Making Today and Every Day an Opportunity to Encourage Others

@bethvogt

Did you know that September 12 was National Day of Encouragement? That it’s an annual national holiday?

I didn’t.

With just a bit of research, I discovered National Day of Encouragement started when a group of high school students attending a leadership forum were asked:

what was the biggest problem young people were facingwhat’s a solution for the problem

The problem? Lack of encouragement.

The solution? Declaring September 12 National Day of Encouragement. It’s been an official holiday since 2007.

Let’s back up. The students were asked to name the biggest problem affecting them. Of all the things they could have selected – financial struggles, family struggles, academic struggles – they lasered in on lack of encouragement.

Anybody else surprised besides me?

I’m all for having a National Day of Encouragement.

We have all sorts of “National Days” throughout the year. Just in September, there’s National Bowling League Day (Sept. 3); National Play-Doh Day (Sept. 16); National Car Free Day (Sept. 22); and National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28).

Back to the National Day of Encouragement. What about purposing to encourage others every day of the year, not just one day in September?

Are we choosing to be kind to others daily, considering both the words we speak and how we interact with others?

Encouragement can be something as simple as remembering to say please or thank you or good job. A smile, tipping the barista in the Starbucks drive-thru, or writing a short note can also cheer up someone. So often people don’t feel seen, much less appreciated or valued. When we take the time to let another person know we value them and what they do, that we are grateful for them, we change the course of their day – maybe even their life.

Encouragement means we offer someone support, confidence, or hope. Sometimes we don’t realize how much someone needs a boost of confidence or an influx of hope. What we say, what we do, makes more difference than we ever realize. Our words of encouragement can become a true blessing in someone else’s life.

Never underestimate the investment of encouragement in someone else’s life.

When has someone else’s encouragement made a difference in your life?

Making Today and Every Day an Opportunity to Encourage Others #hope #kindness
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'Hope and encouragement, especially hope, is probably one of the greatest things you can give another person.' #quote by coach Becky Hammon #hope #encouragement
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