Have you thanked your instructor lately? Your training buddies? Your support system? Your trial volunteers? Your advocates? Your spouse?
I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who are positive and appreciative of the things that I do, therefore I get thanked all the time. And yet, I never grow tired of it. Indeed, it makes me want to work harder because I know that my efforts were noted and appreciated!
And when I work hard on someone’s behalf and they seem oblivious to my efforts? Well, I’ll continue to do what I think is right but…it’s not quite the same. It doesn’t motivate me to go above and beyond.
And when I run into the cranky person who complains, in spite of my efforts? Then I do my best under the circumstances, but those people aren’t much fun. And if I have a choice in the future – to work with that person again or to take on that job or position again? No thank you. It’s someone else’s turn.
It’s so easy to focus on the things that go wrong around us that sometimes we forget to identify and focus on the things that go right. And yet, so much around us goes right all the time! It’s just a matter of identifying those moments and remembering to be thankful.
So go ahead, stop reading this blog and send a note to someone who has made a difference in your life. They’ll appreciate it. I promise.
Denise,
I owe you. Every now and then I have written a comment after reading a blog. I have written many more “comments” in my head. I have also thanked you many times in my thoughts. So in writing this time . . .
In 2013 I learned of you at the APDT Spokane conference. You had just gotten Burito and I soon thereafter adopted my one-year-old foster failure. For about three years I read every blog you wrote. I know that reading your blogs has helped me in more ways than I even know.
My dog and I will never compete. I have no interest to do so, for one. But the training, oh yes! We learned together with you (and some other influences). He’s a well mannered dog (mostly) who has an understanding of our world that he never would have had without an education. Thank you for helping me give him a better life. I am most grateful to you, Denise!
wow; how nice is that??!!
Thank you for taking the time to let me know :).
My golden got her UDX on February 3. I don’t know how to post here the tribute I wrote to my coach Esther Zimmerman, my vet, dr. Linda Rogers, my rehab therapist, Lorraine Messier and Patty Tribou, my business partners Patty Sontag and Karen Squier, and my training buddies, Kathy Grim, Karen Randall, Karen Tucker, and Emma Parsons. I thank them all for their help on my journey and took them all out to dinner! What fun!