I recently read the following poem:

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That’s why we call it “the present!”

Whenever I speak to an audience, I share this beautiful thought with them. Because I speak on “CARE Packages for the Workplace–Dozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work,” the idea of each day being a gift is central to my message–that we each can choose to send our CARE packages, to make a difference in every interaction we have with anyone. Every day offers us unlimited opportunities to make a difference in our world by showing just a little more CARE-ing to those around us.

I also share with them my strong belief that every person we meet is a gift to us. We have the choice of “unwrapping” that gift and making a human level connection by finding out something about that very special person, or we can choose to take care of whatever business is at hand and simply ignore the human being in front of us. In our world today I see so many unwrapped gifts– lonely, hurting people whom no one seems to care about.

I have made it my personal mission in life to try my hardest to recognize these folks as human beings with a story and to acknowledge their uniqueness in whatever ways time will allow. Sometimes it is only a quick smile or touch on the arm, a “thank you” for going out of their way for me, or a simple personal question and then truly listening to the answer. At other times I am blessed to be able to really hear some of that person’s story, and I always feel as if I have made a new and special friend.

Mother Teresa says, “Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.” May I challenge you to make that your philosophy of life? Every day is a gift, and no matter what your work is, you have the opportunity every day to open the gifts God has placed all around you. Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent rob you of the very special gift of CARE-ing!

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