Opinions on This Quotation
By ailema4ever
@ailema4ever (2668)
Finland
October 21, 2007 11:25am CST
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which has the potential to turn a life around.
- Leo Buscaglia
How true is this for you? Which one applies to you directly? Which one do you most underestimate? Or have you appreciated each and every one of them?
Do you sometimes feel other people underestimate the power of your touch, smile, kind word, listening ear, compliment, act of caring? Any specific example?
Please share your thoughts.
2 people like this
7 responses
@shadowing (308)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 07
Hi Ailema4ever.
Well, haha, I don't know whether people have underestimated the power of my touch, smile, kind words, listening eat, compliment,or act of caring. But, basically, I personally feel it's really true and I never underestimate any of them.
Previously, my friend was so depressed about the problem she was facing, mainly about the argument between she and her parents. So, I just chat with her though IM and the next day I feel I should actually pay a visit to her house. So, I just sit there and she was the one talking and I was there smiling and listen.
After all, one fine day, I met her in my college. And, in a chat, she topic me I mean a lot to her as I am the one that pull her up when she was down. Haha. I mean I do nothing but sit there and just listen but to her it was the matter of her whole world.
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
22 Oct 07
Hi, shadowing!
That's GREAT of you to never underestimate the power of those things. THANKS for sharing your story. Yeah, even though you were "only" listening, to her it was what she needed the most.
By the way, I think you did a FAB thing by visiting her and listening to her. After all, listening skills are VERY important in life. ;-D
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
23 Oct 07
Yeah, but still you spent time to listen to her. Listening without interrupting is sometimes not easy, especially for talkers he he he he...
It must be nice to have a good friend who listens well like you! :-))))
@shadowing (308)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 07
Haha. Actually, her house is really very near to mine. Haha. I mean after all she is my friend and I have to. Just like if I am down, I also wish there will be someone will come to find me maybe? Haha.
@xiebocong (30)
• China
22 Oct 07
Yes,I agree with you much.One day,several friends with me were waiting for the bus,and the one we want to take was not come.Suddenly,We heard a big whomp and some cacophony, then we found that an American boy and a Chinese girl bumped,because a bus is in the station ,the girl rode along the side of the rode and the boy rode along the side of the bus so didn't see each other at all.But they soonly stood up again,and give each other a smile and said "sorry" ,the moment I think without this smile it may be the other result.
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
22 Oct 07
Hi, xieobocong!
THANKS for sharing that story. Yeah, you're completely right. If both of them had reacted angrily and said harsh words, the ending would have been totally different.
:-))))
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
22 Oct 07
Hi, ben...that's SO true about the power of a touch, esp. a mother's loving touch and our love's loving touch or embrace. They do have the power to energize us and make us feel warm inside. THANKS for sharing! ;-D
@benx22 (87)
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
a simple touch does not seem to be just simple. we are all born to have a great need of touch. may it be from families, friends or from special someone. there are times, when i am sad, all i wanted is a touch from someone who is really special to me. words are not enough to comfort the burden that i am feeling. the power of touch does so much, and it just brings smile on my face. a hug, which is a very affectionate gesture of touch, is the most comforting one. as the saying goes, "a hug a day, keeps the doctor away". true it is. a doctor's diagnosis and prescriptions do not guarantee that a person feels well when he feels sick. for me, the touch, especially that from the mother, heals one's illness or pain, miraculously.
@Perry2007 (2229)
• Philippines
23 Oct 07
As long as I live and as often as I can, I would always remember smile, listen,give kind words and complement, touch and inspire. Its power is great and will leave a mark long after the giver is gone.
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
23 Oct 07
Hi, Perry, yes, that's very true indeed. The power of those things is truly indelible even after the giver's gone. It can literally change a life, right? THANKS for joining in! ;-D
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
15 Nov 07
i agree with the quotation. small things sometimes really have a great on something, someone. like a friend said to me i looked good last monday and it just made my day. ^__^
and then i watched a j-dorama series and a lot of small things done by the lead star were taken greatly by her friends. like for example, she was the only one to remember correctly the name of her classmate and that classmate took it as a very nice gesture and he considered her very important to him. another classmate said he was thankful for her when she shared her own feelings to him. another classmate said he was thankful for her when she always spread smile and she's always joyful in the class because it makes the class more lively. ^__^
so i think small things really make a difference.
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
15 Nov 07
Hi, secretbear!
Yeah, compliments do make us happy, eh? ;-D Oh yeah, that's also very true about remembering people's names. It's always nice if someone new remembers our name, isn't it?
THX for sharing. Glad you also think that the small things in life are important. ;-D
1 person likes this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
21 Oct 07
I think it's a good quote and it makes a lot of sense. I can't really say which one most directly relates to me but I think that it's really true.
You never know what one small act could do to turn someones day around for the better. In that same respect though people have to remember that one small thing could also be the straw that broke the camels back for the day.
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
22 Oct 07
Hi, raychill! THANKS for joining in!
Ahhhh...you're right...one small thing can also be like that: the straw that broke the camel's back. THANKS for adding your two cents. I LOVE this discussion! ;-D
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
14 Nov 07
This is so true, these are small acts that we often not pay attention to. I had an experience, where I fell so down, then someone -- a stranger smiled at me. The smile somehow gave me a sighing relief. It was as if a hug. :)
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
14 Nov 07
Hi, tryxiness!
Glad you feel the same way, too. ;-D THX for sharing your story. Indeed sometimes just a smile means SO MUCH MORE to us, eh? ;-D
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
21 Oct 07
Hello there. I agree with this quote absolutely.
More often than not, it's not the 'big' things that make us happy, it's the 'small' and often seem insignificant things that make us happy. Most of us pursue wealth because we think that it'll make us happy. However, most people do not attain true happiness even after the attainment of wealth. I think it's because they have neglected the 'small' things in life.
I always smile at everyone I see. I've been told that I have a nice smile. I feel happy whenever someone smiles at me. I think if I were to smile at others, I would make others happy too (hopefully).
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
21 Oct 07
Hi, poohgal!
THANKS for your opinion. Yes, you're SO right. If we miss out on the "small" things in life, we'll never be happy no matter how many "big" things in life we've obtained.
Hey, it's GREAT that people tell you that you have a nice smile. Other than making yourself and other people happy by smiling, it'll also make you stay young!!! ;-D
Yes, I believe that you make others happy too by sharing a smile with them. ;-D