Recognizing, Thanking, Remembering

   Yesterday, a tragedy occurred when in a time of terrible events Deputy Sheriff Hopper and Patrolman Blum were shot. Deputy Sheriff Hopper lost her life yesterday as someone acted in a truly monstrous way. These officers that go about their jobs of protecting us serve an often thankless role. We grumble when they stop us for speeding or lights that are out, complain when we are inconvenienced and moved away from a dangerous area or to the edge of the road when they drive through. We run away from the gunfire, from the accident scenes, and the fires. The vast majority of us have never been into the war zone of either military scenes or of domestic ones.

   So in honor of Deputy Sheriff Hopper who gave up her life yesterday and Patrolman Blum who was wounded – thank you. Thank you for your work. Thank you for keeping our homes, streets, and cities safer. Thank you for donning the responsibility of your at times distasteful tasks, the fireman’s mask, the medic’s kit. Thank you for hands that become dirty with sweat, blood, frustration, and tears. We do not often stop to thank you, to recognize your actions.

Thank you.

Unrecognized Heroes

   It’s not glamorous, not a matter of news reports, but I would like to take a moment to recognize some normally unrecognized heroes.

   To the trash collectors, thank you! Thank you for gathering the stuff that we are getting ready of. Without you, we would be back in the middle ages with trash being thrown in the middle of the road. Truly, society hinges around hygiene in some ways, and you are a big part of that infrastructure!
   To the waiters and waitresses, thank you! Thank you for working hard even when you’re feet are screaming and your back hurts, even when you are tired of complaining customers. Thank you for your work and service. When you serve, it lets us take a break and it is appreciated. I hope you can be served soon.
   To the teachers, the nurses, the janitors, the secretaries, the bus drivers, the volunteers, the sales clerks, the pastors, and the lab techs – thank you! Thank you for your work, your contributions, your part.
   And I promise I don’t mean to sound overly emotional, but I wanted to say thank you to my parents. I am so proud to be your daughter.

Mother’s Love and Spit

A week ago I was watching a small herd of bison (buffalo) in Illinois. Two young calves had been born only days before and were out walking with the herd. One of them, took an opportunity to give her new baby a bath.

Some may say that the universal language is math, but in the case of moms, I think it’s a mother’s love and spit. Yes – spit. Didn’t your mom ever stick her thumb in her mouth, and then proceed to clean your face? Here it is, translated to a giant and beautiful animal, stopping to clean her child.

Yes, we can make faces as mom wipes away something after sticking their thumb in their mouth, but remember – it’s just mom saying that they love you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Recognizing

We often wait until there is a ceremony, an event, or even a funeral to express how we feel about someone. Have you ever wondered why? How much would it mean to someone if we simply recognized them for showing up on a regular day, with regular weather, regular happenstances, regular, regular, regular…. But, in the midst of all that regularity, what if we stop to say thank you or I appreciate you? What a way to change a regular day into an irregular day.



How the world changes, the world of one individual simply explodes into fireworks when we recognize them for their efforts. Let’s give it a try!  Inspire someone, share joy with them.