“And The Award Goes To…”

Recognition.

We all want it. We can never receive enough of it. We love the way we feel when we get it.

Then WHY don’t we give more of it?

I’m not talking about big fancy trophies or gaudy plaques to hang on the wall. And, yes, I know those are nice to get too; but I’m talking about the simple, everyday type of recognition you can give without even trying – like saying “good morning” or sharing a smile.

Let someone know you “see” them and you’re glad they are there too. How hard is that?

I mean, you know how it makes you feel when it happens to you. What not spread it around?

Corporations engage employees using “Employee of the Month” awards based on comment cards or receipt surveys filled out by both satisfied and unsatisfied customers. It’s amazing to see the reactions to these comments. Employees who receive a comment feel they’re important and matter; and perhaps make a difference.

Does recognition work differently in the home?  Should it?

Most families have a list of chores which are divided among the family members. These chores are often a source of frustration – like when the garbage overflows or the dishwasher is not emptied. Isn’t it funny how when the chore gets done it never seems to get noticed, but when it goes undone it’s as clear as the nose on your face?

Really now, honestly, how often have you thanked the person for taking out the trash or emptying the dishwasher? Don’t you think a little “hey, thanks for doing that” would be nice to hear and just maybe help the person to see the value in performing the chore? It has to better than arguing about it, right?

As a child I used to be the only one of the kids to go grocery shopping with my mom. Not sure why, but I did. We would make a game of it – we’d have a contest to see who could estimate the final bill the closest. It started off friendly – rounding to the nearest dollar etc. As the trips passed, the “nearest dollar” no longer “won”, so it became “nearest quarter”, then “nearest dime”…and so on until it became “who could do the tax percentage correctly in their head”.

Anyway, these trips always ended with me getting to choose a piece of candy. Heck, I thought it was neat that I got candy and my brothers didn’t. It made me feel “special”.

Only later in life did I realize that candy was my mom’s way of recognizing that I gave up playing with friends or watching television to help her at the store. And, to this day, whenever I go to the store with her I still get that candy.

That candy (recognition) meant/means the world to me. Why wouldn’t I want to make others feel the same?

All I’m saying is this…

Be present and live in the moment. Recognize the people with whom you have contact for your contact may be their only opportunity for contact with another person. Most of all – smile.

Smile – All the time. For no good reason.

Just smile    : )