act. It mattered. That someone mattered. And I bet you mattered to them, too.

So do that sweet thing. Say those kind words. Because it matters to someone. And because you matter. And question those harsh words. Because they matter to someone, too… because you matter.

Yes, sometimes we feel insignificant… like no one knows we’re there. I know how that feels… I know it so well it calls me by name. But somewhere inside, I have to believe that it’s not true.

Even I am significant in someone’s life. Even I matter to someone.

And so do you.

Even my words and actions matter to someone.

And so do yours.

 


©2018 what sandra thinks

art credit: source unknown

About what sandra thinks

Sandra is a writer, sometimes blogger, poet, artist, emotional disaster. She thinks far too much and sleeps far too little. Sandra lives in the Northeastern U.S. but dreams of an oceanfront home in Italy, but she would settle for a non-oceanfront home in Italy. She loves books, brutal honesty, coffee, and the color black. She hates insincerity, beer, whipped cream, and facebook. And she is uncomfortable talking about herself in the third person.
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44 Responses to it matters.

  1. sonofabeach96 says:
    14 January 2018 at 4:59 pm

    Absolutely agree with this 100%. Words and actions are very powerful, and should not be used flippantly. And, yes, of course you matter! To your kids especially, but your husband, your family, us here. You’re loved, I promise you that. 😊

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. supernaturalsnark says:
    14 January 2018 at 5:03 pm

    Do I have a purpose? – I ask myself that question almost everyday. It’s horrible to feel like that.

    I agree with your post. I now try to do small things that I know make me feel better when I’m on the receiving end. Even if it’s saying hello, or asking someone how they are. Complimenting them and what not. It goes against my hatred of small talk but something I don’t like might make someone’s day. And one day someone else might make mine.

    Liked by 3 people

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  3. Marquessa says:
    14 January 2018 at 5:41 pm

    Beautiful post Sandra. I have those thoughts too…if I dropped off the face of the earth, would anyone notice besides family? If my blog went silent out of the blue one day, who would notice? I try to make the people around me “matter” because yes, a small thing could make or break someone’s day.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Peter's pondering says:
    14 January 2018 at 5:55 pm

    Just what I dedicated my Sunday Saying to today – YOU.
    A great post Sandra.
    Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. BeckiesMentalMess.wordpress.com says:
    14 January 2018 at 6:00 pm

    What you just wrote here is significant, and so are you. This was truly beautiful. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. fierybooks says:
    14 January 2018 at 8:34 pm

    I just liked this phenomenal post. Everyone should follow your blog.

    Like

    Reply
  7. Anindya says:
    15 January 2018 at 2:56 am

    That’s why we shouldn’t be judgmental while responding to even those smallest of things from even the most unknown of persons, because everyone’s response counts and mean something to us. Sometimes your most known and closest team will care less compared to someone totally stranger….that’s the beauty of life……and it’s very much evident in the blogging world too…..:)….everything you say or give out will matter to someone somewhere, if not everyone…..

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Meg says:
    15 January 2018 at 8:34 am

    I think these things too. I feel especially when I ponder the idea of not leaving anyone behind. I have no children, no one to care when I’m gone. Absolutely no one will miss me or even remember me. I don’t even have extended family that will care. I’m pretty sure I will just wink out of existence when I go. Even so, I realize that the things I do now, say now can have some kind of impact for good or for bad, so I hope I do my best to be kind, to be fair and to help whenever I can. Maybe I’ll never know how that will ripple through the universe. Maybe I need Clarence the angel to give me my George Bailey moment.

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. Pingback: song of the day. #52 #music | what sandra thinks

  10. Lennon Carlyle says:
    15 January 2018 at 11:27 am

    What a beautiful post Sandra…..you are absolutely incredible and I feel so lucky to have found you and to call you my friend/family. XO

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      15 January 2018 at 1:42 pm

      You are definitely part of what made me write this post. Even if I’m stubborn and have trouble grasping what you think about me. One of us is crazy. Probably me. Then again… we probably both are. 🙂 ♥ xo

      Like

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  11. Cameron D Hamilton says:
    15 January 2018 at 12:52 pm

    inspiring words. It’s a beautiful sentiment. We all matter but we don’t all feel that way. We all move in such unique ways it’s hard for us to adapt to everyone and let the world know we care.

    I’m terrible for accepting the feelings I don’t matter. Though your writing is inspiring and something to aspire to its hard to break the self indulgent misconception that you are worthless.

    Regardless this is a wonderfully well written piece!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • what sandra thinks says:
      15 January 2018 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you… I’m glad it was inspiring.

      I find it difficult to believe that I matter, too. I’m not there yet. That’s part of why I wrote this.

      There’s always going to be someone who tears us down even if it’s unintentional. But hopefully, there’s another someone who makes us feel amazing. It could even be the same person!

      Like

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      • Cameron D Hamilton says:
        15 January 2018 at 2:13 pm

        I doubt I’ll ever believe. There’s no way anyone can really evidence it to me. I do love the sentiment and I encourage it in others.
        I live very much in the “do as I say not as I do” world of advice. I’ll never accept my worth but will fight for someone else’s.

        Let us all hope for the best in people and we can all learn to support each other through subtle and amazing ways

        Liked by 1 person

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        • what sandra thinks says:
          15 January 2018 at 2:20 pm

          I know what you mean… I see so much in others that I struggle to see in myself…

          I find that I appreciate the everyday little bits of love and sweetness more than the grand gestures. Well, most of the time. I wouldn’t say no to a grand gesture, either.

          Like

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  12. magarisa says:
    15 January 2018 at 3:04 pm

    You matter to me, Sandra.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Donnalee says:
    15 January 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Thanks for pointing out that every single person can make a difference for the positive with just a little effort. We always give a better-than-average tip because we figure it can make a big difference to someone and maybe cheer them up so they don’t feel angry and frustrated and maybe take it out on someone else.

    Liked by 1 person

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