"What bookends do you have to start and end your day?"
This was asked of a crowd of over 200 people at a conference. The motivational speaker was addressing how we enter and exit our day. Do we have a positive, reflective approach to our day? Do we view our day with gratitude? How do we answer someone when they ask "how are you?" The speaker continued to share special stories about the ways people answer that question. Some answers included... fabulous, phenomenal, super, terrific, awesome, and stunning. Other stories were funny, uplifting, and priceless.
What stood out for me during the dialogue was that even though I have heard this message before, it is one that I often minimize or not pay attention to. Building gratitude into my daily "bookends" is and should be a natural part of my day. Sandwiching my day between thoughtful and meaningful approaches would guide me to ensure I am consciously aware of the day's events.
Community leaders often build gratitude into community development planning. This "gratitude" is reflective of looking for growth and learning opportunities, building on strengths and successes, sharing stories, and being attentive to volunteers. A "go-for-it" attitude is often part of community success and many communities have benefited from community leaders with this style.
Bookends are not just meant to hold up books. Bookends can be used to withstand the pressure of the day- heavy or light. Applying a reflective, positive attitude toward the day can help build gratitude in what we have done in our communities, no matter how small something may seem.
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2 comments:
What a wonderful concept! Bookends - something that most of us have on our shelves and take for granted! This is a powerful symbol to use on a day to day basis for healthy living. And bookends can take many forms in our minds to reflect our moods: simple wooden ones for a humble and grateful day; ornate metal ones for an exuberant day, etc. Thank you for sharing this story, Carolyn.
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