Appreciation August Week 3 - Be kind to others

Show someone you care this week

Week 3 of Appreciation August and this week's blog is all about how we can appreciate others around us.  

At the end of a very challenging week, to add insult to injury, someone ran into my car yesterday so I have the joy of trying to get all that sorted out 😢.  

But I have to say that throughout the course of the week, there's been a whole host of people who've 'had my back'.  My boss and colleagues have been amazing, they've made me laugh and helped me achieve deadlines, I've spent time with friends and family and shared fun stories, the lovely Mr Bob has been there for me every step of the way as always and the people I dealt with on the phone yesterday after my accident were doing their best to help.

So, your homework for this coming week is to show someone how much you appreciate them and here's how you can do just that:

Be direct and tell them!!  Say to the other person "I really enjoy spending time with you", "I appreciate how much you support me", "I love the fact you make me laugh every day".  Go on, don't be shy, tell them.

Show empathy for other people.  Let people know that you are there for them if they need you.  Be genuinely interested in their life and what they are going through.

As old-fashioned and twee as it might sound, write someone a note.  Stick a post-it note on your colleague's desk to say thank you for when they helped you out the other day.  Write a note for your partner for when they come home from work to say thank you for making you a cup of tea that morning. Notes are very personal and can go a long way in making someone else feel appreciated.

Give someone a big beaming smile.  Sometimes you don't even need words to show how much you appreciate someone, a simple smile or hug will do the trick.




Do something thoughtful.  A small act of kindness when you know the other person is having a really stressful day is a great way to show them you care.  Make them a cup of tea, offer to help with their workload, pop to the shop for them.  It's the little things that people get stressed about so they'll really appreciate the fact you're trying to make life easier for them.



This week I also received two lots of very sad news and although it's a phrase we say all the time - "life's too short" - it really is so I cannot stress the importance of showing someone how much you appreciate them NOW.  

The great thing about appreciating people is that it not only makes the other person feel good, it makes you feel good too so it's a win-win situation.

#appreciationaugust