Small Deeds .. Small Changes..

The world is changing every day and we keep reading about people who bring change with their lives in a very big way. We have seen the Gates',  the Jobs', the 10dulkars', the Kalams, the Mother Teresas; who have been able to think and act in a way that has changed the way millions live around the world.

We may be, many times, bogged down by their greatness and think if we can make a difference at all.  A small deed can bring in a small change; that too can make someone smile that day and if we can, by the way we think and act, bring even a small change in someone's life, if we can leave that smile on someone's face that we see, talk or interact, I believe we have made a change.

A change is a wave. It creates ripples. It propagates from one person to another, one family to another, one village to another and may be one day one nation to another.

Two instances happened to me today and they teach me that it is not always the BIG deed that brings changes. 

I take my two-wheeler till the nearest Metro station and then travel around 10 minutes by Metro before I reach station close to my office. Another 5 minutes walk and I am at my office. I was little late to office, than that I had planned for the day. I parked my two wheeler and was moving hurriedly towards the upward stairs that would take me to the entrance. Before I reached the upward stairs, there are a series of small stairs to be covered. 

Another man was in front of me, equally in hurry (may be to his office) and then I saw him stop for a while near the series of small stairs. A small boy was carrying water in a pot on his head and was holding another one on his hand partly resting on his waist. He looked like one of those boys we normally see staying on roadside tents / slums. He seemed to take water from the public tap on the adjacent railway platform to his tent or place where his family was working. He was fully drenched in water - head to toe - with water finding its way out from the pot on the head. The man, bent down and offered help to the boy. He carried the pot in one of his hands (managing his bags on his shoulders and other hand) and walked around 50 meters to deliver the pot to the boy's mother. The boy was feeling humbled was asking him the pot back but the man ensured it is delivered at its destination. There was a smile on the boy's face and even on his mother's as they thanked  the man. 

This man could have walked off, citing reasons or excuses. But he chose to help. It was just 2 minutes of his day but he could bring a smile on someone's face. I am sure that boy / mother would definitely have shown or would show the same gesture to someone else. It definitely would have created a positive energy in them which would have been transferred to some one else or into their actions of the day.

Some days teach you a lot than others. I reached 10 mins early for my next train and was waiting on the platform, checking WhatsApp and mails on my mobile. It was peak time and there was heavy rush on the station. The train came and I could not get a seat and was standing. Since it was peak time, the train waited for people coming in and I could see many running towards the train.

This lady entered and the doors closed behind her. She was breathing hard and hardly able to support herself on the then tired legs. Many looked at her and decided to ignore but for this gentleman who offered her the seat. The lady out of courtesy denied the offer but on his insistence took the seat not forgetting to thank him for the same. And when she her station came and some one else was about to take the same seat, he did not forget to ask our gentleman if he would like to take his seat back.

A small gesture again, helped someone. Brought smiles and also reflected on others' behavior.

Small Deeds, Small changes.. they ripple down, propagate and makes it big at some point of time; Big enough to change the world.

To laugh often and much
to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; 

to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty, 

to find the best in others; 

to leave the world a bit better, 

whether by a healthy child a garden patch or redeemed social condition; 

to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson