There have been many times in the past few years when I second guessed myself,  wondering what to do and which direction to take.  When I left an unhappy marriage to start over it was basically a “close your eyes and leap into the darkness” move on my part.  I was immediately caught by friends around me who stepped up to help the minute I left that ledge.  I would not have made it if it were not for moments, words of kindness and encouragement.

There are different turning points in life.  Major events that happen to change our perspective, change our direction and sometimes our environment.  When we lose someone we care about, whether a family member or a friend, it can make life hard at times, challenging on whole different levels, the days can seem darker. 

It’s good to remember that when someone is taken from us, no matter how it happens, that person still lives on in your heart, your memories and in how they changed and affected your life.  You never really lose the effect they had because we all touch each others lives along the way.  Remember the smiles, the laughter, the joy along the way.

Then stop and think about the days when you’ve been in a big hurry, but you still stopped to offer a smile, open a door, be kind to someone else.  No good deed goes unnoticed.  For every kindness there is a ripple effect that goes out like a drop in the ocean, it starts small, but the effect keeps going and builds.  So, even in your haste, you may have been the person that made someone else’s day.  Your kindness may have caused that person to slow down and enjoy their morning, then to be kind to their child, co-worker, or friend.  Never under estimate the power of a smile or a simple act of kindness.

Even the smallest light shines in the darkness.