A good friend recently shared a story that moved me deeply.
She’d met a former colleague after several years. During their conversation, this colleague revealed that back when they worked together, she had been going through an incredibly dark time – so dark that she was suicidal.
One day, she had decided that was it; she was going to end her life at the end of the day.
At work on that day, this friend took a moment to express a heartfelt thank you – telling her how much she was appreciated and how lucky the team was to have her.
It turns out that simple act of appreciation changed her mind. She proceeded to turn her life around and get to a much better place.
Meeting again years later, she finally shared the impact those words had on her.
My friend was moved to tears. And I was blown away.
We rarely know the impact we’re having on someone else. A kind word, a small gesture, can mean more than we ever realize.
As the saying goes, it’s more important to be kind than to be clever. This story showed me just how true – and how powerful – that can be.
