The Beauty and Power of Small Things

We cannot all do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

My husband and I went out for brunch a few Sundays ago, and our young server greeted me with a big smile.  "Oh hi!  I haven't seen you in so long.  Sarah [another server] said you had surgery a couple months ago.  I hope you're doing okay now."

Sarah had heard I was recovering from surgery when my husband Jon went in to pick up a to-go order about a month previous.  This server had heard and remembered the information.

Such a small courtesy, with such a big and joyful impact on me. 

Small is beautiful.

In a world that continually pushes us to strive for more, it's easy to overlook the little things that can make a big difference to our happiness and well-being.  From a server's welcome greeting to a cool breeze after a hot day, small things can bring us peace and joy.

But as we rush to complete our to-do lists and accomplish our big goals, small things can be easy to overlook.  We're so focused on what's next that we often forget to notice and appreciate the present.

One of the beauties of small things is that many of them are available to all of us, no matter our circumstances.  Rich or poor, young or old, healthy or ill, we can benefit from small things.  A cold glass of water, a good book, or the touch of a loved one can be enjoyed by any of us.

As a minimalist, I'm usually seeking to be happy with less.  I can own fewer things, do fewer things, focus on fewer things.  But less doesn't just mean fewer.  It can also mean smaller.

The world tells us that bigger is almost always better.  But small is beautiful.

• Smaller homes require less cleaning and maintenance and less heating and cooling.  They help you set boundaries, and can be cozy with less.

• Smaller cars are more maneuverable, use less gas, and can cost less.

• Smaller suitcases, such as a carryon or a duffel, are easier to tote, easier to fit in an overhead compartment, let you avoid checking (and possibly losing) luggage, and help you pack just what you need.

• A smaller wardrobe helps you hone your style, focus on quality, save time and money, and dress confidently every day.

• Smaller websites (in terms of file sizes) load more quickly and are faster and easier to navigate.

• Smaller banks aren't "too big to fail," requiring massive bailouts when they're mismanaged.  Credit unions especially may offer the highest interest on savings and lower interest on loans.

• Smaller companies are more responsive to their customers, less likely to waste money, more focused, and often more innovative.

• Smaller choirs, orchestras, and bands allow each member to develop and contribute, foster understanding and teamwork, and are cheaper to manage and maintain.

• Smaller plates encourage you to eat less and waste less food.  In fact, a smaller refrigerator uses less energy and reduces food waste too.

• Smaller pleasures can be enjoyed more often for less money.

• Haiku packs a punch / into only three short lines, / making each word count.

These are just some of the advantages of going small.

Small is powerful.

Most of us won't be Olympic athletes, state legislators, or Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.  In spite of our drive to create trending videos and viral X/Twitter posts, most of us will never be VIPs.

And that's okay.

Because maybe you don't want to be.  (I don't.)  Maybe you just want to matter to your loved ones and be respected and relied on by your co-workers.  Maybe you can still be surprised and delighted when a server at your favorite breakfast place notices you were gone and is happy you've returned.

Maybe you won't do great things.  But all of the small, kind, loving things you can do add up to something pretty amazing.  All of the small things you observe and savor can add up to a lot of daily joy.

Small is beautiful – and powerful.

We humans have remarkable potential to destroy ourselves and the world we live in, but we also have the ability to make it a wonderful place.  Maybe my small, positive actions don't yield a lot by themselves.  But each of us choosing to do our best?  That's momentous.

The desire to reach the stars is ambitious.  

The desire to reach hearts is wise and most possible.

Maya Angelou