When this week started I felt exhausted, emotionally wrung out, gutted by pain and grief in my life and the lives of so many I love and those I don’t even know.
It was one of those moments when I wanted all the hurt in the world to please just stop, for a day, a few hours even, just to let us all catch our breath before we have to go back to dealing with tsunamis and job loss and death of people we love and illnesses that don’t heal and stillborn babies and broken relationships and abuse and war.
I just wanted a break for my friend who suffers the agonies of scoliosis every day, for my Mum and aunts shuttling back and forth between my grandfather dying in one hospital and my uncle desperately ill in another, for my friend grieving the loss of her father and her twin babies, for the families waiting for soldiers who will never come home.
I wanted to fix it, ease all the burdens, take away all the pain. But there’s too much and I’m not big enough.
So I cried. And slept. And woke Monday morning. And went to work. And turned on my computer. And there I read these words:
Do one small thing.
One. Small. Thing.
And I smiled and took a deep breath and felt the peace that comes when you remember you don’t have to carry it all.
I’m not built to shoulder the burdens of the world, but I can do one small thing.
Write a letter.
Give a hug.
Send a text.
Say I love you.
Make a meal.
Cry with her.
Thank him.
Just sit quietly and hold their hand.
And as I thought of all the small things I could do, I remembered the many small things others have done for me: a book in the mail, a bowl of strawberries, texted pictures of their kissable babies, those lovely little things that comfort and cheer and remind you that you matter.
I smiled again as I remembered another little thing: a balloon.
My friend Marie gave it to me.
A beautiful shiny turquoise balloon to remind me I was loved when I was deathly sick from Ecoli.
She gave it to me in February and it is STILL FLOATING.
I call it my Wonder Balloon.
I wake up every morning, open my bedroom door and there it is, bobbing along to the gusts of air from my heater. And it makes me smile.
It’s such a plucky balloon. The best balloon I ever had.
It’s withered and rumpled and half deflated, but it still keeps floating, still keeps dancing on the breeze.
It was just one small thing, but every day it gives me courage.
What is one small thing someone did for you when you were going through a rough time?
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, dear ones. Much love to you. xo
Baloons are so fun!! You’re so thoughtful and always thinking of others. You can always see the good!! I think that’s awesome.
Aren’t they lovely, Brenna! 🙂 I’m sure trying to see the good. Not always easy, but at least I’m trying, right?! 🙂
“Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”–Winnie the Pooh
What an absolutely PERFECT quote, dear Jerusha! 🙂
Krista, I hope you continue to find hope and happiness in even the smallest things, because they matter the most! You certainly always cheer me up with your beautiful photos. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Karen
Thank you so much, dear Karen. 🙂 Big hugs to you as well! You’re so right – the little things DO matter the most. xo
I love this, Krista. Thank you. It brings life down to a doable level. Something I could use these days.:)
I’m so glad, Kristine! I think you’re one of the bravest people I know. XO
Have a wonderful weekend Krista – and thanks for lifting all of our spirits 🙂
“One small thing”. Which for me lately has been a smile when thinking of my finance. The smile just makes me feel better in the stress of the day. Always good reading stuff like this for these reminders.
Wow, that is pretty amazing, Krista…a Wonder Balloon indeed! Sometimes it can be something so small that fills us with peace and hope. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by at my blog… I’m so glad you did – this way I got to know you (and your lovely blog!). As an expat, I’ve spent some really tough time missing family and friends (it didn’t really help not knowing the language)… and in one of my worst weeks, I received a pack of spanish ham from my mom in the mail. That made me smile and reminded me that I wasn’t so far away after all. I love balloons by the way, they’re so fun!
You know Krista, every time you post one of your lovely posts, it is one small thing that brightens the lives of so many! I always smile after coming here and that, to me, is priceless! I wish you the best weekend possible! Hope it is filled with many smiles!
One small thing. Its a great reminder to us all isn’t it, to look for the good stuff, to smell the roses along the way & be cheered by a balloon. Balloons are happy things, so I’m so glad yours has stayed inflated (even if only half) through these troubles girl.
I think we sometimes forget that life is made of a series of small things. that’s often the only way to see yourself out of grief. I once read this quote: ‘depression if when nothing matters. grief is when everything matters, because everything is poignant’. Small things are often poignant in those moments of grief.
ah, I feel for you, because I know how you feel. Take care!
Your shoulders are much too small to bear the weight of your world on them Krista. Very wise advise to take one day at a time and do you small thing. I am sending you a virtual hug in the hopes that it will envelope you in peace.
Oh Krista, thanks for sharing not only your dilemma, but your hope and courage to action – one small thing. Can make a HUGE difference. We should never underestimate our acts of kindness. Thank you for reaching out and sharing you with me, with us. The sun will come out….and stay shining. ♥
They listened – it worked miracles. Here’s to rising balloons, even if we have to pump them with helium!
Today a friend just called to make sure I got home safely 🙂 It is the small things that brighten our lives.
Great advice to read while I’m having travel blues- I went and bought flowers for my friend and it helped seeing her so happy that it made me happier about being away from my family.