A volunteer who later became a friend once told me, "RK, you have the gift of encouragement - and that's a very good gift to have."
I never thought of encouragement as a gift before that; it was just something I did, part of being honest; part of being nice. Not fake nice, but why not share the good?
Why not share? Why not encourage? I've told my boss, "It doesn't cost anything."
But it can make a world of difference.
Years ago, when I was in transition and my dad was basically rescuing me, we were on a road trip and he bought me a clock in a restaurant gift shop.
"For you to put on your desk when you're a newspaper reporter," he said.
I said something negative to the effect of, "Yeah, right, that's not going to happen."
And less than a year later, it did. Things improved. My life went on in the direction I had wanted it to, before being detoured by depression and other circumstances. (By the way, I still have that clock on my desk. If it ever stops working, it will still stay on my desk.)
Had I not had encouragement, would I have gone on the same path? Perhaps so, perhaps not. But it would have been so much harder. Self-doubt could have - or would have - taken over.
So I encourage all of you to share the good where you find it. Letting someone know they have done something meaningful, helpful, or just plain nice may be more important to them than you know.
There's my mushy post for 2014. Time's up.
20 comments:
Love it.
And all of your work is about encouragement. And empowerment. A pair of powerful ems...
And of course I love the kittehs.
Encouragement is a most wonderful gift to give...and as equally wonderful to receive. It's unfortunate that there are some among us who fail to understand that.
I'm in the process at this minute in trying to encourage my two furry rascals, Remy and Shama, to allow me room to be able to use my keyboard in comfort!!! ;)
Have a great week, RK. And that's not encouragement...that's an order!!! :)
Oh, I so agree, RK....There is nothing like being given encouragement----it can change Everything in your life! Sometimes the smallest amount goes such a long long way. BRAVO to you, my dear RK! Thanks God that organization has you giving those positive and well messages where they are so needed....!
That sentence got a little screwed up there at the end, but you get a gold star from me!
The world needs more cheerleaders!
I have to be honest and say I don't have anyone in my life that encourages me, in fact often the opposite, and I really do believe I could have done so much more with my life if someone had said to me "You can do it" instead of the opposite. So good for you, it's a wonderful gift to have.
EC: Right on, sister!
Lee: Why thank you! And I know all about the cat/keyboard dance.
Naomi: Hello! And thank you!
Debra: Agreed. Without costumes, though ;)
Joey: That is so sad! But it seems to me that you have done plenty. Your own business, wonderful partner and daughters, and you're a good son. What more could someone want?
I love this. Encouragingone another is such a wonderful thing. You are a great encourager to me!
Words are magic. They can be used for good or evil. I'm glad you use your magic for good!
Well said.
Father Nature's Corner
This is a big one in my household. It's easy to get sucked into the negativity and only focus on the bad, while taking the good for granted and just never mentioning it. We all need a little encouragement from time to time, even if just to remind someone "hey, you don't suck at everything."
You're always encouraging me, and I thank you!!!! Talk soon! :)
This post itself was so very encouraging and yes, I do believe encouragement is a gift and a great one to have and to share. Good on you.
I know I need encouragement. Sometimes I'm positive enough, but at other times all I need to hear is that it's possible.
In your line of work, I think you NEED to be encouraging. But if it comes naturally to you, then that just makes the task all that much easier. Doing something you're good at, that is not easy to come by these days. Kudos to you!
Thanks everyone!
Mushy is a nice change of pace sometimes.
I have a friend who throws a wet blanket on my talking about publishing a book. That really bothers me. Of course, we do nothing but discuss his health, his finances, his failures and successes. If I say I have to have surgery, his answer is abrupt and closes the subject. If he says he has to have surgery, I ask about the problem and encourage him to go through with it. I feel empty after I am around him.
I have a friend who throws a wet blanket on my talking about publishing a book. That really bothers me. Of course, we do nothing but discuss his health, his finances, his failures and successes. If I say I have to have surgery, his answer is abrupt and closes the subject. If he says he has to have surgery, I ask about the problem and encourage him to go through with it. I feel empty after I am around him.
Dexter: Thanks!
Linda: Sounds like you need to make a new friend. Misery seems to love company, doesn't it?
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