Domino Effect

“That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.” To me, this quote means that no act is coincidental and that actions have a domino effect. Whether positively or negatively, someone will be affected by every action or situation. Random acts are not random and do not exist in isolation. For example, my oldest brother was diagnosed with a cancer called Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2009. I wondered at first why he got sick, why our family and why me. But I realized that it was not random and that his disease actually touched the lives of a lot of people. During his battle, we realized how much our family had made a difference in the lives of others. We received cards and support from complete strangers and from people we hadn’t seen in years. They shared with us how they knew our family, what we had meant to them and how we had impacted their lives. We probably wouldn’t have even known these things if it wasn’t for Gabe’s illness. Sometimes it takes someone getting very sick or dying, like Eddie in the novel, to realize how interconnected we all are. My brother’s disease, my family’s reaction to it and the way it affected others was not random.

After experiencing the difficult time of my brother’s illness, I began to live each day remembering that we are all connected and that it’s important to show small acts of kindness. Simple things like opening the door for a stranger or smiling at someone who looks like they have had a rough day can change major events. Just showing you care can let someone know they are important. Leo Buscaglia said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” I hope that as I grow up I can continue to realize the powerful impact my actions have on others.