Little: B-big feels huwtâŚ
CG: Whoa, hey! They do sometimes, but thatâs why we donât hold them in all by ourselves. Letâs slow down for a second, okay? Come over here. Want to try telling me whatâs on your mind? Whatâs making you this upset?
Little: Why peoples cwy? Why bad fings happen?
CG: Those are big questions to be grappling with, especially for one so small.
Little: Littles not sâposed ta know dem⌠but I fink âbout dem anyway.
CG: Right, you canât help it! Thatâs okay, it doesnât mean youâve done anything wrong. Being little doesnât stop you from wondering, does it? But we can talk through some of that stuff together, try and make it a little less scary. Would you like that?
Little: âŚDoes eberybody hurt?
CG: Yeah, they do. At some point or other, itâs just something that canât be helped. I know you know this, but sometimes that hurt can come in lots of different shapes and sizes. It doesnât always look the same for everyone, which can make it difficult to spot. But still, that doesnât mean itâs not there.
CG: Yeah, it is. We donât want to see anybody sad or hurting, do we? Even if we donât know them, if weâve never met before, itâs never something that makes us feel very good, does it?
Little: So⌠why? Why if hurts?
CG: Well, bad stuff like that, I donât think it always has a reason. Sometimes whatâs hardest about it, is when it just happens all of a sudden and out of the blue. Sometimes people get sick, or they lose someone they love. Sometimes hearts break. And all of that can just make life feel really unfair. Itâs sad, but itâs true. Itâs honest.
Little: Dass weakly yuckyâŚ
CG: Mhm, I wholeheartedly agree. It is indeed.
Little: I donâ wike peoples beinâ lonely!
CG: I donât either. You know why that is? Because both of us, we know how it feels, how it hurts, so we push ahead and do what we can to make sure that pain can never come again. We try to do our best, wherever itâs possible. Thatâs who we are!
CG: Itâs good of you to ask, darling. To want to do your part. Again, that makes a real difference, and does so much more than you realize! But thereâs also a lot of hurt out there, and youâd never be able to fix all of it by yourself. None of us can.
Little: lip wobbles âŚI wanted toâŚ
CG: Oh, I know. Thatâs because you have a great big heart, no matter the size you are! People with big hearts can never stand the ache that comes when those around them struggle. It feels that much worse, like itâs happening to them directly. Theyâd do anything to make that pain go away.
Little: Den⌠what good am I?
CG: Sweetheart. hushes and rubs back softly, tenderly Try thinking of it more like this. Do you remember the other night, when you had that terrible dream? The one that really scared you?
CG: You held onto me so tightly then, I thought you were going to squeeze all the air right out of me. I wasnât prepared for all your little strength!
CG: No, itâs okay. There was absolutely nothing to be sorry for. You were hurt and afraid, and so you reached for comfort from someone you trusted. You did exactly what you shouldâve, understand?
CG: And I suppose how it works is that someone elseâs heart can feel just like your nightmare for you in that moment. Which means itâs not always going to be something you can make go away. No matter how much you want to, you canât erase every hurt.
Little: sniffles âŚNoâŚ
CG: But sometimes thatâs not the point, or whatâs really needed. You can hold out a hand, canât you? Just like you did with me?
Little: I can hold hands.
CG: And youâre a very good listener, too. I can vouch for that.
CG: You can even share your blanket, if youâd like! Though thatâd be going above and beyond, really.
Little: âN Mister Bunbun?
CG: Of course, thatâd be a very kind gesture on your part! Mister Bunbun is, after all, a certified cuddling expert, isnât he?
Little: tiny giggle Mhm. Him da bestest!
CG: I believe it. Second only to you, of course. gently squeezes
Little: So⌠if peoples huwt⌠I donât gotta know why?
CG: Nope. Like I said, everyone will have their reasons, because there are so many different kinds of them out there. Some of people might even want to keep theirs to themselves, but still feel sad from them. Like their brains donât trust their mouths to say the right words, to find them. Like theyâre just too heavy, or too much.
Little: What do I hafta do den?
CG: You love them anyway, and thatâs all. In those moments especially, thatâs what they need most. Even if they donât realize it, or canât feel like they can admit it to anyone else. Or to themselves. But you have a lot of love to give, donât you? So much heart stored in that itty-bitty baby body. I, for one, donât foresee that causing you very much trouble!
Little: âŚDat sounds easier.
CG: It can be. If youâve got tools, they help a lot. But it still means thereâll be work to do, though.
CG: Sometimes. But we stick with it and we donât give up. Because we wouldnât on the people we love, and we wouldnât want them to give up on us, isnât that right? So we stay close, whether theyâre happy or sad, and that way, however it is theyâre feeling, they still know that we care, and that weâll be with them through all of it, no matter what!
Little: Can still cwy when I fink âbout sad peoples?
CG: Of course. Just be sure to remember to smile and laugh when you think about the happy ones. And know that when youâre doing all that you do, when you go about each day, whether little or big, youâre contributing to that happiness, that light. That can be what leads sad people back around. The feeling they donât have to be alone anymore.
Little: Can I ask questions?
CG: Yes, and if Iâm able to answer them, I will, and without unnecessarily upsetting you. Iâll be honest and tell the truth, but that doesnât need to make someone feel worse to know whatâs what. Weâre honest because we love, just as we love because weâre honest. Does that make sense enough you?
Little: âŚCan I be little anâ still care?
CG: Thatâs right. In fact, I think little hearts notice suffering even better than grownups do because theyâre brave enough to be worn out upon their sleeves. To show how fiercely and passionately they care, without pretending they donât.
CG: I know. Itâs a lot, isnât it? This is really heavy stuff, and I can see that thoughtful head working through it all. If thereâs anything I can help clear up, let me know. Otherwise we just stay in it for now. Take as much time as you need. Iâm here.
Little: âŚIf somebody hurts⌠Iâll hold dey hand.
CG: Very good. And if you hurt? What then?
Little: âŚI⌠I can ask somebody ta hold mine?
CG: Exactly. What a big lesson youâve learned!
Little: hugs Mister Bunbun tight âŚDat makes da sad feel⌠less lonely.
CG: Youâre so right about that, sweetheart. None of us might be able to carry every hurt thatâs in this world, but the very least we can do is make certain no one else has to carry theirs all alone. âĄ
