Thankfully, Words Do Have Meaning
The 2020s have changed what we knew about the world. When history class taught us about the Black Death (bubonic plague) and Spanish Flu, we were certain that the medical advances of today would prevent another similar catastrophe from occurring again. But, as in 1347, 1918, and 2020, life is unpredictable. The shock of a deadly disease resulted in widespread misinformation, paranoia, blame, and, ultimately, isolation. We were warned to protect ourselves, remain inside, wear masks, and stay away from others, even our families and friends.
Fast forward a couple of years, and we are starting to see that sustained separation and self-preservation has caused fundamental changes in our daily lives. We stock up on more hand sanitizer, we know the proper way to wash our hands, we work from home, we side-eye someone when they cough, we linger less when talking to our neighbors. While most catastrophes tend to bring people together, the pandemic forced everyone to stay apart to protect each other.
With this separation, we started leveraging technology to keep in touch with our loved ones, to keep moving our businesses forward, and to entertain ourselves through alternate realities. We started viewing the world through the lens of what people wanted us to see instead of the very real struggles we dealt with every day. We got used to a filtered version of reality, one where we could speak our opinions without seeing the immediate effects our words had on others. The thing is, though, our words do have an effect. They impact other people. They can hurt. They can comfort. They are powerful.
This Thanksgiving, as we cautiously reengage in pre-pandemic behaviors, it has never been more important to find opportunities to look people in the eye and share words of kindness. We at EduCred Services want to start by expressing gratitude for the passionate and dedicated people we have the pleasure of working with every day. They come from all walks of life, with varying perspectives on how they can positively impact the world and their commitment strengthens our resolve. As President, I am grateful for our small but mighty team of mentors who come alongside our clients to help them achieve their goals. Mostly, I am grateful that, together, we make a point to communicate our appreciation for each other.
It is easy to forget to say the little things that mean so much. A kind comment or positive observation can change someone’s day for the better. As we gather together next week, make a point to truly connect with someone and let them know how much you appreciate the contribution they make to your life. We are not perfect. We all have quirks. We all have differing perspectives. But these differences should be what unites us, not what tears us apart. As you reach for that second helping, also reach for some understanding.
“Anything that separates us from the impact our words and actions have on other people has the potential to lead us down a dangerous path. “
~ Simon Sinek
