Little drops of water make the mighty ocean – Julia Carney
Micro Moves
Little actions or micro moves significantly impact our lives. Whether personally or relationally, micro moves, at the moment, seem inconsequential but ultimately make a huge difference. While most people go to a gym for an hour and remain sedentary for the rest of the day, medical experts encourage micro moves, done consistently throughout the day, that lead to great fitness and overall health. Small actions like raising your calf muscles, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further from the store to walk, or standing to shift your body weight are far more beneficial than going to the gym once a day. Relationally, a simple shift of seeking to understand the other person first instead of being understood creates transformation. Micro moves are incorporated into your daily routine, making them practical and life-changing.
Micro moves are incorporated into your daily routine, making them practical and life-changing.
In the Routine of Life
Robert Wilkins was heading home after a long shift at Chick-fil-A. As he crossed the parking lot to his car, he noticed a lady stranded with a flat tire soaking wet from the falling rain. Not built to keep walking, Robert, tired from his shift, went to her, got on his knees, and helped change her tire. Afterward, Robert simply went his way and was back to work the following day. His act was only recognized when another man helping out sent an email to Chick-fil-A corporate offices. Restaurant owner David Langston said this about Wilkins, “I had no idea it happened. He didn’t tell us. Robert is a humble guy. He’s not one to seek attention; he has a strong, intrinsic desire to help people, make them happy, and be there in times of need.” On a gloomy rainy day, a micro move brightens someone’s day and changes the environment of their life.
Changing the Environment
Micro moves can change the environment. During the 2020 stay-at-home order because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 5-year-old Carter Mason told his mum he would like to go out and pick up trash. Since then, he has picked up at least one trash bag every weekend. His micro move inspired many to rally around him by forming Carter’s Clean Up Crew, a Facebook page with hundreds of members across the United States and Canada. Their primary focus is picking up trash in their communities. Carter’s reason is “because it makes the earth beautiful.” Micro moves remind us that the little things make a big difference.
The Little Things
Daily and everywhere, small opportunities presented our way to ignore or invest in. I distill these opportunities into two specific categories: Words and actions. Like the cashier at a drive-through window who says, “It’s my pleasure to serve you,” words that take two seconds to utter can create a memory that lasts for a lifetime. Actions, as small as they are, like helping someone change a tire or picking up trash, have miles of impact that are more significant than we could ever fathom.
This Month
In addition to today’s post, here is a capture of the content for this month’s blog series:
Pattern Recognition (July 11)
Elevate Your View (July 18)
Set Your Course (July 25)
Final thought: Your life progresses by the commitment to micro moves. Make an effort to do the small things consistently, and the significant results you seek will be within your reach.
Keep on keeping on
Discover Your Treasure 