The Power of Tiny Acts of Kindness!

To my surprise, a beautiful friend of mine sent me this picture with the words "Someone once sent me these and I think it’s an appropriate time to have them reflect back to you". 

My eyes instantly started to tear up as I felt like I just got the biggest hug! 

You might be thinking, it is just post-it notes with some writing.  You are right, that is all it is.  However, it is these tiny things that show love.  In my government career over 23 years I managed many different areas and 100's staff throughout the years.  As always, there is a massive change that continues to happen in government.  As I moved to different areas my goal was always to get to know everyone, understand them as a person, wanting them to feel appreciated.  I also made it a point to meet the security guards, the janitors, and the people that worked the "Information Desk".  In my mind, whether you were the Deputy Minister or the janitor, you deserved the same level of respect and appreciation. 

At one point I had over 200 people reporting to me.  I had to make notes as I couldn't remember the important things about everyone.  In conversations, I would always ask questions about their family, kids, and hobbies and I would make note of their responses.  I wanted to make sure that if we had a meeting, or I needed to talk about their work, I would review my notes so I could ask them about their family or things they mentioned to me.  I wanted everyone that reported up to me to feel valued, appreciated and wanted.  It was also important to me that we felt like a team, and that we represented each other.  Our actions on how we treated people outside of our team, were just as important as how we treated each other. 

Along the way, I made some amazing friendships that I now call family.  This beautiful friend must have kept these post-it notes I once left in her office and she sent me a picture of them.  I can't believe she kept them.  

Her tiny gesture of sending me a picture of these post-it notes, made me feel so loved.  It was exactly what I needed.  Everyone deserves love, and you never know what someone is going through. 

It takes seconds to send someone a text, leave them a note, or comment on a Facebook Post.  Your tiny acts could be exactly what someone needed and could have a huge impact. 

On the day of Darren's surgery, I pulled up the Facebook Post with everyone wishing him luck and sending him prayers.  For almost 2 hours I would read him the comment, and then pull up their profile and we would talk about a memory with them or how we met them.  All those tiny little comments that took people only seconds to post, made Darren feel so loved as he was going into surgery.  His exact words were "I didn't think that many people loved me". 

Take time to comment on someone posting about their children, or their new job, or buying a new house, or whatever it is.  Be happy for others' success.  

Take the time to show little acts of love.  Appreciate everyone.  Expect Nothing.  Respect everyone no matter who they are or what they do.  When people are having a conversation with you, make sure they leave the conversation feeling better about themselves.   

To my beautiful friend, you know who you are, thank you for being so amazing and making me feel so loved exactly when I needed it.