The word impact has several meanings. It is a word that I lament on frequently in relation to my work. In this case, it usually means influence or effect. Do I have an impact on the kids? Families? My co-workers? The answer fluctuates from day to day. Some days I leave work and I truly feel like I have made an impact in some ways. More often, though, I leave work wondering about it. However, I don't always take the time to reflect on the concept of having an impact. Something sparked me to reflect on it yesterday. Which brings me to another meaning of impact: the striking of one thing against another.
Yesterday morning a simple thing struck me. I noticed it gently in the moment, but the impact of this simple thing grew a little over time and created a space for me to notice simple things throughout the day. It was a reminder that it is often the accumulation of little things that creates a larger impact. What a powerful idea! It is not a new idea, but it is one our minds often release hold of.
My vagueness is purposeful. I wanted to plant the idea of impact first. Yesterday was like a bit of a ripple. In the morning, a co-worker of mine threw in a pebble. Actually, it was more like he unintentionally kicked the pebble into the water while walking along. It was a simple comment. I don't remember it word for word, but the gist was that though our paths do not cross that often at work, he could tell that I was not in the office last week. I wasn't in the office last week. I was out at a training all week long. He also asked how the training was and I commented that it was really great. Then I moved on with other conversations and he exited the room.
Like I said earlier, the impact was gentle in the moment. I think I made a smart ass comment about it being nice to know that if I disappeared someone would notice I was gone. I didn't give it much more thought. Tuesday is full of meetings, so my brain has all it can handle. In fact, by the end of the day I am happy to sneak in a few minutes in the cottages so that I can be around the kids. I noticed some small things while spending time in the cottages yesterday. I participating in a fun game of Freeze Dance with the girls during the group I ran. We were practicing following directions, allowing personal space, and impulse control. My supervisor happened to enter the cottage while I was in the midst of romping around the room with the girls. We made eye contact for one moment and he grinned. I am not sure I have ever been doing anything more productive. Sometime after this group I went next door where the little guys are. One particular little guy was sweeping the kitchen. The kids were all doing chores. He was so excited to show me the pile of dirt and crumbs he had swept up from the floor. He was so proud, and I was proud of him! I felt a little glow inside that matched his smile.
I didn't connect these things yesterday. That happened on the way into work this morning. A lot of thinking can happen when you have a 45 minute commute. I realized on the way to work that the comment from the morning before had really made an impression on me. Then I was in a training this afternoon where the trainer reminded us all of humanity's need to be noticed. Not to be applauded, but just to be noticed. I think it is really a need to feel like we make an impact. That simple statement yesterday morning had stuck with me because it made me feel noticed. It let me know that I have an influence or effect on others. An IMPACT. As a result, I was able to punctuate small things that had made an impact on me throughout the day yesterday.
That was the ripple. It was gentle. I think the gentle ones last longer and travel farther. Next time my mind releases hold of the idea that the accumulation of little things can create a larger impact, I think I will just need to find a pebble to gently place into the water.
