This blog posting was supposed to be a “Thank You” to all
those who serve this country and allow those of us who live here to be safe,
well, and successful. However, I realized that the subject of “Thank You”
should be expanded to everyone who does something to help everyone else. You
cannot be stingy, or frugal, with your thanks.
I honor my friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who serve
in the military. However I also honor those who serve their local
neighborhoods, towns, counties, and states as the first responders, emergency
personnel, doctors, nurses, police, and others who pitch in and help when help
is needed. This may be in time of armed conflict, war, national disaster, local
emergency, crime, accident, or otherwise. There are times when we just need
someone and these people are there, helping and holding us up when we cannot do
so.
Sometimes we don’t even know these people’s names. Sometimes
we don’t even know that they were there. They are the uniformed responders, the
neighbor down the street, and the stranger who just happens by where they are
needed. Sometimes they are the person across the country or around the world;
other times they may be the person where we are but who doesn’t speak the same
language as we do. We may not even remember that they were there when we needed
them, but we wouldn’t be who we are, or as well off afterwards, if it were not
for their efforts.
Do you think that someone who had their dog returned to them
after Katrina knew or remembers the person who saved their pet? Do you believe
that the soldier who wakes up in a military hospital in Germany knows who the
pilots were whose helicopter flew him to safety after a road side bombing or
the ones who flew him to Germany? Does everyone involved know the firefighters
who respond to building fires or the emergency technicians who respond to 911
calls? Do we know those who just listen when we are racked by sadness and loss?
It would be better if we always knew those who help us in
little ways, or in larger ways which save our lives. We cannot always have this
information, and we cannot always have the opportunity to thank these people
personally for their efforts, even those that may involve the risk, or loss, of
their own lives. There isn’t a pause that we can take when everybody shares their
questions and answers as to who helped whom, when, and where. Unfortunately,
that just is not possible. Remember that it doesn’t have to be possible for us
to take direct action.
However we can do something. We can take the time, and not
just on days like Veterans’ Day, to thank other people for what they do for us
and what they do for others. I don’t mean just military veterans. I mean the
firefighters, police, doctors, nurses, emergency room personnel, first
responders, neighbors, friends, strangers, and people just like ourselves who
reach out when someone else needs a hand, either physically, mentally, or
emotionally. These are those people who are there when someone, even a
stranger, needs them. They may do their job, or they may go beyond their normal
duties to take a stand, help someone else, and do something for someone who
needs them, often for nothing in return.
Every day, look for the people to whom you can say “Thank
You”. If someone says it to you, thank them, and pass it on to others. What do
you think of extending this to every day of the year? Please leave me your
comments, or call me at 360-314-8691, or email
me at Jim@SOC4Now.com. I guarantee your efforts
will be returned to you with benefits, and that is good karma, maybe even Appreciation
Marketing. Give, receive, and repeat to
others.
Great article!
ReplyDeleteAre you doing anything for First Responders Day? It is Nov 30th. The new LEO's club will be thanking the firemen at the main Fire Station here in Vancouver. It promises to be a great deal of fun!
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