The Newsleaders
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2021 Sartell Spring Resource Guide
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

Stearns Bank Welch/Pediatrics
Home Opinion Column

Little things can make a big difference

March 16, 2012
in Column, Opinion
0
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Have you ever heard the expression, “Appreciate the little things?”

No doubt it’s something you have heard a friend or loved one say when encouraging you to take a break from a rigorous schedule, or they might have said it as a gentle reminder.

Well, I never really understood the true meaning of that saying until recently. Little things have the power to move us in ways we don’t expect.

It can be a nice neighbor who helps you shovel out your driveway or parking stall after a snowstorm. They don’t know you, but since you looked like you might need a hand with the 5 feet of snow burying your car, they decided to help. This happened to me after the last snowstorm hit our area, and it made my day. It was a little thing that put me in a good mood for the rest of the week. It reminded me there are still people who think beyond themselves – think of others. This young man had just gotten off the bus and was headed home. He was wearing a backpack, so he could have been coming from school or even work. Who knows? The point is he saw me bundled up and dreading the task before me – shoveling so I could make it to the post office before it closed.

There’s nothing like a Good Samaritan. And I’m happy to say I live near one.

We are not only moved by people, but we can be touched by something we see or hear. It could be a song or a movie.

For as long as I can remember, I have been deathly afraid of dogs and cats. While I have medical allergies to those animals, my phobia is greater. It is hard for people to understand at times, but I’m happy to report many respect I might not be as excited about Fido’s new collar as they are or whether or not he looks good in the latest family photo. The biggest thing some people have to understand is as friendly as they think their dog or cat might be, he or she is not the animal that will miraculously make me love dogs and cats. I have heard it all:

“He’s older than you.”

“She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“They can barely run.”

“He’s more afraid of you than you are of him.”

The last of these really gets me going because if that animal knew just how afraid I was of it, it would be ashamed of its owner for downplaying my fear. After all, many people say animals can feel when something is wrong. Well, trying to convince someone in fear they are irrational is, in my opinion, wrong.

I’ve been living with this fear for 28 years. It will not go away overnight, in a few days or even years. However, I recently viewed the film, “Marley and Me” and gained a little more perspective into why people work so hard to help me shed by fear.

Marley was energetic, disobedient and messy. He was also protective, loving and a member of the family. I cried so hard at the end of that movie even though I am not a pet owner.

After watching it, for a split second I wished I could experience the companionship one can have with an animal – something that is always neutral and ever loyal. That little thing made me appreciate why people love their animals so much.

I seldom watch movies in which one of the lead actors is a dog. After all, the reason I have the fear I do is when I was about 5 years old, an aunt showed me the movie “Cujo.” I will let you Google it to see why this was a bad idea for a 5-year-old. That is an example of a little thing that left a big scar.

Previous Post

Don’t let bloody outrage sully deeds of good soldiers

Next Post

Stress transparency in government year-round

Next Post

Stress transparency in government year-round

Please login to join discussion

murphy granite CentraCare SartellLionsCleanUp

Hiring local
Columnist
writer!
Love to
write??
Senior Linkage SUPPORT FOR
OLDER ADULTS
DURING COVID-19
Senior LinkAge Line connects
older adults and caregivers
to essential services and
supports during the pandemic.
800-333-2433
Whitney Senior Center whitney senior center
wellness workshops
1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud health coaches
for hypertension
Mondays
April 26-June 14
10-11:30 a.m.
In-person at Heritage Hall

Fridays
May 21-July 16
9:30-11 a.m.
In-person at
Whitney Senior Center/Zoom
SistersoftheOrder

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Old St. Joe police and fire hall for sale
  • Funeral for James Edmund Simon, 71, St. Joseph
  • School district receives more federal COVID relief money
  • Video students capture real-life business experience
  • COVID cases up, but schools stay open

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2021 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2021 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
    • Pay My Invoice
  • Resource Guides
    • 2021 Sartell Spring Resource Guide

© 2021 Newleaders

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In