The way we see the world depends mainly on how we look at it. What we say has so much significance. What we do matters so damn much. And how we make people feel should never be taken lightly.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 November 2021) – I’ve been at the most inspirational conference for the last 2 days… I was the keynote speaker, MC and panellist, but I was actually just a student, learning from my peers.
There was so much insight shared, and even though I don’t work in that specific industry, I could relate to every topic. I guess because, at the end of the day, it comes down to our “humanness”, how change is inevitable (and we have to lean into this), how we cannot avoid (or control) bumps in the road, how much kindness matters… both to ourselves and each other and maybe – most importantly – how our actions and reactions are so damn important.
It was flipping unbelievable.
Over the last 7 years, I have truly learnt how to see the good in every situation, and Robin Banks (closing off the conference) made me realise how that way of thinking truly defines our realities. His entire talk was about how “our inner world creates our outer world”. And this is one hundred percent one of my biggest beliefs.
How we see the world depends mainly on how we look at it.
After the most incredible holiday, I hit the ground running on Monday and found myself stuck in 6:40am William Nicol traffic. When you know, you know. I sat in my car thinking about my current situation… the day before, I was sipping cocktails on a beach, and now I am sitting in bumper to bumper traffic.
I looked to my left and there next to me was a woman having the best time. She was jamming to something, singing her heart out. At the same time, a person was approaching her car, down and out, their skin like leather and sadness in their eyes. They were holding up a sign explaining how they had lost everything because of COVID. The woman – while shoulder-shimming – put her window down, gave the biggest smile and said hello to the man. I’m not great at lip-reading, but I could see that she knew his name, and he knew hers. His eyes lit up, and I could see a smile that radiated from his heart. She leaned over, gave him some food and a high five. And then they both danced a little.
That moment. That kindness. Made me smile too.
At the end of day 1 of the conference, a gent approached me and asked me how long I would be sticking around. I wasn’t planning on staying long as I had a bit of work that needed my attention that night, but he asked if I would wait for his wife to get there. He had told her that I was the speaker and she had finished work early and raced to the venue to meet me. Of course, I obliged. She arrived, we chatted and took photos, and I was so humbled by the whole experience.
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One of the things she said really stuck with me… do you know how many lives you have changed – in the most little way?
“You wrote an article many years ago about how people were leaving a 100% tip for waiters, and now every Christmas, we do the same. When the bill comes, we give our waiter the exact amount of the bill for a tip as a Christmas gift for them. And it’s only because you wrote about it.”
I finished the conference yesterday, but these thoughts – these moments – have been playing on my mind constantly.
I got to my office this morning and found a package on my desk – that had been delivered while I was at the conference. The note on the outside thanked me for everything that I do and explained how the sender looks for my “morning posts” as soon as she wakes up.
I opened it. My eyes lit up. I burst out laughing. And then I cried. I don’t know who you are Debra, but you just made me smile from my heart. What a ridiculously BIG simple kindness.
The way we see the world depends mainly on how we look at it. What we say has so much significance. What we do matters so damn much. And how we make people feel should never be taken lightly.
That’s it.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
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