5 Important Things #2: Appreciate People

My daughter was teasing me yesterday. Our local Christian radio station gives away lots of prizes during the Christmas season. They use a Christmas train analogy and you pick a boxcar number for your prize when you are the winning caller. This year, you also pick one for someone you know. yesterday we went to the station to pick up our prizes. We had a really fun visit with the DJ and the business manager. When we left, my daughter remarked that they are my new BFF's. Why, because I found reasons to appreciate both of them and they appreciated me back!

My DH is an Eeyore. His typical response to things is to look at the down side. His job for many years was t find the flaws in the glass made by the company he worked for. He has always looked for the problems. My personality is the opposite. Sometimes we clash, sometimes we make something good out of it.

I believe everyone has good in them. I look for it when I meet someone. It would be a rarity for me to feel uncomfortable with someone I am meeting. That said, part of my job was working with families. That meant I had to assess how well they would follow through on my recommendations and the activities I provided for their children. Some parents clearly weren't interested and were content to put their kids in front of the TV for the day. I had to figure out what makes them tick in order to get them to engage with their kids. Look for the good, look fr what motivates!

Now that I am retired, I can focus on my time with people in a different way. DH and I are greeters at church. My church's philosophy is that anyone and everyone is welcome. That means love anyone who enters the door. Sure there are some there just for the routine and some who come in hopes of getting money for other things. Our pastor has ways to deal with that. Come for the routine, but feel loved when you come because anyone and everyone truly does matter! I hope and pray that my life reflects that, whether at church or the grocery store, I will look for the positives and try to comment and encourage all those I meet!