How to build love
In the days, months and years between life’s tectonic moments – birth, death, eating solids, first step, first word, first day at school, graduation, leaving home, first love, child, pet, life partner, car, house, significant piece of jewellery etc – between these times are the moments in which love is built.
These are not the major milestones or the grand gestures that we mark our lives with, just millions of small daily acts offered freely without expectation.
Given and received countless times these small acts are the foundation that love is built upon.
Below I have made a list of 49 of these small acts of love (please note; this list is in no particular order and is in no way comprehensive. In the quest for a more thorough inventory I invite you to create and share your own list);
Laundry
Turning up to family events
Giving rides
Planting a garden
Checking in
Birdsong
Lending a van, ute or trailer
Picking up rubbish in a park
Giving posies
Rain
Staying late to teach or coach
Eating together
Moon rises
Regularly saying I love you
Fixing cars or bikes or other devices we don’t understand
Photosynthesis
Saying thank you
Saying sorry
Cooking
Flowering
Really listening
Lending books
Giving directions
Smiling
Mending clothes
Petsitting
Pollination
Watching someone play sport
Giving a little bit of cash
Smoothing a furrowed brow
Picking up after
Fruiting
Remembering birthdays
Lending a tool
Wiping a bottom
Sunsets & rises
Cleaning up after a party
Tucking in
Picking up a bin that’s fallen over in the street
Invitations to walk, swim, play, drink tea
Knitting
Singing
Fermentation
Pushing a swing
Dropping a meal at a front door
Dropping a zucchini at a front door
Doing the dishes
Often we have no idea we’re receiving these small acts of love
Often we have no idea of the impact our small acts have on others
Almost always small acts of love make all the difference
To Fair Food one small act of love that makes a difference is leaving your cardboard box and cooler out for your driver to collect.
It’s a small loving act that completes the sustainable packaging circle we create together each week.
The equation is beautiful – when every box is used twice, the number of boxes brought into the world is halved, three times and boxes are reduced by two thirds….
Everything your order comes in or is cooled by can be used again.
Sending it back is the small act of love that keeps this circle turning.
Have a great week
Chris
