#workhardbekind

Today I was at work and was speaking with a fellow co-worker about her transition to her new position, our plans for the weekend, etc....

She then changed the subject and started talking about plans for a housewarming party that another colleague of ours was planning. He was asking her advice on who to invite. They were tossing out names and then she said my name..... when she suggested me he said “Of course! She’s a solid person! I love working with her. That’s a no-brainer that she’d be invited.” 

When my colleague shared that dialogue, that instantly turned my entire day around (even after I was having a less than stellar day). 

I say this for 3 reasons: 

1. To document this for myself. 

2. Always be kind and true to people. Despite someone’s status, origin, orientation, etc. Treat them the way that you’d want to be treated. I am honored that the people that I work with think of me in this light. I strive for this. 

3. If you notice something good about a person, don’t be afraid to let them know. You never know what type of day that they are having. Everyone needs to know that their efforts are noticed and appreciated from time to time. 

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02. Appreciate: The second theme in my little resolution "collection" is one I've thought about a lot in the past year or so. I wanted to make thank you cards as a representative reminder to show our appreciation as often as possible. A small thank you goes a long way. And I always liked the quote from Kanye, "If you admire someone you should go ahead and tell them, people never get the flowers while they can still smell them" (I know, I'm so hood). I think the same idea can be applied to appreciation.

Of course, appreciation is much bigger than being thankful for physical gifts. It's a mindset, an outlook, something that permeates throughout our lives. Appreciation is a choice, and it can be as grand or superficial as you make it. I actually think it's one of the best things about growing up. Babies can't really appreciate anything. As kids, we start getting a sense of appreciation but it's generally a shallow version. As we get older, I find as I learn to appreciate deeper, my life becomes richer.* Two people can look at the same thing, the same circumstance, and perceive two very different situations. And it comes down to your capacity and willingness to appreciate. In a life of relativity, reality is perception.

I try to make a conscious effort to appreciate things in my life as much as possible. It's not always easy in our world of grass is greener, have and have nots. I'm equally guilty of sometimes focusing so much on what is missing that I forget to be thankful for what is there. So this is just as much a reminder to myself :) At the same time, appreciation certainly doesn't mean to just settle. To me, it means to always stay positive, to see the good in where you are in your journey in life, and continue to push forward with enthusiasm. Appreciate failures for the lessons they give, appreciate opportunities for the promise they hold. I like to paraphrase Conan O'Brien's quote: "Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen." 

Donut thank you cards seem a bit trivial to represent this entire theme, but it's symbolic ;) Thanks for reading my meandering musings.