Something extra ordinary happened today. My bank, via their ATM, wished me happy birthday. Now, today is not my birthday, but my sentimental mind said “thank you” and my parasympathetic nervous system forced a broad smile. My skeptical scientist mind started analyzing the components of the algorithm that sends such messages. My guess is that I will see one of these messages each time I remove $60 from my checking account for the entire month of February. (I will test it again tomorrow.) But the encounter got me thinking about small efforts and the power of their additive impacts.

In the past week I have had one welcoming and memorable handshake from a perfect stranger, one truly interested inquiry about an article I was reading while sitting at a bar, one “Hi Jeff” from someone who meets far too many people to casually remember my name, and one hug that lasted an eternity and was not weird. Added to this are countless pats on the back, good to see you’s, how’s your day, and random texts from friends just checking in.

The lab I taught this week was on the diversity of protists. Protists are a sub-group of the domain Eukarya; organisms that have membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria and a nucleus. Protists are really small, some less that 1 micro-meter (that’s 1/1,000,000 of a meter or .001 mm). In other words, most cannot be seen without the aid of a compound microscope. They are ubiquitous in all environments. Many consume and recycle organic matter and even serve as food for a variety of organisms. Others, like Giardia and malaria, cause disease. Whatever their function they have a huge impact on life on earth.

I study ants. They often require a microscope to identify, but they can be seen with the naked eye. I like to be able to see their activity in their native environment without disturbing them too much. But, during lab, as I looked through the microscope and saw beautifully symmetrical diatoms, deadly malaria and constantly changing amoebas, I fell in love with the amazing diversity of shapes and sizes. My students were infected with this diversity too. As I made my way around the room, answering questions and encouraging further inquiry, watching the level of excitement and interest rise, I was absorbed by the understanding of how all those small things we fail to stop and appreciate can affect our lives.

When we accept that the small, in all its diversity and additive impact, be they protists or the simplest of human interaction, are all around us, we start to link to the circle of life. Perhaps, too, we will pay more attention to how we influence and impact others.