Karl Staib over at the blog Work Happy Now! wrote an article about showing appreciation which he named "How to Change Your Company's Office Culture" ( http://www.workhappynow.com/2009/03/how-to-change-your-company-office-culture/ ).
Expressing your appreciation to others is something that I strongly believe in. Karl talks about how a teacher anonymously sharing notes and small, inexpensive gifts with her/his fellow teachers changed the whole work environment of the school. Anonymous acts of kindness or random acts of kindness can do so much good for yourself and other people.
I wonder how many people in the world would be affected positively if today everyone who reads this article anonymously did some small act of kindness for someone that you know or for someone who is a perfect stranger? You can't know how someone else will feel but you can know how you feel after doing a kindness for someone else.
That inner glow of love that you feel changes your day totally. It also changes who you are. You become a better person for doing such a small act of kindness. You touch that spark of the divine in yourself, that spark that we all have. In doing an act of appreciation, you tell yourself and others that someone cares. That someone is you, the real you, the divine spark that is the God within each of us.
Thanks, Karl, for sharing this idea in your blog for me to read today. Thanks to each of my readers for taking the time to be here with me on my blog today. Thanks for spreading love with your own acts of appreciation. I really do love and appreciate each and everyone of you. Have a glorious day.
Patricia
14 comments:
Doing little things for the people in our lives is so important. It makes their day and ours. It's a win/win.
I appreciate you writing this blog post. Halfway through I got those little tingles of joy that makes me so happy to be alive. Thanks!
Karl, you are very welcome. The little things sometimes mean the most. I like win/win situations.
Hi Patricia - Thank you, too, for sharing your story and spreading love throughout blogosphere.
I totally agree with you, kindness goes a long way and is good for the soul, as well. And one thing about showing kindness, it costs nothing more that a few moments of our time.
Barbara, thank you. I appreciate the way that you use your blog to support new and not so new blogs on the internet by introducing them to your readers. I learn a lot from your articles.
I get to meet so many new bloggers that I enjoy. Each time that I read your blog articles, I pick out 4 or 5 of your commenters and visit their blogs. Two years ago, I didn't even know what a blog was.
Patricia,
Just a quick note here to let you know how much I appreciate you.
From time to time, I've thought of writing about the motivation to do something for someone, without their having to know about it. Sometimes for me this is a decision to take care of something so that someone I care about need not be troubled by it or even have to know...
love,
Slade
Slade, you know the appreciation is mutual. Doing something good for someone and them not knowing you were the person it came from has its own rewards doesn't it. Little things can take on a significance for the other person that we aren't even aware of.
I love the story that gets passed around through emails that tells about two high school boys who became friends the day that one of them helped the other one pick up the books that someone else had knocked to the ground. They walked home together talking. Four years later, the boy with the dropped books gave a speech at their high school graduation. He tells you that he was carrying all of his books home that day because over the weekend, he was going to commit suicide. He was tired of being bullied.
Because of the other boy's kindness and friendship that one momentous day, the boy decided to live. That story aways makes me cry and aware that we don't know the value of our kindnesses to others.
You are a great friend and mentor, Slade.
Patricia,
This is a very timely post. My neighbor's mother just got out to the hospital from having knee surgery and this Friday I am going to go out and get her some flowers.
I know nothing about this woman. The only time we speak is to say hi & bye but she will have some beautiful flowers outside of her door waiting with a card that says, "hope your knee is getting better."
DeStouet, blessings to you for being such a nice neighbor. Daffodils started blooming in my yard last week telling me that Spring is just around the corner.
Hi Patricia,
What a wonderful message to spread. Doing even something small can have a huge impact. And I love the idea of doing this anonymously - that makes it even more special. I'll be on the lookout for what I can do today...
Lance, thank you. I believe that expressing our gratitude to others is one of the best ways to make a difference in the world.
HI Patricia,
I was nudged by your post to send a Thank You note to a teacher at my son's school. The gym teacher had held an after school basketball clinic 2 times per week for about 5 weeks. I am fairly certain this was on his own time.
I found this picture of a basketball and overlayed the words THANK YOU within the ball.
Inside I wrote a message.
You know what a promoter of snail mail that I am. :)))) I was thinking about sending Mr B the note, but your message...
MOVED me to action.
This was not an anonymous act, but hopefully it will be meaningful.
THANK YOU !!!
xo xo
DebNOhio
DebNOhio, the act and thought are not meaningless to the teacher who receives it. The teacher will definitely appreciate the kindness in you expressing your appreciation. Have a glorious day. Teachers aren't paid nearly what they are worth to our children. It is always the ones who go that extra mile in reaching out to their students that are remembered most as our inspiration.
Patricia - your post reminds us of the incredible power we each hold as forces for good in this world. Small things make such a huge difference.
Yesterday afternoon I was in a store to buy a pair of jeans. As I came out of the dressing room, a woman stopped me to tell me I have beautiful hair. I was startled momentarily, but then graciously thanked her. Her compliment to me lifted my spirits, and I walked a little taller the rest of the day.
Thank you for the transparent and courageous way you share your insights with your readers.
Debbie, You are welcome. Yes, little things do matter and we can make a difference in the world. Each one of us is important. Smile and the world changes.
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