Word to Your Mother--or to anyone!

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. –Mother Teresa

A friend of mine recently told me I was “SOOOO COOL.” It has become somewhat of an on-going joke, but the irony is that while she said it in such a funny way, it actually meant a lot to me. I am a big fan of compliments—not just receiving them but giving them. I have felt how powerful a kind word is to my heart, and I have seen how influential it can be when given to a friend—or even a stranger. I don’t typically go for compliments about physical appearances, as these are, in my opinion, rather superficial. I prefer a compliment about one’s character or a recent accomplishment. I enjoy telling someone I am proud of their work, or impressed with their strength.

This was one of the signs from the 1st half marathon
I ran--kind words & cheering helped to get us through!

The funny thing is that often by giving one a compliment, you will feel better—and may even get one in return. As we talked about motivation last week and our need for frequent refreshers to motivate us, think about how you can use this powerful tool to motivate someone through your kind words—and how you can use the kind words of others to stay motivated. Sometimes I commit these words to memory and sometimes I write them down. When I receive a kind email or letter, I post it somewhere that not only keeps me motivated, but keeps me feeling good about myself.

So go for it—and share with us here about how either a kind word impacted you, or how you impacted someone else through your kindness. And feel free to tell someone how cool they are!!  :)