NICE Testimonial: A Simple Thank You

You guys! Your mantras are wonderful! Thank you so much for commenting and sharing. You're making me want to edit mine a bit. Although I suppose it defeats the purpose if my mantra is 14 sentences long.

Today's testimonial comes from my vault, and it's courtesy of Amy from one of my favorite blogs, commonplace.


You know how the world has no shortage of complainers when something goes wrong? I've often wondered how many times someone picks up the phone or puts pencil to paper to note when something goes right. The other day I had an opportunity to let someone know how their help made a difference in my life and I picked up the phone.

Last semester my older son went through an intense battery of testing at the local public elementary school (where he was not a student at the time). It was stressful and exhausting and emotional. The school social worker acted as a guide through the process - mostly for me, but also for my son. She observed him in his classroom at the time and made placement recommendations according to her observations, my comments, doctors letters and phone calls and of course the test results. I've written on my blog about the program he was placed in and how it has changed our lives. My son is happy and thriving and, I believe, living up to his boundless potential - and did I mention happy?

Here's the thing: she went through this process with us (and yes, this is her job) while showing respect and kindness to our family and then we were gone— placed in a different school never to communicate with her again. I wondered if she might like to know how her hard work affected us, so I picked up the phone. I could tell, after I identified myself that she was immediately thinking 'what's wrong?' when I told her why I had called (to thank her for her help in securing Jake's placement and to tell her that for the first time ever he seemed happy and comfortable at school) I actually heard her sigh with relief. And then her surprise set in. See, she couldn't get her head around the idea that I had taken the three minutes out of my day necessary to call her and update her with his status and thank her. I guess it doesn't happen that much.

I don't mean this to be a pat on the back for myself, just a comment on how much a simple thank you can mean. Also, it felt really good.

Amy is so right on. How often do we go out of our way to show appreciation to those that made a difference in our lives? A few years ago, my husband decided to write to his favorite college professors and let them know that their love of literature inspired him to become an English teacher. He received some wonderful letters in return, they were touched by his gesture. It's a shame it doesn't happen more often.

So? Is there someone that you need to thank?

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!