Towards the end of last winter I did an evening talk at high school to a parent / teacher group. It had been a bitterly cold day and an even colder night. That morning I had pushed myself out the door to go for an early morning cycle, it wasn’t that far but it was hilly which got my lungs puffing and my heart pumping. The cold morning air decided to take haven in my throat.
That night I approached the podium in front of a large audience feeling like I’d swallowed a sand paper infused Post-it note. I’d get half way through a sentence and my voice would cut out altogether which would leave me mouthing words like a stranded guppy. I’d have to turn from the mic and have a good cough or another sip of water. In the end I could see everyone leaning in to hear my strained whisper. Never a good day at the office for a speaker.
At the end of any given talk I put up a slide with all my details. The following day after this hoarse-y effort, I received an email which said ‘enjoyed your talk could I have your address please?’ which I thought was a bit odd but I gave it anyway. Three days later a lovely pot of New Zealand Manuka honey arrived with a note saying ‘take a teaspoon of honey to relieve a dry throat’. It gave me a good chuckle but more importantly I was so incredibly chuffed and touched at this thoughtful act of kindness.
A few emails pinged back and forward, I so enjoyed this lateral connection with a total stranger. Every morning this pot of honey greets me when I open the pantry door and it simply reminds me that there are some genuinely sweet people out there and more importantly that it doesn’t take much to make someone’s day.
