A very wise friend and I were talking about kindness and professionalism recently.
“It doesn’t take any more effort to be kind as a professional, it’s just as easy to be kind and sensitive rather than abrupt or overly cynical,” She said.
Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes it feels as though with such jam-packed busy lives, busy workloads and the high pressure that builds in our daily work life we let the "balance" slip to the side more often.
I have to say how proud I am of my grandchildren for the polite, affectionate, and attentive way they show respect to others, their family, friends and others. In turn, that reflects on their parents and how they are mentored, guided and taught, so my pride in how they are being raised is twofold. I’m not just seeing this in my grandchildren but many other kids and young people and it’s so heartwarming to observe such authentic respect for others in youth, I feel the same towards them and am hopeful for their life road ahead.
It's important to acknowledge and appreciate each other in the fast-paced world we live in today. I worry at times in what seems to be a more sarcastic, critical world, that those small gestures; words of acknowledgement or praise seem to slip through the cracks at times more often than not.
Hindsight they say is a great teacher, but in reality, we can’t go backwards, only forward in how we recognize within ourselves when we drop the ball. We can either be accountable or do better with little effort really. It does take a village and a few kind words, or a little praise can sometimes mean more to someone than we might even realize.
Appreciation for a job well done certainly can be a motivator and inspiring incentive. It takes only a moment, a few heartfelt and sincere words to brighten another person’s day, uplift and encourage them while showing they are truly valued whether that be in the workplace, home, school or everyday encounters. Those little acts of kindness, thoughtful consideration, and helpful hands deserve recognition and there really isn’t anything like showing someone they are seen and their efforts are noticed.
Words matter, they can cut like a knife or build someone up. It’s amazing really how powerful a "thank you" can be. As my friend said, it doesn’t really take any extra effort to be kind over being critical.
My Grandma Lillie used to say, "Give flowers to the living." Words of appreciation or kindness can lift someone up as much as a bouquet at times.
A little plaque I had on my kids' wall when they were growing up read, "Thankfulness grows where thoughtfulness shows." I think I’m going to hang that up again as a reminder as I reflect today.
