The smallest things in the world

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
~ Mother Teresa

The smallest things in the world can also be the biggest things in life. Take the atom for instance. It may be the smallest thing known to humans by comparison to anything that is not sub-atomic; but when used negatively, it can cause the biggest havoc known to man thus far.

When used positively, as in generating electricity or in medical application, it brings immense benefits. Thus, the result anything produces in the end is, in the state of order, agreement, or completeness, in the relation of things or of parts of a whole, to each other. If one were to say it in one word, it would be: Harmony.

Harmony makes small things grow; the lack of it makes great things decay. Great things are, achieved only through a series of actions consisting of small things, all done in natural harmony. Likewise, success in life is, founded upon attention to the small things, rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us, rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.

If ever you find that you are unable to do great things, at least do small things in a great way. Make it your habit not to look down upon, or be critical about small things.

Small things are a celebration of life’s simple pleasures; the simple pleasures that we commonly tend to overlook. These are the everyday sources of happiness that are right under our nose, and yet we see them not. Things like a day devoted to pampering yourself, or watching someone open a gift you know they will love.

That, early morning cup of tea, or coffee, or rediscovering old music; and memories that can make you laugh years later. Also, having such a good time with someone that you lose track of time, a smile from across the room, seeing lighted oil lamps at a temple, or lighted Christmas trees, at night; so on and so forth, I can mention a million such small things that can bring, untold and unexpected pleasures into our life. As a ship does not sail with yesterday's wind, the choices we make in the here and now; to receive or to give joy, from small thing, of small deeds, are the hinges of destiny on which our life swings. I believe life is in the details. Ongoing small gestures can mean so much more than one grand display of love. Simple pleasures throughout the day can be far more gratifying that one amazing weekend. When you connect the dots between all these little joys, life seems fuller and more satisfying.

Philosopher

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.

My father used to tell me that: a philosopher is a person who knows less and less about more and more, until he knows nothing about everything; whereas, a scientist is a person who knows more and more about less and less, until he knows everything about nothing.

Let me rush to add that I am neither a philosopher nor a scientist; but just a person who knows nothing about everything, and sometimes, everything about nothing. In keeping with this trend of trying to ‘know everything about nothing,’ science's ongoing quest to find the smallest possible things remains tantalizingly incomplete. The answer to the enduring question of the smallest thing in the universe has evolved along with humanity.

People once thought grains of sand were the building blocks of what we see around us. With the discovery atom, we thought it to be indivisible; taught so in school, and failed if we did not say so. Then, it was split to reveal protons, which were split to reveal neutrons, which were split to reveal quarks.

These too, seemed like fundamental particles, before scientists discovered that protons and neutrons are made of three quarks each.

Thus, the splitting of split matter still goes on, and the quest for the smallest thing in the universe continues. In the end, I suppose, the answers will be, found in experiments, in combination with our imaginations.

Perhaps the most amazing thing we have discovered to date is the scientific method, which allows us to pose and answer questions like “How small is the Universe?” Not bad indeed, for a slightly evolved race of, cave men!

Straight out of the imagination of scientists came, the answer to “What is the smallest thing in the universe?” They called it the ‘God Particle.’ While we have nothing to allow us to see it or any chance of something that will help us see it any time soon, we can doubtless agree, everything must be made of something.

The ‘god particle’ apparently makes everything, and is made of nothing - if you can imagine such a thing: everything is, nothing; nothing is, everything.

Basically, it is the science version of god. Many believe that we, humanity, will never see a god particle because enquiring minds have always had, and always will have, the insatiable thirst to know what is bigger, smaller, further away, more- indestructible, stronger, etc. than what we already know.

This ‘God Particle’ is, also called Higgins boson. The Higgs boson, gets its name from British physicist Peter Higgs, one of the first to propose its existence. But what about the other part of this great name - boson? This, in fact is, also named after a physicist, Einstein's Indian contemporary, Satyendra Nath Bose.

The Higgins boson is important because of the present belief that in the universe, as a matter-of-fact, it is what joins everything and gives it matter: that which makes up the substance of anything, especially of material things. One of those matters that matter, no matter what becomes of it is a later matter.

Small minds

When people say that small things amuse small minds, I respond with, all things amuse great minds. May be it is true that people with great minds talk more about ideas; people with mediocre minds talk endlessly about possessions and belongings; and people with small minds talk forever about the affairs of other people.

However, this is applicable only when describing the mentality of a person. For us laypersons, with average minds that are neither, great, mediocre, or small; let us be content with the happiness small things produce through small acts of kindness; kind acts of ours to others and that of others to us.

In the sweetness of small things, let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasure. In the dew of little things, let the heart find its morning, and be refreshed.

Life is made-up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserves the heart, and secures comfort. Nothing is nicer than having someone who appreciates you in the smallest things.

Someone who accepts you the way you are in times of hardship, someone who will give comfort when you are troubled, alone, and lonely. Someone who loves you no matter what; and that someone, is simply having you in their life because you mean a lot to them.

If you have such a person, just do whatever it takes for both of you to last forever because such people are, rare to be found.

See you this day next week. Until then, keep thinking; keep laughing.

Life is mostly about these two activities.

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