Inawezekana kwamba maneno mawili yanaweza kubadilisha siku ya mtu, mtu
maisha? Je, ikiwa maneno hayo hayo mawili yanaweza kubadilisha ulimwengu? Kweli, niko kwenye jitihada ya kujua - na, kwa msaada wako, jitihada hii itafaulu.
Jitihada hii ilianza bila kukusudia Novemba mwaka jana katika duka la mboga.
Nilikuwa nimesimama kwenye mstari wa kulipa nyuma ya mwanamke aliyeonekana kuwa na umri wa miaka 60. Ilipofika zamu yake ya kulipa, keshia alimsalimia kwa jina na kumuuliza anaendeleaje.
Yule mwanamke alitazama chini, akatikisa kichwa na kusema, “Si vizuri sana.
Kisha akampa mtunza fedha mihuri ya chakula.
Moyo wangu uliumia. Nilitaka kusaidia lakini sikujua jinsi gani. Je, nijitolee kumlipia mboga, niulize wasifu wa mumewe? Sikufanya chochote - bado. Na mwanamke akaondoka dukani.
Nilipokuwa nikiingia kwenye maegesho, nilimwona yule mwanamke akirudisha gari lake la ununuzi, na nikakumbuka kitu fulani kwenye mkoba wangu ambacho kingeweza kumsaidia kwa njia tofauti lakini yenye matumaini makubwa. Haikuwa pesa taslimu nyingi au uongozi wa kazi kwa mumewe, lakini labda - labda tu - ingefanya maisha yake kuwa bora.
Mapigo ya moyo yalinidunda nikimsogelea yule mwanamke.
“Samahani,” nilisema, huku sauti yangu ikitetemeka kidogo. "Sikuweza kujizuia kusikia ulichosema kwa keshia. Inaonekana unapitia wakati mgumu sana kwa sasa. Samahani. Ningependa kukupa kitu."
Na nikampa kadi ya ukubwa wa biashara.
Mwanamke huyo aliposoma maneno mawili pekee ya kadi hiyo, alianza kulia. Na kwa machozi yake, alisema, "Hujui jinsi hii ina maana kubwa kwangu."
Nilishtushwa kidogo na jibu lake. Kwa kuwa sijawahi kufanya jambo kama hili hapo awali, sikutarajia majibu ambayo ningepokea. Nilichoweza kufikiria kujibu ni, "Loo! Ingekuwa sawa kukukumbatia?"
Baada ya kukumbatiana, nilirudi kwenye gari langu -- na nikaanza kulia pia.
Maneno kwenye kadi?
“ Wewe Muhimu .”
Wiki chache mapema, mfanyakazi mwenzangu alinipa kadi kama hiyo ili kunitia moyo kwa mradi niliokuwa nikifanya. Niliposoma kadi, nilihisi mwanga wa joto ukitanda ndani yangu. Nikiwa nimeguswa sana, nilifika nyumbani na kuagiza kisanduku changu cha kadi za You Matter na kuanza kuzishiriki.
Kwanza, niliwapa familia na marafiki wa karibu. Hata kama hawakuwa katika hali ngumu kama yule mwanamke wa duka la vyakula, nyuso zao ziling'aa na mara nyingi macho yao yalilowanisha waliposoma maneno hayo mawili.
Nilipoendelea kuwa jasiri, nilianza kutoa kadi za You Matter kwa watu katika jamii yangu ambao wanafanya maisha yangu kuwa tajiri - kama vile dry cleaner yangu na mtu ambaye ananiuzia matunda kwenye soko la mkulima. Ingawa ishara haikuishia kila wakati kwa kukumbatiana kweli, maneno yalikuwa kukumbatia yenyewe. Wapokeaji walionekana kuguswa. Na mimi pia nilikuwa.
Kisha nikawa mkorofi kidogo. Nilianza kuacha kadi mahali ambapo sikuweza kushuhudia ni nani aliyezipokea. Niliweka moja ndani ya kurasa za kitabu cha maktaba nilichokuwa nikirudi. Niliweka nyingine kwenye nafasi ya kadi ya mkopo kwenye pampu ya gesi.
Wakati nilipokutana na mwanamke huyo kwenye duka la mboga, nilikuwa nikikamilisha mpango wa cheti katika Saikolojia Inayotumika iliyofadhiliwa na Flourishing Center. Nilijifunza sayansi nyuma ya furaha na ustawi.
Mmoja wa wahenga katika uwanja wa saikolojia chanya, Chris Peterson, alisema kwamba mazoezi yote yanatokana na maneno matatu: "Watu wengine ni muhimu."
Kweli, uzoefu wangu katika duka la mboga ulithibitisha kuwa kuwaambia watu wengine ni muhimu pia.
Watu wanatamani kuunganishwa lakini wanahisi kutengwa zaidi kuliko hapo awali. Kila mmoja wetu yuko hapa kwa sababu fulani. Sisi sote ni muhimu. Tunahitaji, na tunahitajika kwa kila mmoja wetu.
Daima.
Hasa sasa.
Mkutano huo rahisi katika eneo la maegesho umekuwa You Matter Marathon .
Hakuna kukimbia kunahitajika!
Lengo ni kuunda na kuimarisha miunganisho chanya kati ya watu binafsi na ndani ya jumuiya kwa kushiriki kwa pamoja kadi 10,000 za You Matter wakati wa Novemba, msimu wa likizo unapoanza na watu wengi hupata sababu nyingi sana za kuhisi kuwa hawajali.
Kwa pamoja, wacha tufanye uchawi.
Ikiwa umetiwa moyo, unaweza kujiunga na You Matter Marathon hapa na ujisajili kupokea kadi 30 za You Matter bila malipo! Kila wiki mnamo Novemba, washiriki watapokea barua pepe yenye ujumbe wa kushiriki kadi, manukuu ya kuvutia, na fursa ya kubadilishana uzoefu na kuungana mtandaoni.
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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!