Too often, our gratitude arrives late; spoken in hushed tones over graves, written in eulogies that will never be heard. Yet life is full of quiet heroes, the special people who carry us through without demanding applause. They are the watchful eyes, the nurturing hands, the listening ears, the loving hearts, cheerleaders, faithful companions, and the shoulders on which we stood. For these loved ones, waiting until their demise to say “thank you” is to rob ourselves and them of the beauty of recognition. Now is the time to honour those who quietly shaped our lives, while hearts still beat and eyes still see. Why?
I grew up in the tropical region where the sun never seemed to rest and the air often hung thick with moisture. The days were relentlessly hot, the heat was a daily battle, sometimes it felt like I was permanently living in a sauna. Electricity was unreliable; fans didn’t give much relief from the heat and air conditioners were a rare luxury rather than a standard fixture. Survival depended not only on cold drinks and shaded corners but on how well my clothes could breathe. Every wardrobe choice was a tactical decision, and over time, I became meticulous about what I wore.
Linen was lovely but wrinkled too easily. Polyester was a punishment in disguise. But cotton, especially soft, rich cotton was my saving grace. Breathable, absorbent and gentle, it became my fabric of choice for clothing and beddings. My preference wasn’t about fashion; it was about comfort and functionality.
It was on one of those regular, unassuming afternoons that I wandered into a street-side shop and found what would become an unexpected life companion: a white, 100% cotton T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Awesome”. The bold text was catchy, yes, but it was the fabric that truly won me over. It was lightweight, soft and breezy, it felt like an oasis in a desert of heavy clothes.
I bought it without hesitation. That T-shirt became more than just a piece of clothing, it became an extension of me. For almost a decade, it was my signature look. I wore it everywhere, on almost every spontaneous outing. Its only rest came during laundry days. As soon as it was clean and dry, it was back on me. That T-shirt was more than cloth and thread. It was loyalty.
However, time leaves its signature on everything. Eventually, the fabric started to show its age. The once-smooth weave became loose and soft, but not in the good way. Tiny holes began to form, and the collar sagged slightly. Its whiteness dulled into a shade close to grey, but I still wasn’t ready to let it go. When it no longer suited outdoor wear, it transitioned to night-time duty. It was now my favourite pyjama top, paired with a pair of cotton pants.
Even in it’s new role, this T-shirt served with devotion. Night after night, it wrapped me in familiar comfort, like an old friend who asked for nothing but gave everything. Then one morning, while stretching after a deep sleep, I heard the faint sound of tearing fabric. And there it was; a small rip along the side. I held it up and smiled. “About time,” I whispered, “You’ve served me well.”
But rather than throwing it away, I found yet another role for it, this time as a household helper. Cut into pieces, it became my go-to cleaning cloth. For another year, it dusted furniture, soaked up spills and polished glass. Every swipe was another act of service. Even in its final role, it served with grace.
Eventually, the threads gave out completely, shedding rather than cleaning. One day, I picked up what was left and knew it was time to let it go. I stood for a moment, holding it in my hand; threadbare but beautiful. Beautiful not in the traditional sense, but in the way only something cherished and weathered can be. I realized the value of my beloved T-shirt only as I prepared to throw it away. It had served me far beyond its price tag. Though an inanimate object cannot hear gratitude, I still paused to acknowledge its faithful service, then gracefully tossed it in the bin.
Personal Reflection
We all have them, those beloved items that have refused to go. Maybe it’s a washing machine that has changed colour from white to brown due to age, yet refused to break, or an old reliable car that starts with every spark. They have shifted from being possessions to becoming companions. These things endure not because they are perfect, but because they are faithful.
More profoundly, some of us are blessed with people who have served us with unwavering loyalty over the years. For an entrepreneur, it might be a staff member who has given 42 years of diligent service, the one who never sought promotion, who never missed a day, who trained dozens of new recruits and did their job with dignity. In families, it could be aging parents or grandparents, the aunties and uncles who bail us out of every trouble, the older sibling who stepped in as a second parent, or a devoted nanny who has become family.
I acknowledged the value of my T-shirt just as I was about to toss it away.
This mirrors what often happens at funerals, when it’s too late to express gratitude for a lifetime of dedication. The tears at funerals aren’t only for our loss, sometimes they are because we couldn’t give or receive that last hug, we didn’t get to say “thank-you”, “goodbye”, “I love you”. We have so much we would have loved to say but regret not saying.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
A hand-written note, a thoughtfully written poem, a kind gesture, our personal expression of gratitude, in whatever way we deem best will suffice. It doesn’t need to be anything big, it only needs to come from the heart. Not only will it lighten our pain when it’s time to say goodbye, it will gladden the hearts that served and gave. Let’s recognize and celebrate the people who helped shape our lives, while they are still with us. These are the people who carry our stories, not in words, but in acts. They serve, they support, they show up. And too often, we only recognize their value when they’re gone.
Let’s give them flowers while they’re living. Express your gratitude to that special person today. Read https://fullnineyards.com/what-a-street-child-taught-me-about-compassion-kindness-shines-in-hardship/ to learn simple ways to show kindness.