Ali je mogoče, da lahko dve besedi nekomu spremenita dan, nekomu
življenje? Kaj če bi lahko ti dve besedi spremenili svet? No, na iskanju sem ugotoviti – in z vašo pomočjo bo to iskanje uspešno.
To iskanje se je nehote začelo novembra lani v trgovini z živili.
Stal sem v vrsti na blagajni za žensko, ki je bila videti v svojih 60-ih. Ko je prišla na vrsto za plačilo, jo je blagajničarka pozdravila po imenu in jo vprašala, kako je z njo.
Ženska je pogledala navzdol, zmajala z glavo in rekla: "Ne tako dobro. Moj mož je pravkar izgubil službo in moj sin se spet loteva svojih starih trikov. Resnica je, da ne vem, kako bom preživela počitnice."
Nato je blagajničarki dala bone za hrano.
Srce me je bolelo. Hotel sem pomagati, a nisem vedel, kako. Ali naj ji ponudim plačilo za živila, prosim za življenjepis njenega moža? Nič nisem naredil – še. In ženska je odšla iz trgovine.
Ko sem stopil na parkirišče, sem opazil žensko, ki je vračala nakupovalni voziček, in spomnil sem se nečesa v svoji torbici, kar bi ji lahko pomagalo na drugačen, a upajmo, da je globok način. Ni šlo za prgišče denarja ali priložnost za službo za njenega moža, ampak morda – samo morda – bi ji to polepšalo življenje.
Srce mi je razbijalo, ko sem se približal ženski.
"Oprostite," sem rekla in moj glas je nekoliko tresoč. "Nisem si mogel pomagati, da nisem slišal, kaj si rekel blagajničarki. Zdi se, kot da trenutno preživljaš res težke čase. Zelo mi je žal. Nekaj bi ti rad dal."
In izročil sem ji kartico poslovne velikosti.
Ko je ženska prebrala samo dve besedi na kartici, je začela jokati. In skozi solze je rekla: "Pojma nimaš, koliko mi to pomeni."
Njen odgovor me je kar malo presenetil. Ker še nikoli prej nisem naredil česa takega, nisem pričakoval reakcije, ki bi jo lahko prejel. Vse, kar sem lahko pomislil, da bi odgovoril, je bilo: "O moj. Bi bilo v redu, če bi te objel?"
Ko sva se objela, sem odšel nazaj do svojega avta -- in začel tudi jokati.
Besede na kartici?
" Pomembni ste ."
Nekaj tednov prej mi je kolega dal podobno kartico kot spodbudo za projekt, na katerem sem delal. Ko sem prebrala kartico, sem začutila, kako se v meni širi topel sijaj. Globoko ganjena sem prišla domov in naročila svojo škatlo kartic You Matter ter jih začela deliti.
Najprej sem jih dal družini in bližnjim prijateljem. Tudi če niso bili v tako hudi stiski kot ženska v trgovini z živili, so se jim ob branju teh dveh besed zasvetili obrazi in oči pogosto navlažile.
Ko sem postal drznejši, sem začel dajati kartice You Matter ljudem v svoji skupnosti, ki bogatijo moje življenje – kot sta moja kemična čistilnica in moški, ki mi prodaja sadje na tržnici. Čeprav se gesta ni vedno končala z dejanskim objemom, so bile besede same po sebi objem. Prejemniki so bili vidno ganjeni. In tudi jaz sem bil.
Potem sem postal malo nagajiv. Karte sem začel puščati na mestih, kjer nisem mogel videti, kdo jih je prejel. Eno sem pospravil med strani knjižnične knjige, ki sem jo vračal. Še eno sem vstavil v režo za kreditno kartico na bencinski črpalki.
V času, ko sem srečal žensko v trgovini z živili, sem zaključeval certifikacijski program uporabne pozitivne psihologije, ki ga je sponzoriral Flourishing Center. Naučil sem se znanosti o sreči in dobrem počutju.
Eden od prednikov na področju pozitivne psihologije Chris Peterson je dejal, da se celotna praksa skrči na tri besede: "Drugi ljudje so pomembni."
No, moja izkušnja v trgovini z živili je potrdila, da je pomembno tudi povedati drugim ljudem, da so pomembni.
Ljudje hrepenijo po povezanosti, a se počutijo bolj izolirane kot kdaj koli prej. Vsak od nas je tukaj z razlogom. Vsi smo bistveni. Potrebujemo in potrebujemo drug drugega.
Vedno.
Še posebej zdaj.
To preprosto srečanje na parkirišču je postalo You Matter Marathon .
Tekanje ni potrebno!
Cilj je ustvariti in obogatiti pozitivne povezave med posamezniki in znotraj skupnosti s skupno deljenjem 10.000 kartic Pomemben si v novembru, ko se začne praznični čas in preveč ljudi najde preveč razlogov, da se počutijo nepomembni.
Skupaj ustvarimo nekaj čarovnije.
Če vas navdihne, se lahko pridružite maratonu You Matter tukaj in se prijavite za prejemanje 30 kartic You Matter brez stroškov! Vsak teden v novembru bodo udeleženci prejeli e-pošto z misijami deljenja kartic, navdihujočimi citati in priložnostjo za izmenjavo izkušenj in medsebojno povezovanje na spletu.
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I really enjoyed reading this article because I feel everyone has things they are going though and little acts of kindness goes a long way.
I love this article and the volume that it speaks. Kindness and generosity is a powerful tool that you can use when you are talking to people. You never know what someone is going through in their person life. Words speak loudly and can turn someone's day around. --Ryan
Love this. I do something similar with "Enough" charms. I give them to people to remind them,
"You are enough."
"You do enough."
And sometimes it is an encouragement to stand up for oneself and say, "Enough!"
I have often used Henri Nouwen’s simple encouragement, “You are Beloved.”
Thank you . The words " You matter " are so much required in today's world torn apart by hate and intolerance .
The so called developed nation do not reflect a bit on the plight of the indigenous people of the United states of America. What right they have to point on other countries shortfalls. It is time for all good hearted and humanly conscious Americans to stand with the native Indian Americans.
wonderful writing about love and happiness in a daily event
I've been part of the marathon the past two years and 'share the wealth' by giving 3 cards to people I know and ask them to share the other two. I've also sent several to a niece in prison so she could remind others that they do matter and that she cares.
I have a similar card, it says , Thank you for being who you are and doing what you do. plus more. I give to bathroom attendance, clerks, and others who serve us daily.
Y'know, if a stranger handed me one of those cards, I'd probably be *really* annoyed.
Holding the door open behind you is nice. Thanking the stranger who holds the door open behind self is nice. Approaching a stranger with something that sounds like some sort of therapy-group move is not so nice.
I'll probably attract hatespews by saying this, but it's *not* nice to take it upon yourself to decide when and how you think a stranger needs his or her self-esteem boosted. It's sort of insulting.
You matter -- My Stranger!
With all my heart
With all my passion
With all my compassion
Unknown becomes known to me
Through -- "You matter". . .
In the immensity of bliss
sushama
And hug cards? I've done them, too. You can read about them here:
http://www.dailygood.org/20...
I am wondering, by any chance ~ if the original “you matter” card you received was bright green with "you matter" in a simple hand writing.
I have been giving out “you matter” cards for over ten years. I created them after first designing one for my kids that was a mirror that same size with a tiny “you matter” at the bottom. (there’s a whole story to it) Since then I’ve given them to everyone from homeless people (several churches put them in bags with needed items) ~ to a billionaire. I recently sent several hundred to a teacher at a school where a student’s father had been shot by the police. I’ve been to peace rallies and given them to cops and to people that have felt marginalized. They’ve gone to high school students entering the National Honor Society and to people who were ready to be done with life. This past month I've given out 1,000 of them myself, so you're well on your way with your goal.
My green cards with the tiny hand-written message were created an awkward color that can’t be easily misplaced, with the message in my hand-writing to be personal and unassuming.
I’ve always thought of doing what you have done with them.
It sure does make me smile.
[Hide Full Comment]Wonderful. I carry and share free hugs cards. Especially powerful with the Homeless 2ho on occasion Jin me for a,meal and conversation. Indeed we all want and need connection. Hugs from my heart to yours.
So excited to see the You Matter Marathon shared here on Daily Good!