You Never Know

How one lighter turned into a lesson about confidence and small details

I believe small things define who you are. Not the whole outfit, not the obvious picture - but the details. The little accessories that complete you. London itself is like that: not great just by its size, but by small events that built its big story.

The photo is by Andre Burdain https://unsplash.com/@anderburdain

One night, I was trying to explain this to a friend. He was applying for jobs and asked me for advice. On technical things, he knew more than I did. So instead, I spoke about mindset and confidence.

I told him it’s not only knowledge that matters. It’s being ready - with the right tools at the right time. To prove my point, I took out a lighter, clicked it on, and said:

“You never know when something small like this will make you stand out.”

He didn’t really buy it. He was hesitant, almost laughing at the idea.

After dinner, we went for a walk. A few minutes later, we passed a group of women on the street. They were full of energy, clearly going out for the night. As we got closer, one of them stopped me and asked:

“Do you have a lighter?”

I turned to my friend, smiled, and pulled out the same lighter from my pocket. The women cheered, thanked us, and went on with their night.

We kept walking, and my friend looked at me in shock.

“You were just talking about this lighter. I can’t believe it actually happened.”

I only said:

“You see. You never know.”

What I didn’t tell him was that it was my first time ever carrying a lighter with me. That night, the detail became the story.