Introduction
Each day, in the news, we read about the merging of companies,
banks and multinational corporations into ever bigger entities.
As they grew bigger, they gain more leverage, more control, and
greater monopoly of the markets, thus assuring the slow but
steady demise of small concerns. Thus we can easily understand
why most people think big is better. So, why are we talking
about the little things?
Priority
While thinking big may be good for corporations, the same does
not necessary apply to a relationship. In a relationship,
thinking small is better.
Thinking small means paying attention to details and taking the
pain to make small gestures and actions count - something we
often ignore when we deal with people, whether they are our
loved ones, our friends or our colleagues. We forget that little
things can mean a lot. Although deep in our heart, we know that
we value them as significant people in our live, our behaviours
and actions don't reflect that.
So, while we may go out of the way to remember a customer's
birthday, we forget our spouse's birthday. We remember our
client's anniversary but forget our own. We take the extra
effort to plan for our client's functions but forget to plan for
our child's birthday. We truly believe our family comes first,
yet we behave as though our clients are more important to us
than our family. What is wrong with us? Where is our priority?
We often console ourselves by saying that we'll make it up to
our loved ones with our next bonus, or the next holidays but
when the time comes, we never do.
Little Things Mean A Lot
Time and again we fail our family, yet they are always there for
us, no matter what. It's time we re-arrange our priorities and
do what we know we needed to do - put our family first.
It doesn't take a lot to make our loved ones happy. Very often,
small thoughtful gestures mean more to them than monetary value.
My 5 year old daughter, for example, would chose to have me read
her a story book than to buy her a toy. My 3 year old son
prefers a walk in the park. My wife is happy with a "I love you"
card which I sent her occasionally, not just on her birthday or
our wedding anniversary.
A Powerful Lesson
I learnt the value of small thoughtful gestures when I was 18.
It was the year I represented my country in a student exchange
programme to USA. On a flight to New York from Los Angeles, an
elderly American sat beside me. When he learned that I was in
his country as an exchange student, he paid for my movie on the
plane. Though the gesture was small, to me, his act represented
an act of kindness to a complete stranger. It was my first
impression of the American people. The impression stayed till
this very day.
Summary
Caught in the rat race, we often forget that little gestures can
leave lasting impressions - impressions that may shape the
future thoughts and characters of our kids and loved one. Thus
it is good to remind ourselves every so often to review our
priorities and see if our actions reflect the priorities in our
life. Remember the little things - they mean a lot to our loved
ones.
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