A Little Reminder

Winnie the Pooh once said, “I don’t feel like very much today.”

“There, there,” said Piglet. “I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.” To this day, this is one of my favourite quotes. I love it because it’s not like you must conquer the world in one day or find the answer to climate change or the dying seas. You only have to do one thing. One thing a day, and you’ll have learned one more thing than you did yesterday.

You would’ve gotten out of bed to do the homework you’ve been putting off, or to go help Mum stack the dishwasher. You would have done one more thing than bed-rotting. I know it sounds nice, binge-watching the new season of a show you’ve been watching, but you could be doing better things with your time.

The world is full of all kinds of people, the good and the bad. The rude and the kind. But remember never to judge a book by its cover (or its movie) because you never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Not everyone is kind all the time, and that’s okay. Not everyone’s happy all the time, and that’s okay. But the smallest things can make someone’s day. A simple smile to a stranger, helping someone when they fall. The little things can just be the extra boost to end someone’s day on a high note. Kindness has never been a bad thing! It costs nothing to do, yet it can mean everything to someone. Your friend had a bad day at school. Talk to them about it. Even if it’s just being there, that’s enough. Someone in class is sitting alone; go sit with them. There’s a new kid in your year; introduce yourself! Why not? You can never truly know what someone is going through. But a simple smile, talk, hug, or hang out with them could make them feel warm in a place that’s cold. The light at the end of the storm. So be the reason someone wakes up happy and smiling, not the reason someone’s crying.

Amelia H, Year 10