RIPPLES MATTER
[I am resurfacing after an extended absence…]
A few days ago I went for one of those standard screening and scanning procedures that GPs suggest with imploring overtones. I suppose when you are on the “wrong” side of age you can’t afford to be too cocky about the functionality of your bits and pieces. It’s not something I do regularly at all, though. In fact, all things medical tend to repel me whereby I try to deny their existence. And if I do enter into such realms that carry some medical label such as hospital, I morph into a 4-year-old and look for a hand to hold.
But I did not view standard screening and scanning as quite so threatening, so the 4-year-old stayed at home. However, there is always a distant ‘what if’ giving rise to faint whispers of ‘maybe this time….’
Well, the distant queries that were tentatively drifting on my mental horizon soon floated over the edge (the cerebral world is flat!) as the overwhelming impact of kindness and ‘human being to human being’ connection flooded through me.
From reception through the stages of each procedure, people were human beings first and their profession second. Neither at the sacrifice of the other. Consideration, cheerful verbal communication (as opposed to the silent treatment of ‘let’s get on with the job’ focus) and warm friendliness effused throughout. Even the décor showed effort where grey, drab and clinical were replaced with colour, flowers and flair.
My belief, especially since I am able to enjoy the advantage of age-grown wisdom, (I choose to believe that), is to try to acknowledge and build on all things positive. And so I chose to email that department to express my appreciation for their caring effort in making the whole experience as pleasant as possible. It takes very little of my time to do that, but the ripple effect of that gesture has far-reaching consequences, good ones.
At the end of the day, we are all here as human beings navigating our way through this life on earth as best as our understanding allows. And core to the successful survival of humanity is the ability to be there for each other, and for all others, which means the sea of faceless beings that we don’t know, but who will nevertheless still be the recipients of the ripple effect that each act of consideration and kindness initiates.
Where does that ripple end? It doesn’t, because it gains momentum from the influence that it has on others, who in turn are inspired to contribute towards its momentum. Just like a trickle of a brook does when joining another brook which joins another brook and so on, until it forms a river of undeniable strength, where boulders and bulges are easily circumnavigated. We are not aware of all who are touched or influenced or who benefit from this flow of kindness, nor are we able to identify all the contributors to the ripples that we are touched by or that have benefited us. But that cannot disprove the birthing process or existence of magical ripples.
My contribution to the river of kindness in that radiology department grew from my natural response to such a pleasant environment by returning the chatter and laughter. And secondly from being moved to email them later to express my appreciation for their caring attitude and for the extra mile(s) that they so pleasantly undertook. They had implemented measures to improve their department, and my acknowledgement affirmed their success and hopefully buoyed the momentum of their drive for the benefit of future patients. That’s one way I can build on the positive.
In a society that regards competition as healthy, inadvertently promoting the dog-eat-dog mentality and glossing over the real winning ingredients of cooperation and kindness, every ripple matters.
Even in the face of nasty, an attempt at trying to understand ‘from whence cometh the other’ will serve to dissipate the knee jerk reaction of a nasty retaliation - wondering what background and upbringing contributed to the make-up of the nasty person. How does selfishness, greed or even cruelty arise in the first place? I would suggest from a deep-seated insecurity, a lack of connection or sense of community, a need to assert power for fear of being vanquished, a lack of receiving and experiencing love, and the lack of self-worth, to mention a few. Given the same background, how would I behave?
So what is the antidote for toxic behaviour? Surely not more toxicity. Where will that end? May I again suggest that a pebble of curiosity (about self or the other) can create ripples that radiate outward into compassion and kindness encompassing a remedy that flows in harmony with the positive growth of the whole.
Your experience resonated deeply with me, as it reflects a fundamental truth about the power of kindness and compassion in our lives. By recognizing and affirming the efforts of others, you not only uplift their spirits but also play a part in fostering a culture of empathy and compassion that benefits us all. In a world that often glorifies competition and individualism, your reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the profound impact that cooperation and kindness can have on our collective well-being. Indeed, your call for understanding and compassion in the face of negativity underscores the importance of empathy as an antidote to toxic behavior.
Thank you for sharing your story and insights. May we all be inspired to contribute our pebble to the river of kindness, creating ripples of compassion and understanding that flow harmoniously towards a brighter and more compassionate world.
So well explained and written