Sometimes, we get so used to surviving that we forget the hands that kept us from drowning. We get so focused on where we are going that we forget who gave us a ride when our legs were too tired to keep walking. This is not just a call to remember. It is a call to appreciate. To say the words we never said. To thank those we should have thanked long ago. To remind ourselves and the world that behind every strong person is someone who helped hold them up. Some were loud about it, some were quiet, but they were there.
There was a time I will never forget. It was during my Junior High School Mock Exams. My father had passed away. My mother didn’t have the money for my school fees, so I was sacked right before the paper began. I stood outside, crushed. I had studied for weeks. I was ready. But it was gone. No phone to call anyone. My mother was miles away at work. My home was far. I was just a boy standing in the sun, tears running down my face as the clock ticked away. Then a teacher, not even my regular teacher, showed up. He asked no questions. He just said, “Go and write. I will talk to them.” And I did. I had just under an hour left, but I wrote that paper like my life depended on it. And I passed. After the exam, he told me, “Don’t let us down. That’s all I ask.” Mr…, wherever you are, thank you. You gave me a chance when I had lost mine.
And to that trotro driver and his mate. I didn’t know their names. They didn’t know mine. But they saw me. I used to walk from Abeka Lapaz, New Market, all the way to Awoshie. Long, hard walks after school. Some days I had no money. But these two would wait at Nyamekye. They saved a seat for me. They ignored angry passengers and said nothing when I entered. Every time. They never asked for a thing. Sometimes they would ask how school was going. They reminded me to always respect others, no matter my situation. They made sure I got home safely. I will never forget them. They showed me that kindness doesn’t need a name.
To that person who paid for your medicine when you were counting coins at the pharmacy, thank you. If they hadn’t stepped in, you might have walked away in pain. They might have thought it was nothing, but to you, it meant everything.
To that friend who sat with you through your darkest night, talking you out of giving up, thank you. When you felt like no one understood, they stayed. They didn’t judge. They didn’t fix it. They were just there. That presence kept you going.
To that teacher who looked at you and saw potential when everyone else saw a problem, thank you. Your words helped a child stand up again. You made someone believe in themselves when they had nothing else to believe in.
To that doctor who stayed a little longer after their shift, thank you. That extra time saved someone’s life. You didn’t have to do it. But you did. And it mattered more than you will ever know.
To that stranger who smiled, gave you a seat, offered directions, or simply made you feel seen when the world was cold, thank you. Sometimes it’s not the big things that save us. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that carry us through the day.
To that older sibling who gave up their own dream just so you could chase yours, thank you. You may never say it enough, but deep down, you know your path was made easier because of their sacrifice.
To that neighbor who shared food when you were hungry, even when they had little, thank you. They didn’t just feed your stomach. They fed your hope.
To that church elder, imam, priest, or traditionalist who raised a child that wasn’t theirs, thank you. You gave direction when there was none. You became the reason someone made it.
To that partner who stayed through the worst, thank you. You stayed when you had every reason to leave. You loved when it was hard to love. You helped someone heal.
To that child who hugs their mother after a long day, who tells their father they are proud of him, thank you. Your love gives strength to those who feel like they are failing. You are the reason they keep going.
To that cousin who gave you their mattress when you had nowhere to sleep, thank you. That simple act gave you rest when you needed it most. It gave you strength to show up for the interview or the job that changed everything.
To that boss who gave you a second chance after you failed the first, thank you. They could have turned away, but they didn’t. They saw something worth saving.
To that ex who left, but left behind a lesson, thank you. Not all heartbreaks are evil. Some are just redirections. You helped someone grow.
To that person you never said thank you to. Maybe because of pride. Maybe because you forgot. But today, you remember. They were there for you. They helped you. Don’t let it go unspoken. Reach out. Say it.
To the one who prayed for you in silence. The one who fasted for you without telling you. The one who carried your name in their heart when you had no idea, thank you. Some victories you have are because of those hidden prayers.
To the father or mother who worked without rest, uncelebrated, often misunderstood, but never stopped trying, we thank you. You gave your all. You may not have heard it enough, but we see you now.
To the one who helped you when you were nothing. Who stood by you when you had little. Who left when you had everything and never even got a thank you. Let this be that thank you. You deserve it.
To those who shared their parents with us. Who let us eat in their homes. Who allowed their mother or father to call us their own. Thank you. You didn’t have to, but you did. You gave us family when we had none.
This is what we call . A call to thank people while they are still here. Not just in our hearts. Not just in memories. But out loud. With our mouths. With our messages. With our actions.
Let’s share our stories. Let’s tag the people who helped us. Let’s write what they did and how it changed us. Let others see that good still lives in this world. Let others feel that their kindness was not wasted.
Because the truth is, none of us got here alone. Someone somewhere made it possible. Someone gave us a reason to keep going.
And maybe now, it’s our turn to do the same for someone else.
Let’s begin the cycle. .
By Victor Raul Puobabangna Plance from Eggu in the Upper West Region of Ghana
#Puobabangna
