Recognition
It's been a while since I've posted anything on LJ, but after something inspiring at work today, I've been thinking.
Today, I took part in a seminar the company was providing titled Recognition: The Power of a Simple Thank You. I went to this instead of the Christmas party, and honestly, I'm glad I did.
The speaker was one of the best I had ever heard, and every point he made was hitting home. People are forgetting the power of a simple 'Thank you', a 'Please', or even an honest 'Great job!'. I say honest, because he made it clear and I agree than honesty is important. You can say 'Have a great day.' to someone, but unless you mean it, or if your manners detract from your words, no positive energy is passed along.
While this seminar was mainly set up for managers to learn how to reconnect and encourage produtivity in employees, everyhting could also be used in a home setting. The speaker often used examples from his own life of how he encouraged family members by recognizing their accomplishments, or examples of people he had met during his years of working and how recognition versus ignorance towards accomplishments dictated how they viewed their lives.
One of the most touching stories was about how the speaker was approached by somone attending one of his seminars. The man was inspired and told the speaker that he recalled a favorite schoolteacher whom he never thanked for her service and he intended to write to her. Time passed and that same man approached the speaker. He had contacted the teacher, now an old woman, and the copy of her reply letter almost made me cry. An 87 year old woman living alone, not sure where her life was going, was thanked for everything she did for the FIRST TIME ever. And the man said everyone had loved the woman when she taught. She was everyone's favorite, not just his.
It's surprising how often recognition like that is forgotten because we just assume people know they are appreciated. But unless we can read minds, no one really knows if others see their hard work, or even really care for their existence. Even in families, we forget to tell other members how much we appreciate having them. The same goes for friends.
While I was sitting in this seminar, I got to thinking that I could at least make the attempt to work on recognizing the people around me for how important they are to me. I was inspired to write letters to each of my family members, especially my little brother who I'm ashamedly a little hard on some days, and my dad who I think doesn't realize how much his kids appreciate everything he does to provide for us. The others would get letters too, but it was those two I thought of first. I have yet to d it, but it will be done.
And my friends, I thought about them as well. I don't think I've ever told them clearly how much I appreciate their company. Since moving, it has become even more clear to me how much I needed that company. I like my alone time, I really do, but I always had the most fun with my friends.
I've always had a hard time opening up to people, but with my closest friends, I've felt like I can. I can trust them to listen and tell me when I'm being ridiculous or to be that sympathetic ear when I need it.
Since meeting them, I've started singing out loud more, something I never did since someone once told me to leave singing to the proffessionals. While I'm admittedly not at thier level, I'm becoming more comfortable with acting out in the most random ways, or trying new things that I never would have considered on my own.
I'm more comfortable with living.
I know they might be reading this. So right now I'll tell you guys, I've honestly never had friends I felt as comfortable being myself with as I do you. In high school and even the first year of university I never really felt happy around people. There was no one I looked forward to seeing or talking to, no one I felt like gushing about the lastest movie I saw or saying 'We should try that!' with for fear that I'd be judged unfavorably.
But since meeting you guys, I have come out of my shell quite a bit and I've learned that there are people worth knowing out there, and I thank you for everything.
There's reasons I might get a little chatty even when there's little to talk about. It's because I just appreciate that friendship, that fun, that contact, and knowing you are there to talk to when I need it.
I want to thank you guys for being my best friends over the last few years. It means the world to me.
This doesn't say everything, but it's a start. ^^;
Today, I took part in a seminar the company was providing titled Recognition: The Power of a Simple Thank You. I went to this instead of the Christmas party, and honestly, I'm glad I did.
The speaker was one of the best I had ever heard, and every point he made was hitting home. People are forgetting the power of a simple 'Thank you', a 'Please', or even an honest 'Great job!'. I say honest, because he made it clear and I agree than honesty is important. You can say 'Have a great day.' to someone, but unless you mean it, or if your manners detract from your words, no positive energy is passed along.
While this seminar was mainly set up for managers to learn how to reconnect and encourage produtivity in employees, everyhting could also be used in a home setting. The speaker often used examples from his own life of how he encouraged family members by recognizing their accomplishments, or examples of people he had met during his years of working and how recognition versus ignorance towards accomplishments dictated how they viewed their lives.
One of the most touching stories was about how the speaker was approached by somone attending one of his seminars. The man was inspired and told the speaker that he recalled a favorite schoolteacher whom he never thanked for her service and he intended to write to her. Time passed and that same man approached the speaker. He had contacted the teacher, now an old woman, and the copy of her reply letter almost made me cry. An 87 year old woman living alone, not sure where her life was going, was thanked for everything she did for the FIRST TIME ever. And the man said everyone had loved the woman when she taught. She was everyone's favorite, not just his.
It's surprising how often recognition like that is forgotten because we just assume people know they are appreciated. But unless we can read minds, no one really knows if others see their hard work, or even really care for their existence. Even in families, we forget to tell other members how much we appreciate having them. The same goes for friends.
While I was sitting in this seminar, I got to thinking that I could at least make the attempt to work on recognizing the people around me for how important they are to me. I was inspired to write letters to each of my family members, especially my little brother who I'm ashamedly a little hard on some days, and my dad who I think doesn't realize how much his kids appreciate everything he does to provide for us. The others would get letters too, but it was those two I thought of first. I have yet to d it, but it will be done.
And my friends, I thought about them as well. I don't think I've ever told them clearly how much I appreciate their company. Since moving, it has become even more clear to me how much I needed that company. I like my alone time, I really do, but I always had the most fun with my friends.
I've always had a hard time opening up to people, but with my closest friends, I've felt like I can. I can trust them to listen and tell me when I'm being ridiculous or to be that sympathetic ear when I need it.
Since meeting them, I've started singing out loud more, something I never did since someone once told me to leave singing to the proffessionals. While I'm admittedly not at thier level, I'm becoming more comfortable with acting out in the most random ways, or trying new things that I never would have considered on my own.
I'm more comfortable with living.
I know they might be reading this. So right now I'll tell you guys, I've honestly never had friends I felt as comfortable being myself with as I do you. In high school and even the first year of university I never really felt happy around people. There was no one I looked forward to seeing or talking to, no one I felt like gushing about the lastest movie I saw or saying 'We should try that!' with for fear that I'd be judged unfavorably.
But since meeting you guys, I have come out of my shell quite a bit and I've learned that there are people worth knowing out there, and I thank you for everything.
There's reasons I might get a little chatty even when there's little to talk about. It's because I just appreciate that friendship, that fun, that contact, and knowing you are there to talk to when I need it.
I want to thank you guys for being my best friends over the last few years. It means the world to me.
This doesn't say everything, but it's a start. ^^;