Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you?
This week is my anniversary: a celebration of finding the most amazing person among the 7 billion people on the planet and choosing to build a life together.
So for me, it’s a week of more celebrations, and I mean “more” because we’ve made a commitment to celebrate life, every day. We know that life is how we make it. We believe that we have both the ability and the responsibility to invent our lives: it is our choice how excited, fired, and passionate we live. So we chose large. We chose Exceptional. And this starts with appreciation first; this starts with appreciating each other and our world.
This week, I ask you to join me in using the phrase “Have I told you how much I appreciate you?” with the people in your life. A simple phrase that reminds us to value, honor and recognize the greatness we see in others. This reminds us that what we need to live in the most extraordinary way is usually found in connection with the people in our lives.
To make this a “week to celebrate the people in your life,” use the phrase “Have I told you how much I appreciate you…” with the following (or add your own):
o For the ways you encourage me to be better than I think I can be.
o For the way your smile can remind me that I have everything I need: in you.
o For the way you give me courage to face today on today’s terms, even though I feel like hiding and keeping my head under the covers.
o For the things of beauty that you add to my day.
o For their humor, love, sincerity and honesty.
o For pushing me up – to a higher lever of knowledge, awareness and understanding of life.
o For making the best food on the planet.
o For taking care of me when I am too busy to do it myself.
o For letting me mess up and not rub my nose, and forgiving me for it.
o For knowing what to say and when to say it, to remind me that I am always supported and loved.
o For giving me a hug when it was exactly what I needed.
o For greeting me every morning with “Happy Anniversary” because every day is an anniversary of having chosen to be together.
o For making small things an “event” to turn them into big things.
o For taking me to, introducing himself to, and encouraging me in my activities, sports, or hobbies.
o For insisting that I have the best, to then serve you.
o For patiently waiting for me to express my point of view and allowing me to say what is on my mind, even if we disagree.
o For saying ‘no’ to something you want so that I can say ‘yes’ to something I want, and never mention it.
o For always giving your best – in everything.
o For choosing me to go through life with you.
Who says people can’t stay together or connected? The challenge happens because we forget to say thank you. We forget to appreciate. When the great things that are done for us are not appreciated, they stop. When they stop, we separate; we do not feel valuable or special.
Appreciation is the glue that holds us together. We try to never miss an opportunity to notice the greatness of others and appreciate it. It helps us stay connected in a very disconnected world. It helps us feel valued, respected and important. And when you feel valued, respected, and important, there really is nothing that can bring you down or tear you apart.
So make today the first day of your “appreciative life year.” Then next year, on this date (your “grateful anniversary”), commit to another year…and another. Soon, the appreciative life will become your standard. And it all starts with “Have I told you how much I appreciate you for…?”