We Never Know Whoes Lives We Touch

I’ve spoken about this moment before, a moment when someone walked up to me at a support group I had been attending regularly and said that they wanted to thank me. I hadn’t ever had a conversation with this person and hadn’t even remembered seeing them before. I asked him why he was thanking me. He said that when we first started coming to the group he had no consistency in his life, but he always knew that he could count on me being at that group every Tuesday night, and for the first part of his recovery, I was the only consistent thing in his life. That baffled me at the time. As I was quite new myself and felt like I didn’t have much to offer, I was just trying to get by, but I had made a commitment to myself, and this group, to attend each week, little did I know that meant something to someone who was also doing the same. I was reminded of this again recently as I attended an orientation meeting for something new, a way to be of service to those who have hit their deepest darkest bottom, a way to spread hope, as it was spread to me when I was at my deepest darkest bottom, the woman sitting next to put her hand up and said that it was because of the program we were all there to volunteer for she found hope when she was lost and now she was there to give back.

We all go about our days not knowing who we are affecting, who we may be inspiring, or showing the way, and many times it happens when we feel we don’t have much to offer, many times, that’s when it happens. Because the truth of the matter is, we all have something to offer, even on our lowest darkest days, because there is always someone whose day is lower, or darker, and the fact that you are out there going about your day, and maybe even with a bit of a smile, or a thank you, you might just be the nicest thing that someone has come across all day, and you may even inspire them to smile themselves and find some gratitude. Everything we say and do has a ripple effect out in the world, far beyond any comprehension that we could have. Our lives are much more entwined than they are separate. We matter. What we say matters. And what we do matters. And someone is watching, listening, and taking in all that we have.

In my journey I have learned to love those moments, a moment when a smile lights up someone’s face, or a handshake gives them the respect they may not be feeling that day when a hug can give someone love and comfort when they most need it. I have learned that those things are what life is about. It’s about making someone’s day brighter than it was, it’s about spreading hope, courage, and self-love. We are all in this together, we’re not living on a deserted island alone, we walk this planet with many others all just trying to do the best they can, and at some point, we all need a little extra to help us see our true value and worth, or maybe just some encouragement to keep going. Miracles do happen when we open our hearts to others, when we share our experiences, even on our bad days, sometimes, especially on our bad days, and let someone in, even for just a moment. You might be that ray of sunshine they need to step out of their storm.

SLAY OF THE DAY: When you go about your day do you consciously think about those around you? Do you think about how your actions may affect others? Have you had an experience, or a few, where your actions directly helped another person even though you weren’t aware of it? Do you see how your experiences can help others who may be struggling with the same issues? Do you think that what you have to share and offer is valuable? It is SLAYER, all of it, the good, the bad, even the mediocre because each of us is linked by similar circumstances and feelings, we are more alike than we are not, so by sharing our truth and showing others compassion we are all ambassadors of life, we all learn from each other and everyone has something to teach as well as learn. I challenge you SLAYER to keep an eye out for those who may need a hand, for those who may need a smile, a handshake, or a hug, let them know they are not alone, and remind yourself that you, like them, are not either. SLAY on.

S – self L – love A – appreciate Y – you