It is interesting how we remember things when it becomes relevant to us.
Everytime I see dirty dishes in the sink, I remember my mother. I want to procrastinate washing them and say, “I’ll wash them later.”
Then I remember what my mother used to say.
Whenever we have people over for dinner, she would wash the dishes immediately after the meal is done. While everyone sits around the table chatting, she would be in the kitchen doing the dishes. My dad, as well as all the friends there would tell her, “Sit down and relax. Don’t be in such a rush to wash the dishes.”
Her reply was, “It’s my job whether I do it now or later. If I relax now, I would still have to wash them later.”
I think of that whenever I want to walk away from the sink of dirty dishes. If I don’t do them now, I will still have to do them later.
Ten years ago, I would not remember my mom saying that. But now that it is relevant to me, events and words spoken over 20 years ago suddenly comes back to my mind. And it’s such a minor incident too, why would I even remember that?
What we say and do may in fact have more effects than we realize. People may not react to them at the time, but when they cross that road, they may remember your words and example, whether good or bad.