Sunday essay

“Thank you for telling me that.” Her hazel eyes looked tired, but her expression momentarily brightened.

Photo by zhengtao tang on Unsplash

Last Tuesday, as my exam with the ophthalmologist wrapped up, she and I exchanged the usual perfunctory thanks. Before she rushed out of the room, I said, “Everyone on the staff has been wonderful, every step of the way.” She hesitated, then responded, “Thank you for telling me that.” Her hazel eyes looked tired, but her expression momentarily brightened.

A couple of seconds and the decision to speak my thoughts was all it took to really connect with another person, transforming both of us in a small way.

In all the rush and striving of our modern culture, the magic of a sincere, non-obligatory compliment plants a seed of humanity. It connects us to each other in a way that says I see you, I appreciate our interaction / your effort / this exchange, in a way that has unknowable yet far-reaching effects—exactly like the proverbial pebble tossed into a pond creates ripples bound by the laws of physics to radiate outward.

I don’t know about you, but there are too many times when I only think these things, and in the rush to do the next thing, do not say them. I am going to start.