By Hazel Clayton
I have a very dear friend, Jane, (99 years old) whom I have kept in touch with by phone or snail mail for many years. On Christmas Day 2023 she was taken into hospital, and from there she moved into a care home and I have been struggling to find her. A mutual friend thought she had heard she was at one particular care home but I received no reply to my letters and no phone call – what to do? On my laptop I looked up the care home and sent an enquiry, giving enough information about myself and Jane for them to hopefully know this was a genuine call for help.
A few days later my phone rang. “Is that Hazel?” asked a stranger at the other end of the line. My immediate thoughts were that it was the flippin’ hospital again, but when I confirmed it was me the voice went on to say “I have Jane for you” – and I almost cried. Jane and I chatted for about 15 minutes, catching up with things we’d missed in each other’s lives, but just to hear her voice was enough. That a member of staff at the care home had read my email and bothered to check it out and then got Jane to the phone really made my day.
It was such a simple act which only took a few moments but which made us both so happy. It made me wonder what other things we could do to help make someone else’s life better.
We all live such busy lives – promising we will do something but often never getting round to it. Maybe we should take a moment’s break and bring a bit of happiness into someone’s life.
Our smart phones are available 24/7 to send a message and almost everyone is contactable in this way. What about that friend who has been going through a rough time? Why not use your smart phone and send them a message, perhaps a text or if you’re feeling very generous send them a bunch of flowers through the post or a clotted cream tea (who doesn’t enjoy them). Alternatively you could send them a good old fashioned letter. The post might not be the most reliable, but to receive a hand-written letter is so nice and a real treat these days – and one can read it over and over.
It doesn’t take much to let someone know they are in your thoughts. I am sure, like me, you have had a thought about someone only for the phone to ring and it be them. Life can be full of coincidences but it is nice to know that they do happen and if we start to share these things we find that life feels better.
Instead of just thinking about it, do it! Make someone’s day and let them know they are special.