06/09/2026
Small gestures matter!!! This is great read.
This morning, while waiting in line at the airport coffee shop, I noticed an elderly woman struggling to use her bank card at the register. I showed her how to tap it, and a few minutes later, when she couldn't find the napkins, I grabbed some and brought them to her.
Nothing extraordinary.
Just napkins.
As I gathered my things, I noticed her sitting alone at a table. Her suitcase tucked close beside her, as if she was afraid that it might disappear if she looked away. She stared quietly out the window, sipping her coffee and eating her croissant.
Something about her felt lonely.
So, I chose the table next to her, I sat down and said hello. I asked her where she was headed…
She shared that she had been visiting her granddaughter, and as she talked, her eyes lit up. I found myself thinking about my own granddaughters and told her that I hope years from now when they are older, they will still want to spend time with me too.
As we talked, I shared that I had stayed with my friend, and it was hard to say goodbye to her when she dropped me off. I explained that I was traveling for a conference and explained the work I do. Like so many conversations before it, that opened the door for her to tell me something important.
This was her first trip without her husband.
He had always done everything. He booked the tickets. He checked the luggage. He navigated the airports. Even using the credit card machine felt unfamiliar now.
She described feeling lost.
Alone.
Lonely.
Her husband had died recently, and she was learning how to find her way in a world that suddenly looked very different.
She smiled as she showed me photos from her visit. We talked about family, grandchildren, and how much joy can be packed into a few days together.
Then she said something that stopped me.
"One of the hardest parts about visiting the people you love is saying goodbye when you have to leave."
After a pause, she added, "You must see that often in your work."
I thought about the countless people I have sat beside as they said goodbye to the people they love, and I was reminded that goodbye is hard, no matter the circumstance.
Whether it's standing at a bedside.
Saying goodbye to a friend after a wonderful visit.
Or losing the chance to say goodbye at all.
There is always a feeling of finality woven into it.
As we sat together, we both found ourselves saying nearly the same thing at the same time:
"So grateful for the memories."
I knew she wasn't just talking about the weekend she had spent with her granddaughter.
And I wasn't either.
The truth is that all of us are carrying something.
A loss.
A worry.
A goodbye.
A memory we wish we could revisit one more time.
Sometimes the weight comes from years ago.
Sometimes it arrived yesterday.
But none of us are alone in carrying it.
Before she left, she thanked me for the conversation and then said something I will add to my own collection of memories:
"I think your granddaughters will want to visit you when they are older and spend time with you when you are older too."
I smiled and told her I certainly hoped so.
She replied, "How could they not? You have such a kindness about you."
What a gift those words were.
Today reminded me that small acts of kindness matter…
Offering a few napkins.
Holding a door open.
A smile.
Eye contact.
A simple hello.
A few minutes of your time to make someone else feel less alone.
You never know what story someone is carrying or how much they might need to be reminded that they aren't carrying it alone.
One of my favorite quotes, “My memories say hello, they ask about you all the time.”
Maybe today is a good day to visit your memories…
Since that conversation, I have been visiting mine.
And remember, sometimes all it takes to feel less alone is for one person to notice that you are there. Be the person that notices.
Sometimes... strangers see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Today I felt seen too.
xo
Gabby
www.thehospiceheart.net
