I read a simple story, yet its meaning runs deep.

I read a simple story, yet its meaning runs deep.

A new employee began work without guidance from a senior colleague. Everyone was busy. No one truly had the time to teach. In such circumstances, many people would feel isolated, anxious, even tempted to give up.

But inside the drawer of the desk, there was a file.

The file had been left behind by a senior employee who had resigned. It was not merely a collection of work documents. Inside were handwritten notes—step by step instructions on “how to do this and that”—carefully typed, printed, and even annotated by hand.

Sixty percent of the employee’s competence today, she said, came from that file.

She never knew the senior. She never even knew what they looked like. Yet after every prayer, she offers a prayer for them in return.

***

In today’s fast-paced professional world, we often speak about targets, KPIs, performance, and efficiency. But we rarely speak about legacy.

We forget that true professionalism is not only about completing our tasks today, but about making the path easier for those who come after us.

Well-organized documents. Clear standard operating procedures. Small notes that may seem trivial. All of these can become lifelines for someone stepping into an unfamiliar role.

As a legal professional, I believe in one principle: a good system does not depend on who occupies it, but on how well it is designed to function even when people change.

This story reminds us that kindness does not always appear in grand or dramatic gestures. Sometimes it exists in a file that was not deleted.

Sometimes it exists in a guide intentionally prepared.

Sometimes it exists in a simple intention: “May this help whoever replaces me.”

And look at its impact—a prayer that continues to flow from someone we never even met.

***

We may not always be remembered for our titles. Our names may not be recorded in the company’s history. But our imprint can live on in the ease experienced by others.

Before resigning.

Before transferring departments.

Before closing the laptop for the last time.

Leave something behind that makes the next person feel less alone.

Because in a busy world, small acts of kindness can become the greatest support.

Kindness goes a long way.