Okay, so here we are....2014...what do we do now? Where do we go from here? To resolute or to not resolute? I've thought long and hard about change I'd like to see in myself, my surroundings, my relationships, my work ethics, my down time, who I surround myself with, my relationship with God, who I am as a friend, who I am to my family and the list goes on and on....
I recently had the opportunity to change careers. Of course with such a change, a resignation letter is usually tendered to make it official. The morning after I accepted my new position, I entered my director's office with a great deal of apprehension and anxiety. I'm not real good at beating around the bush, so I just simply said "I'm submitting my letter of resignation!" What happened next completely floored me....shocked me!! My director said, "I don't know whether to throw up or cry." She then began to tell me how she couldn't replace me. How I had done so much for my area and she never saw this coming. She continued for several moments singing my praises. Please understand, I'm not basking nor am I arrogant enough to be writing this without a purpose. For several minutes she was in shock....but so was I!!
You see I worked for this woman for almost three years and never in three years did I know how she felt about me, my work, my capabilities! Actually I didn't think she cared for me very much at all. So her words really threw me for a loop. I listened with intent. I took in what she said and I was grateful for her words. Her words were affirmation of success for a job I loved!
If you're reading this, my story probably doesn't have much impact....but I hope you'll get this....my bosses words meant something to me, even in my departure. When she finished, I asked her to please do something for me. I asked, "please look at my four counterparts, find something great about what they do and tell them!"
We are all guilty of holding back...sometimes out of fear of rejection (that would be me), sometimes we think our words don't mean anything (again that would be me), and sometimes we're just so caught up in our own crap that we never pay attention to those that need our words, our affirmation! Chances are if someone chooses to have you in their life, your words matter!
As I looked back at how much her words meant to me, I realized that I, too, needed to heed my own advice. I want to be more affirming, more encouraging, more powerful with my words. I want those in my life that I share my heart with to know how much I love them, how much they mean to my life, what can I do for them, what can I do to make their day better....as we all know, we're not promised another breath! As we lose people through death and those who choose to walk away, we never know when we'll have another opportunity to share our hearts. This is very hard for me because as I've lost many, I fear losing yet one more person in my life...for this reason I hold on tight....too tight...belt loop tight (a friend shared this phrase; it resonated with me).
So giving it all I have in 2014...I hope to love deeper without conditions, speak affirming words, think before speaking; be as encouraging as I can possibly be. I want to choose happiness over discouragement, faith over doubt, laughter over tears, authentic over fake, transparency over walls! I hope to be contagious!!
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