A long, long time ago, before we could give people a cursory thumbs up or a heart emoji to tell them we approved of their life choices or liked their shoes, we had to communicate via cards, letters and sending gifts through the post or, if you can imagine such a thing, giving gifts in person.
Recently I found a stash of letters that had been written to me by various friends while we were in sixth form at school - I'm not that old - mobile phones were around then, but we could probably store a maximum of ten numbers on them, play Snake and lived on limited credit top-ups, so lengthy messages and calls weren't an option - plus you couldn't pass them under a desk in study periods.
The letters I found were a mix of the usual gossip, boy chat and apologies for crossed words, but there were also some that were pure encouragement and support.
These were the best to read. They were simple messages of 'I see how hard you're working', 'I think you're doing great', 'don't let life choices overwhelm you' - they were gold.
It was like finding ancient artefacts of kindness in a battered old shoe box. And I loved them and put them straight back in that box for safekeeping.
I see the same tokens of kindness every day when I send out personalised gifts that I've been asked to make for friends and loved ones. The messages that accompany them are the purest parts of a friendship. Friends, separated by distance or circumstance, eager to remind each other that even though they don't see them every day, they're never far from their thoughts.
Sometimes it's not until life hits a bump that you appreciate the strength and connection of a friendship. Be it a lifelong friend or a more recent meeting of like minds; there's something intrinsic in 99% of us that when we see or hear of someone we care about facing a tough time, we want to do something. The COVID-19 pandemic helped remind us of the simple need for human connection and reassurance and how deeply we all felt it when we couldn't reach beyond our immediate household for support and reassurance.
In some cases, when life gets tricky, there are useful things we can do; fetch medicine when someone is poorly, or cook when someone needs feeding. But at other times you're faced with a situation where no matter how much you want to do something valuable, all you can do is show you care, send love, send a gift or a treat that tells someone that you're there for them.
I'd argue that those gestures of kindness are equally important as any practical help you can give. They show someone that in that moment and no doubt many moments, you were thinking of them and wondering how you could support them. You thought, 'what will make them smile?', 'what do they need most from me now?' Usually, the answer is simply friendship and love.
Gifts can take many shapes and sizes, be it a motivational keepsake, a book that has helped you, or a pair of comfy socks to bring comfort; they all show love and thoughtfulness.
And they don't have to be expensive. I have friends who buy cards they see for certain individuals in their life and keep them stashed, knowing that at some point in the future, that friend might need a smile through their letterbox. That's a pretty special kind of friend.
So why not take a look around your life. I'm sure you can easily think of someone whose day would be improved by a small act of kindness.
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted - Aesop
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