5:00 P.M. Bell: We Live in the Word

~ Live & Learn

Kristina Alisauskaite

My fingers are on the keyboard.
I punch out the subject heading on the email:

“It’s high time – long overdue.”

She’s a functional partner that supports our team. I don’t know how long she’s been in the role. (Red-faced)

“Hi! Not sure why today and not yesterday, or a year ago, or two.”

She’s steady, effective. The antithesis of flamboyant.  And she’s there. Always There.

“Just wanted to say thank you for your support…”

She doesn’t interrupt. She’s a listener.  And, professional, responsive and conscientious.

“You care. It’s obvious in everything you touch…”

I proof re-read, pause, and then add:

“You matter…”

“Have a good weekend…”

My finger hovers over the ENTER key.
I Send.
A surge of warmth fills my chest.

I set my smartphone down, and wait.

And here it comes,
zipping through the wires,
and led by the incoming notification:

Bing!

“What a lovely way to start the weekend. It’s difficult to describe how much your kind words are appreciated…”

Gratitude for Gratitude.

60 seconds, ok, maybe 75 seconds to compose.

The trade, a disproportionate gift in my favor.

Human to Machine to Human to Machine to Human.

We live in the word.¹

Notes:

33 thoughts on “5:00 P.M. Bell: We Live in the Word”

  8. These words quoted, like your example of active thoughtfulness are such important manifestations of heart extension… “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother Teresa /// Yesterday (Thursday) I mailed a gift, (one that cost more to mail with signature required than it was to purchase) just a little something that reminded me of a dear neighbor lady from my childhood… so I bought it…tomorrow (Saturday) it will arrive at her home…I know she will cry …I last saw her at my Mom’s ‘Celebration of Life’ last fall and before that many, many years earlier…the kind connection she made impacted my heart as a child and I remember…so I wanted to honor and treasure her…I didn’t enclose a card, in the return address area I wrote “With Love” and my name and address…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      1. I rec’d a thank you card from this sweet elderly woman…she said she was touched and shed tears…and invited me to stop in for a visit next time I am in her far cornor of the state…// / a current neighbor who has been through a bout with cancer and hasn’t been out and about much lately had me concerned so emailed her…telling her how much her beautiful roses brighten my daily walks and I enclosed photos of her roses, she replied with delight, having no idea that others enjoyed her roses…we exchanged a few more emails, I included some outdoor photos and she enjoyed them…I inquired if she was feeling well in one of the later emails and she said she is and is back teaching full time at the University… the power of words…

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

  12. In the end, it takes so little and means SO much. To wit: last week an editor sent me a note and said, ‘You don’t just beat deadlines, you slay them.’ Hyperbole, yes, but did it make my day? My week? My month? Undeniably. You have a good heart, pal….

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. I love this post and I love that you reached out to your colleague! Not only does it feel so good to get these kinds of notes/affirmations, it feels really good to give them.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a Reply