In my experience, I've noticed that the stories that touch people's lives always seem to have something about them that makes us feel a strong emotion. Whether it's nostalgia or joy that we experience, we often feel inspired or motivated to do something different in our lives, all because of a story.
I've always wanted to be able to share the stories that changed my life with as many people as I could. So several years ago, I started Simple Truths, and I've collected and published these stories to share with all of you.
I want to share a story that touched my life—it still gives me goose bumps when I read it.
Love and Be Loved
A story featured in Things That Grab Your Heart and Won't Let Go.
I recently had dinner with someone who told me that one of his best friends had been killed in a private plane crash. Something happened at the service that he'll never forget:At the memorial service, his friend's wife walked to the podium to speak to the gathering. She said a friend had asked her the best memory she had of their life together. At the moment, she had been too grief-stricken to answer, but she thought about it since and wanted to answer the question. They were in their late forties when he died, and she began talking about a time in their lives almost twenty years earlier. She had quit her job to obtain her master's degree, and her husband never wavered in his support. He held down his own job and also did the cooking, cleaning, and other household chores while she studied for her degree. One time, they both stayed up all night. She was finishing her thesis and he was preparing for an important business meeting. That morning, she walked out on their loft, looked at him over the railing, and just thought about how much she loved him. She knew how important this meeting was to his career, and she was feeling guilty that she didn't even have time to make his breakfast. He grabbed his briefcase and hurried out. She heard the garage door open and close, but much to her surprise, she heard it open again about thirty seconds later. From above, she watched her husband dash into the house and walk over to the neglected coffee table. Tracing his finger through the dust, he wrote the words "I love you." Then he raced back to his car. The new widow then looked out at her audience and said, "John and I had a wonderful life together. We have been around the world several times; we've had everything money can buy…but nothing comes close to that moment." Our lives move with lightning speed. It feels like yesterday that I graduated from college…and now forty years have passed. Although I'm very proud of my business accomplishments, in the end, my life comes back to loving and being loved.
This story about a husband's random act of love always reminds me that the smallest things can make the biggest difference to those around you. It reminds me to do little things for the people I love to show them how much they mean to me.
I hope this story inspires you to love and be loved. What are some life changing stories you know? I can't wait to hear them.
To Life and Love,
Mac Anderson
Simple Truths Founder
For a compilation of the best stories from Simple Truths, check out Things That Grab Your Heart and Won't Let Go