You know when you have one of THOSE days? The kids are uncooperative, you stayed up too late, the to-do list is a mile long and no coffee in the world is strong enough.
It’s easy on a day like that to focus on yourself and your problems, but I encourage you to take a minute to step outside your chaotic life and do something difficult:
Encourage a friend.
Send a text. Send an email. Mail a card. Make a call.
No matter what form it takes, your encouraging words could be just the thing that your friend needs to make it to the next minute.
But don’t stop with your friends. The young mom whose child is screaming in the checkout line could use a positive comment. The older lady you pass in the parking lot would love it if you complimented her beautiful eyes or hair. The cashier would appreciate hearing “Thank you.”
The crazy thing is that not only will you help someone else to have a better day, you will instantly feel better as well.
I’m just like you and experience days when I feel tired, burned out and overwhelmed. Yesterday was one of them, and I was feeling particularly burned out about the blog. I couldn’t seem to find my motivation anywhere and then I read this comment from a reader.
“Kimberlee, I have spent hours and hours pouring over all of your posts, and have never thanked you, and now I just feel plain ungrateful! You have inspired me and have given me SO many ideas that have literally changed my life and the way I look at things. I am truly grateful I found your page and for all the comments too. The world is a better place because you’re in it!! Keep on keepin’ on!! – Allie :)”
How do you think I feel about blogging today? I’m not trying to make myself look better by sharing this with you, but this is the perfect example of how one person taking just a minute of her time made a world of difference to someone on the receiving end of her kindness.
Everyone experiences bad days but if we slightly shift our mindset to think of others we can make someone else’s day a little brighter, and ours too.
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I love this post! Yesterday, was my one of those days. I work as a nurse and all my patients were also having one of those days! I took a quick break to check my email and just download a little. I ended up reading a very distressing message! I was so upset, but I had to go back to the floor. When I checked on one of my patients, the wife of one of that patient gave me a card and a rose. She told me she appreciated how I did very difficult things for her husband with grace and kindness. It was honestly the best thing a patient or family member has ever said to me! It was so encouraging!
That is such an awesome story Jessica! Thanks for sharing it.
I love this post! Yesterday, was my one of those days. I work as a nurse and all my patients were also having one of those days! I took a quick break to check my email and just download a little. I ended up reading a very distressing message! I was so upset, but I had to go back to the floor. When I checked on one of my patients, the wife of one of that patient gave me a card and a rose. She told me she appreciated how I did very difficult things for her husband with grace and kindness. It was honestly the best thing a patient or family member has ever said to me! It was so encouraging!
That is such an awesome story Jessica! Thanks for sharing it.
I agree with Allie! I usually read your blog through my email and i check out every one! Awesome message here!
Thanks Amber. 🙂
Congrats on the kind message. It’s true! Your blog is super resourceful and I’m grateful for it. Thanks for all the helpful posts and the time you put into blogging. And feel free to give yourself a break when you feel you need to relax and recharge! Have a great day and weekend!
Thanks Kristine!
This is such a good message! I totally agree and hope I can be an encouragement to someone. When we get our focus off ourselves, and onto someone else, it does really help with depression, loneliness, grumpiness, whatever. When I was in high school, I once wrote a letter to a teacher I thought was doing a great job. She told me later, that she kept that in her purse and read it anytime she needed some encouragement.
Thanks Julie! Many years ago I taught high school and I also kept my students’ notes to me. The little things can mean a lot.