so i just returned from the most fabulous, decadent wedding i have ever been to in my life! props to lindsey coffman macleod on pulling off this event because it was spectacular! everything from the full choir to the hamburgers and fries served at midnight - this bride truly thought of EVERYTHING! not to mention she looked like a supermodel...
anyway, i could go on about this wedding forever, but this post is in regards to something that happened at the wedding. at the reception, i was seated next to a baylor girl, one of my sorority sisters actually, and i had the best time catching up with her. in college, she and i ran in different social circles and while i knew her name and where she was from, i am embarrassed to admit that i knew little else about her. (sad, but true, when a sorority has 200 members, you don't truly get to know EVERYONE; sorry to bust the myth that we're all tight as family.)
okay, back to the story...this girl was just so warm and charming, telling me all about her love life, struggles with graduating, navigating post-college life, etc. i couldn't help but think, why didn't i get to know her better when we were in college? i really missed out on getting to know such an amazing person. then she said something that i don't think i'll ever forget.
this particular person was gone from baylor for an entire year due to studying abroad and then subsequently taking a semester off. she told me about how when she came back to baylor after taking such a long hiatus, she felt lost, excluded, and somehow disoriented about missing out on so much. then she said, "you know, when i came back to that first theta meeting after being gone for so long, you were the only person who talked to me. the only one. all you said was hi and you asked me how i was doing, but that meant so much to me. i've never forgotten that."
of course i don't remember this exchange, but i couldn't believe the effect that a mere commonplace greeting had on someone's life. this got me to thinking...how much power do we really have over improving each other's lives by doing the most menial tasks? a random phone call on a tuesday night, a handwritten thank you note to express your indebted gratitude, a smile and a wink, the fetching of a customized cup of coffee.
a quote that i keep close to my heart is "people will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." maya angelou, i think you were right about that.
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2 comments:
why am i such an emotional mess when i read your blogs shannan. you make me laugh and smile and cry all in one post. i think you're a pretty great person.
and yes, i do think it's amazing the effects we can have on each other's lives without even realizing it. it's mostly inspiring but a little frightening too . :)
you sure make the world a better place.
well put, my love. :) I promise this phone tag will come to an end eventually!! you know how the deep south can grab aholds of ya.
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