Everybody bashes Instagram reels and other short-form content as a waste of time, which they certainly are—most of the time. I say that because while doom scrolling, once in a blue moon, I find a reel that is so eye-opening that I can’t help but think that the wasted time was worth it. I would like to share one such excerpt with you.

Someone is still telling the jokes they heard from you

Someone is still using the same words or phrases you used

Someone still smiles when they remember a moment with you

Someone is still listening to the music you showed them

Someone is still encouraged by the advice you gave them

Someone admires you from afar and is inspired by you

You might not feel like you are enough

But somewhere, you have made a mark that lasts

To someone…you are everything

To say that this changed me would be an understatement. As a teenager grappling with self-doubt, juggling a dozen different things, and striving for goalposts that seemed to move away from me constantly, this was the lesson I needed to hear. 

In our constant struggle to improve ourselves, we tend to forget everything we have accomplished. We become tunnel-visioned, focusing on the illustrious future, while disregarding the beautiful influence we have had on the people around us. Focusing on the latter gives us solace by reminding us that despite our goals being still out of reach, we have made a lasting impact on the people closest to us; relishing such moments can do wonders for our self-esteem.

Other than this, I have also derived a slightly different meaning. We, as humans, never realize how much we are truly loved; this is one of the quiet tragedies of the human experience. Most people whom we have influenced do not tell us how much they admire us. If you don’t agree with this, ask yourself: how many times have you told someone they have influenced you for the better? I also asked myself the same question and…blank. Despite having multiple role models such as my elder brothers, parents, and even some friends, I have never let them know how much their influence means to me.

I have also come to realize that it doesn’t take a lot to influence someone. Someone might feel your mere presence in a classroom comforting. Someone might be strolling through memory lane and reliving a core memory of their life, which you are a part of. In these ways, despite not trying at all, we leave a piece of ourselves with the people we momentarily collided with before drifting apart once more. That collision might have simply faded from our memory, but for others, it might have been just what they needed.

However, just as this might have been what they needed, their appreciation of our impact might have also been what we needed. Why do we deprive others of the joy of knowing they have positively impacted someone’s life? Are we so egocentric that admitting this wonderful exchange embarrasses us, or does the thought of expressing gratitude never cross our minds? Maybe the answer is not rooted in cynicism but rather in being ashamed to confess our vulnerability. The answers to these questions are immensely complex, and I would encourage you to reflect about them. However, one question needs no pondering: should you express gratitude towards the person who helped you? The answer is obvious, but do we have the courage to go through with it?