Memories are fascinating.
Looking at vintage photographs, admiring keepsakes acquired from an exciting trip, or occasionally glancing at awards from triumphant moments are all treasured moments.
But sometimes, the most profound impressions come from the humblest of origins.
Curious to hear examples, Redditor Candid-Refuse-5540 asked:
"What’s the smallest gesture of love that made a big impact on you?"
You might want to have tissues ready after reading these.
Posthumous Note
"My mother died five years ago. When going through the items in the attic, I found a box of items I had packed up when I was younger. Inside I found items I cherished as a child."
"One item was a stuffed mouse (my late father called me mouse). Taped to its nose was a handwritten note on heart-shaped paper. It was dated 1998."
"It said to look carefully at the items as some of them may have gained value over the years and that she might be gone by the time I was reading, but that she loved me very much and she would always be with me."
"It was such a small thing. It took only a moment out of her day all those years ago, but it meant so, so much to me when I found it."
– scribbling_des
Breaking Language Barriers
"I'm seriously afraid of flying even though I had to, for work, for many years. Up until 2021, I always had my coworker/companion with me. They passed.😞"
"My next flight, I sit in the very last row by the window, I was alone and sobbing before the plane even took off. An older woman sat next to me; she spoke no English, and I speak only English."
"I tried to apologize for crying. She just took my hand in hers, and she held my hand the entire flight. I honestly never felt such unconditional love in my life before or since. ❤️ Thanks, lady.🥹"
– Designer-Pound6459
The Best Treat
"My mother used to make me pumpkin pie without the crust. It’s such a simple treat, and I always loved it. As the Alzheimer’s did its unfortunate thing, I hadn’t had my fix in years."
"Then my mother-in-law just surprised me with my own personal dish of ppw/OTC one Thanksgiving. Easily the sweetest and most thoughtful gesture I have seen, and fortunate enough to be the recipient."
– goatswithattitudes
You don't have to know someone for them to remain unforgettable.
Sight To Behold
"A girl once told me that I have beautiful eyes, and I rode that high for years."
– maclaglen
"Way back in the 1990s I worked at Disneyland. One of my first days on the job, a clearly gay man told me I have beautiful eyes. I am straight, but I still think about it a quarter century later."
– UnoriginalMike
"While visiting my grandma in the senior center she lived in, shortly after my grandpa passed away, one of their friends told me I have my grandpa's eyes. I almost started crying. Thinking of it today brings tears to my eyes but such happiness!"
– Icy_Skill_4808
Dressed On Point
"A random girl on street when I was walking home said my sweater looked really good. Still think about it 6 years later."
– netgames2000
So Grateful
"I finished repairing some trim on a woman's garage and after she had a look she told me to hold on real quick. She went in the house and came back with an asian pear gently cradled in both hands."
"She was clearly really happy to be giving it to me. It was a small gesture, but the best tip I ever got. Gratitude is a powerful thing."
– WorldCanadianBureau
Anonymous Note
"A couple of years back someone left a little piece of paper that said “you matter” on my windshield. I still have it in my car today!"
– Wise_Instruction6516
Joy Giver
"I work in an aged care facility, and a resident was so happy I came to see him. I was just there to drop off some supplies in his residential wing, he mistook me for someone else as he had dementia."
"The way he smiled and patted my shoulder as we chatted made me very comforted, and I was happy that I made him happy."
– Ancient-Honeydew9555
Words matter. The powerful and uplifting ones stay with you forever, especially when they come from the mouths of family.
Thanks, Cousin
"At a family reunion this summer my aunt was putting together a family tree. I (43M, single, no kids) made a joke, I said 'just make mine a straight branch.' "
"My cousin (28m) replied 'you might still have kids. we need more of you in this world' I almost broke down right there. I made an appointment with a therapist that night."
– Miserable-Yak-8041
Beautiful Validation
"My brother is mentally disabled, and it can take a while for him to understand more "abstract" concepts like love and just express what he needs in more than a couple words. I always tell him I love him, but he never said it back."
"When we were in high school, one day I told him I loved him. He looked at me and thought for a while, and he said "I love you too, insert my name." I cried my eyeballs out and nearly crushed him with the biggest hug ever. I will remember that forever ❤️"
– awkward-black-girl
Validations of love come in the smallest form and don't always have to be grand gestures.
Actions Speak
"When my boyfriend grabs me a candy bar when he gets gas. We try to be healthy so it’s not often, but he knows how much I love candy and remembers all my favorites."
"Same kinda thing, when we get some takeout and he orders it on his phone, and there’s a surprise Coke on the order. I get SO ecstatic."
"He does so many other things, but we’re both always getting things the other person likes lol."
– chilisgiftcard
A Keeper
"I’m lucky to have a very thoughtful partner. When we first started dating I randomly mentioned his apartment felt a bit dark. The next day I noticed he had replaced all the light bulbs. He also got a Keuring machine for when I came over even though he doesn’t drink coffee."
– Significant_Ad_1138
Holiday Surprise
"When I was a high school teen, my boyfriend at the time surprised me on Christmas morning. He drove to my house to get me, we went to his house while I was still in my pajamas, to open presents."
"It wasn’t like he gave me a lot of presents to open or anything (maybe 2), but it was the spontaneity, the gesture of the surprise, taking me to his family on such a special day, and just the overall fun. I do consider that a romantic moment in my dating life."
– RITravler
Bringing The Light Into Darkness
"My wife wrote me a little note saying that she loved me for never giving up and being funny, as a talisman for my dark patches. I keep it in my wallet and it brings tears of joy to my eyes whenever I read it."
– ThreeLivesInOne
Simple And Sweet
"I was at a gym class that was walking distance from my house. It started raining before it finished. I had resigned myself to running home in the rain. When I walk outside my boyfriend (now ex) was waiting outside with an umbrella to walk me home. Honestly the most caring thing a partner had ever done."
"My mum dropped some stuff off at my house once when I was at work. When I got home I saw she had brought me flowers. She said she knew I didn’t get them and thought I deserved some."
– Accurate_Art3810
This is fairly recent, but I'll remember this moment for a long time.
I was celebrating my birthday at a southern California theme park called Knott's Berry Farm with a group of friends who gave me a sash to wear that identified me as the b-day boy that day.
The park has an outdoor venue with picnic tables and a stage, and when I recognized my friend performing as a lead singer for her band, I separated from my group and ran up to the front of the stage and sat on the astroturf to cheer on the performance.
A girl, about ten years old, sat next to me, and she held a sketchbook. When she realized I celebrating my birthday, thanks to my pageant sash, she drew an illustration of me, complete with the sash draped around me, and the words "Happy Birthday" were scrawled across the top.
That sweet little girl was drawing me the whole time while I was watching my friend perform and she gave me her artwork and wished me a happy birthday as I got up to leave.
My heart melted.
@BrentTerhune/X and @VivekGRamaswamy/X
