The last day of LiveBIG as I was getting ready I knew I wanted to do this for 10 People that had impacted my 3 Day LiveBIG Event experience. 10 People I had engaged with through the exercises. 10 People I had had conversations with. When I went through the drive through at Starbucks to get my Venti Vanilla Chai Tea Latte, I got 10 $5.00 Gift Cards. I couldn't find something open that early to get note cards and for once, I didn't have any with me in my laptop bag (this is unlike me, but I had packed differently this trip with just my suitcase of clothes, my laptop, my notebook for journaling at the LiveBIG Conference, a book and knitting for the plane ride). I figured I would go at lunch and get notecards and write a little message to each of them.
But that didn't happen. Unlike the previous two days, I went to lunch with several gals. There was no time to get notecards.
As the day wore on, different ones were heading out and not staying until the very end. I knew I had to change my plan.
I took one of my pieces of notebook paper and folded it, made deep creases to tear it into sizes to fit inside the gift card envelope and wrote:
Thank You for being part of my 3 Day LiveBIG experience!!! I appreciate your part in my life! Thank You.If I had had more time, I would have written this on a note card. I would have shared one highlight from my encounter with them. I would have written a nugget of "The Greatness I See In You" for them to take with them and for them to remember what I saw in them.
I didn't get to do this as I wanted to, but I made the most of it and did it the way I could in the midst of the lack of planning.
I then put my email address and phone number on the back and said stay in touch! I then went through the last 3 days in my mind and made a list of 10 People who I wanted to give this to and at the next break, I passed them out. I got all of them handed out except one.
I told each of them to read it later.
When I was relating this to one of my friends, she said, I would never think of doing something like that. Where do you find the time? I already was going through the Starbucks Drive Through. It didn't take but maybe 5 minutes to add to something I was already doing. Beyond that, I don't know how to answer this question. I think of more things than I truly ever implement.
Another friend said, I can't believe you would do something like that to people you just met. My thought is, why not? They spent time getting to know me. They did the exercises with me that I am sure weren't easy to do at times. They learned some of My Story. They encouraged me. They asked me hard questions. They impacted my LiveBIG Event. Without them it wouldn't have been the same. I had deep gratitude for their impact in my life. Why wouldn't I do this for these people?
Another friend said, You are always so thoughtful. I can't believe the number of ways you think to do things. What makes you be so thoughtful? The only thing I can say is that my goal is to encourage, support and inspire. I have been that way from the start of my life. It was squelched as a child, controlled and many times denied. I don't let anything stop me now. My goal is to treat you the way I want to be treated. I want you to feel like you are special and that you matter and if a note and gift card does that, then I will do it.
May I encourage you today to take the time to share with someone who matters the world to you? Even if you don't have $5.00 to buy a Starbucks Gift Card, you can text, call, email, Facebook, write a letter (that will cost you $0.48 plus the stationary), or just pray for them. Believe me when I say your relationships will be strengthened and you will feel more connected to them.
LiveBIG my friends!
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