“Mama, Why?”
Token Tales — Reflections on invisibility, presence, kindness, and what it means to be noticed through small handmade notes.
Kader was the train conductor on our last ride to the airport.
After he had checked our tickets, I asked him his name. I wrote it along with a message on one of my little painted tokens of gratitude. He read what I’d written, flipped over and looked at the painting, then said “What a beautiful gift! Thank you so much for this surprise.”
A few minutes later, he came back to our carriage.
He looked at me and said: “What you wrote gave me so much energy to do more and be kind to others. Thank you, again.”
Although both of us were smiling, our eyes were misty. “He said something nice to you, mama, why are you about to cry?” my tween asked.
I didn’t know what to tell her. I hadn’t done anything extraordinary. It was a 2x4” painting. Some words in the back. The interaction was small.And yet in that moment, I could see the ripple effect.
Maybe later that day Kader smiled differently at someone. Paused a little longer. Made another person feel seen.
Not because of me.
Because someone reminded him what being seen feels like.
That is my work. I’m not changing the world — that’s too big of an undertaking.
I’m simply creating one moment that changes the next.
These small moments have taught me more about being human than any framework ever could.
માનસી
Received a token? I'd love to hear where we met and what stayed with you.
