WE are usually quick to thank people who do something big for us. We thank the person who gives us a valuable gift, helps us secure a job, or opens a door to an important opportunity.
But what about the people who make our lives easier every day?
What about the cleaner who keeps our workplace comfortable, the security guard who watches over our building, the clerk who patiently helps us with a problem, or the person who serves us our food?
Do we notice them? Do we appreciate them? Or do we simply expect them to do their jobs?
Sometimes, the people who deserve our thanks most are the people we hardly notice.
Kindness does not always make headlines
Think about our daily lives. Someone opens a door for us. A colleague helps us finish a difficult task. A neighbour checks on our family when we are away. A family member quietly takes care of responsibilities so that we can concentrate on our work.
These acts may seem small. They may not cost much money or require great effort. Yet they can make a difficult day easier and remind us that we are not alone.
Not every act of kindness needs to be celebrated publicly. Some people help because they care, not because they want praise or recognition.
The problem is that we sometimes become so used to receiving help that we stop seeing it as something worth appreciating.
When a service is always available, we may begin to take it for granted. When someone is always willing to help, we may assume that the person will always be there.
We notice their absence more quickly than we appreciate their presence.
A position does not measure a person’s worth
Our society often gives greater attention to people with important titles, high salaries, or positions of authority.
There is nothing wrong with recognising achievement. But we should never allow a person’s position to determine how much respect we give them.
A cleaner and a chief executive may have very different responsibilities but both deserve to be treated with dignity. A security guard may not make the decisions that shape an organization but that does not make his contribution unimportant.
Every honest job serves a purpose. Every person has a life beyond the role we see.
The person who cleans our office may be supporting children through school. The waiter who serves our meal may be caring for an elderly parent. The worker who appears quiet may be carrying burdens we know nothing about.
We do not need to know their stories before treating them well.
Respect should not depend on what someone can do for us.
Gratitude costs nothing
We sometimes think appreciation must come in the form of money, gifts or grand gestures. It can begin with something much simpler.
Look someone in the eye. Say thank you. Acknowledge the effort behind the service. Be patient when a person makes an honest mistake. Do not speak to someone as if their job makes them less important.
These actions take only a few seconds, but they can make a difference to how another person feels.
Of course, saying thank you does not replace fair wages, safe working conditions, or proper treatment. Organisations must still fulfil their responsibilities towards their workers.
But fairness and appreciation should go together. We should not have to choose between respecting people’s rights and recognising their contributions.
Nor should we wait for a special occasion to express gratitude.
What kind of person are we becoming?
Perhaps the real test of our character is not how politely we treat someone who can help us advance but how we treat someone from whom we expect nothing in return.
Do we greet the security guard when we enter a building? Do we thank the person who clears our table? Do we speak respectfully to the staff members who cannot immediately solve our problem?
These small moments reveal something about us.
We may not be able to change the world through one grand act. But we can make the little corner of the world around us more humane.
The people we never thank may never ask for our appreciation. Some may even be embarrassed when we offer it. That should not stop us from recognising their contribution.
A simple thank you cannot solve every problem but it can remind another person that their effort has not gone unnoticed.
We all want to be valued. We all want our contributions to matter. Why should that desire be reserved only for people with impressive titles or public recognition?
Perhaps today is a good time to look again at the people who quietly make our lives better.
We may discover that some of the most important people in our lives are those we have been taking for granted.
A better society does not begin when everyone becomes important. It begins when we stop treating anyone as unimportant.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at alimimpira@yahoo.com
