The Warmest Lesson I Learned (Even If It Hurt a Little)

When work got hectic last month, I fell ill. My whole body ached, and I developed a fever. What a painful experience! The fact that the storm hit me while I was at the office made the ordeal even worse.

So, it all started in the morning. I felt like something was off with me that day, but considering how much work I had to finish, I forced myself to get ready. Everything seemed fine—at first—but from around 10.30 to lunchtime, I could barely lift my head from the desk. From head to toe, everything hurt! I felt like I had been dipped in sizzling hot water right after being shoved into a pool of ice. I even cried a little—it hurt that much, and I desperately wanted to go home.

I knew I should’ve gone. My colleagues suggested that I head home to rest. It sounded like a good idea in theory, but in reality, I was too weak to move. If only I could teleport, I would’ve been in bed in a second.

But in this ‘difficult’ time, I found something… unexpected. When I hadn’t eaten anything and could only lie there almost motionless, a colleague I wasn’t even close to checked in on me quite a few times. She said, “You should eat something! Here’s the chicken you ordered. You didn’t order rice, did you? Want some of mine? I’ll heat it up for you.” I told her no because I wasn’t hungry.

A little later, when I felt a tiiiiiiiny bit better, I got up and walked toward the door. The same colleague stopped me and asked where I was going. I told her I wanted to go to the restroom. She thought I was going to the canteen—I’m pretty sure she would’ve volunteered to go in my place so I could rest.

I was really touched by her gesture. Even while writing this post, I still feel moved by how kind she was that day. Reflecting on that moment not only warms my heart—it also embarrasses me a little. I haven’t always been as good a person as she is (and trust me, the realization hit me like a slap in the face).

Feeling like it was a story worth sharing, I told my mom about it last week. Her response was simple but powerful: “A good reminder that it never hurts to be kind to others.” I couldn’t have summed up the experience better myself.

I admit—it’s hard sometimes to see the good in people, especially when they haven’t done anything to warrant reciprocal kindness. But this little moment reminded me that there’s often more than what meets the eye. Aren’t people the most complicated creatures anyway? In all our intricacies—yours, mine, everyone’s—I want to believe that there’s something good waiting to bloom. And maybe, just maybe, we can be the kind of people who inspire others to be better too.

So yes, let’s remember: it’s never a bad thing to offer kindness, and not just to a select few (as long as they’re not criminals—but you get my point). I learned it the warmest way, and I hope you do too.