It's the little things that matter

It's the little things that matter 

It's the little things that matter. In amongst the big struggles, hurdles and most difficult of days it's the little things that truly matter. 

I have been incredibly busy over the last year since mum passed away and as an awareness campaigner I am always looking for ways to keep reaching out and reaching people. In fact this journey which started from my bedroom whilst caring for mum and with the Dementia Carer Voices project has introduced me to the most amazing of people and opportunities.

Today was a quiet day compared to most days lately. I was working from and pottering about at home looking back over the campaign for information for a talk I have in a few weeks about starting a campaign and volunteering.

I was soon lost in boxes of memories and time, the different struggles we faced and the moments of joy we shared.

It was the little things, things that might seem so small to others that were missing, that created so many tears, such sadness and often despair and by the same token it was often the little things that gave us hope, joy and opportunities. 

In amongst the big challenges, hurdles and dilemmas we can be lost and lose track of the little things that truly matter. We spent so much time lost within the big struggles, decisions and often dilemmas we forgot about the little things and they were often not considered as part of the questions we were 

asked or opportunities offered. 

Before dementia and caring even from a distance, it was the little things that made us smile, the special moments, conversations, the times we spent together or shared with each other even when apart that were the biggest parts of our lives. 

I hope we can start being better at supporting, including and asking about what to us might seem like little things but for the people we meet might well be the most  important of things. 

If we include and help with the little things we give people a better chance of understanding and getting through the big things that come their way. 

On the hardest of days for mum who was facing much more than I was, on the days I was finding  it hard to cope or witness, a wee smile or squeeze of my hand from mum made it better. 

That's the true magic of the little things, for all we could not change that little smile or squeeze of my hand made it better or got me through it every step of the way. 

I could do with that wee squeeze of my hand today.

The little things, they were the most important of things. 

Tommy