We are almost through the first week of #AdamsActs and I admit that I have found myself in high spirits as a result. Despite some rough stuff we are facing in my family, I forgot how refreshing and sustaining kindness can be. Throughout the year, I try to take every opportunity to delight, encourage and uplift those around me. But, I am reminded that there is a distinct difference between taking an opportunity and making an opportunity. The past couple of Octobers were pretty terrible in the way of #AdamsActs. I felt run down, beat up and as though I was not doing enough. After two garbage years, I think expectations of me are appropriately low and I am really enjoying the return to purely striving to make my interactions lighter, gentler and kinder.
For Day 6, I wanted to surprise two of my colleagues who do a lot of work behind the scenes. Oftentimes our greatest contributions - at home, in the workplace and in our relationships - are not noticed or appreciated by anyone. I wanted to remind them both (via an awkward speech) that the work they do is valuable and appreciated. What says “I see you and I appreciate you” like a pair of ladies socks, a cactus and a wee little pumpkin?
Correct, there is nothing that says it better.
We all know that feeling of being unseen or undervalued, so I thought I would share a few things I have done in the past to make others’ feel appreciated in case you are looking for ideas.
Leave a letter of appreciation and a candy bar where the custodial staff at work will find it. (*If your workplace has mice, skip on the candy bar in favor of… I don’t know… maybe those colorful glass candies in the fancy crystal dish? I don’t know, just the letter is what counts.)
Hide little thank you notes around your home. A note inside the dryer or dishwasher so that the next person to do that chore feels appreciated. If it happens to be YOU that finds the note… then I insist that next time you include a generous gift card so you really feel properly thanked for all you do.
Leave encouraging notes in your coworkers’ mailbox.
Bring in a treat for the group of volunteers you serve with.
Say thank you. Be specific and gush a little.
Send a text to someone you love and tell them mid-day why you appreciate them. I love to text my teenagers while they’re at school so they know that I am thinking of them out of the blue, even when they’re not around. A simple “I appreciate how hard you work in school!” or “Thanks for being such a good example to your siblings!” or “Thank you so much for always thinking of me as the cool mom. You don’t even have to say it… because I know it’s in your heart!!!”
Be creative and thoughtful, care for and recognize others the way you would want to be cared for and acknowledged. When in doubt, the old socks-n-gourd approach is a hit.
I was also the recipient of two kindnesses today as well! Unexpectedly, another colleague/friend/former boss, Aaron, texted saying he had something for me! Naturally I assumed it was something in the sock/cactus/gourd family… but to my surprise it was a nice set of mud flaps. Or not mud flaps exactly but rather these floor mat things for winter that are customized to the exact specifications of my mom van. (We used to drive the same mom van and his died so I inherited his flap trays.) I think that I will be really excited about this in the winter when everything inside my van is slushy and salt-encrusted. That was kindness number one. As we were discussing the many benefits of said flaps, I dropped my keys. Into the storm drain. Because of course I did.
Kindness number two was the eventual, heroic retrieval of my car keys using litter pickers, and trust me, it was impressive. I leave you with this photo compilation entitled:
