Recently, I had an eye-opening experience when I visited my aunt’s family after four years. This visit made me reflect on things we usually consider small or forgettable but can leave a lasting mark on others, often in ways we never imagined.
Four years ago, I was undergoing my one-year compulsory youth service (NYSC). During that time, I took a detour to my aunt’s place on my way to my state of deployment. The children in her home were still in basic class back then. They were much shorter than I was at the time. But on this visit, I was greeted by taller, more mature versions of the kids I once knew. I had to look closely at each of them so I won't exchange their names. What truly caught me off guard, though, was the reception I received. I didn't expect to have it. The respect and warmth they showed me were unexpected, and it made me wonder what had sparked such a response.
While catching up with my aunt, she shared something that left me surprised. At the news of my coming, one of her children excited about my coming, told her, I can never forget the meal she cooked the last time she was here so soon. This came as a surprise. I couldn’t even remember the meal I prepared, much less the impact it had on the children.
As if that weren’t enough, on the second day of my visit, my aunt went on to recall how I had taught them a small but significant cooking trick of how to prepare proper fried bean cakes.😋 She reminded me that their bean cakes used to come out flat, but I had taught them how to mix the bean puree so that the cakes would come out in round, ball like shapes. They've held on to the lesson, and they’d been using it ever since.
These acts were ordinary to me that they don't seem to have much effect. Cooking a meal and sharing a few tips in the kitchen didn’t seem like monumental gestures at the time. But for them, it was memorable.
This served as a reminder that the smallest things that we might forget or consider insignificant can be a great deal to the recipient of the acts. It could be a meal you prepared, a kind word you said, or even a little help rendered. We might not see the effects of our actions but they are there, quietly influencing people in ways we may never fully comprehend.
I reflected on how often we don't bother about our small gestures or insignificant acts.
Although our world celebrate grand gestures and big achievements, small acts can make a significant difference. It’s easy to overlook the importance of small, thoughtful deeds. Yet, these are the very things that tend to leave a mark on people’s hearts and minds.
Sometimes, a smile, a bit of your time shared with someone or a seemingly insignificant conversation can mean more to others than we could ever imagine.
My aunt’s family didn’t remember me for a groundbreaking feat. They remembered me for a a simple meal and an ordinary cooking tip. But that meal brought satisfaction, comfort, and a lesson they still use today. It made me think about how often we engage with people, oblivious that something small we do might become a memory etched in their hearts.
The experience made understand that our actions and inactions have an impact on the people around us. I kept saying to myself that if I had messed up the last time I visited, that was how I'd be remembered. It’s a reminder to be mindful of our daily interactions , knowing that we might be creating lasting memories for someone else. Whether in the kitchen, in casual conversations, or even in our smallest gestures of kindness, we have the power to make a difference no matter how small it looks.
The next time you think something is too small to matter, remember it might just be something someone will never forget.
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