You Are Special Because You Are Kind
In response to Coffee Challenge; Why I am pro shoutout movement
People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel -Maya Angelou.
I was in my fourth grade and by habit, I took part in every competition in the school.
After all, it is not about winning but participation, right?!
And this singing competition was no different except that I signed up at the last minute. Only a few minutes before the actual performance :D
I went on the stage with zero preparation in front of the whole school. And sang what came to my mind on the spot (influenced by how the kids do it in the movies). I thought movies depicted only true events.
At the end of the event, a fifth-grader told me something that changed my relationship with my voice. Forever.
She said looking into my eyes, “you did not sing well and I didn’t like it”. I shrugged off her comment and moved on. Only to realize years later, I never actually did.
After that incident, singing made me a bit uncomfortable. No matter how many times I got compliments for my voice, the self-doubts remained unshaken.
This is what happens when we give power to other people’s comments. They overshadow our inner voice.
Yet, I continued to sing. And on days I couldn’t, I blamed the inevitable: the weather or my husband 😉
Everything happens for a reason
In hindsight, the fifth-grader taught me something profound at a very young age. I learned “Words have a great impact.”
Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well -Robin Sharma
My childhood experience was instrumental in making me the person I am today.
Ever since I touch people’s lives with kind words charged with positivity. To add a personal touch, I always mention something so unique about them.
When I started practicing this, it was amusing to discover how everyone was distinct in their own way. And how easy it was to strike a conversation when the other person knew I was genuinely interested.
At work, a brilliant but stern co-worker never talked to anyone in the office about anything but work.
We had a team-building exercise where everyone had to talk about someone else in the room.
When it was her turn, she called my name out. She said how looking at me makes her happy. And how she looks out for me when she wants to smile.
We became best friends. Every time our laughter echoed the entire floor in the office, everyone stared at us in disbelief.
She always mentioned how my words uplifted her spirits. But the truth was, she made me realize my unique strength.
Such is the power of words exchanged with the right people!
Every beautiful thing you say to someone becomes a part of them and you -Bryant McGill
The Power of Appreciation
The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated -William James.
I am a believer in everyday miracles. And this is how medium happened to me! It became my new hangout for an instant energy boost!
Medium is life-changing. All mundane tasks are now more exciting than ever!
I look forward to those extended meetings at work. The long queue at the billing counter excites me. And all those extra hours of waiting in a day are all my newfound opportunities to dwell on Medium.
When a coffee-lover is having such epic moments, imagine an Espresso arriving at my desk[Miracle in a mug]. That was exactly my feeling when I found the Coffee times pub in Medium. I told you, I am a believer!
I always wondered what it would feel like when someone would mention me in their stories. I thought it would take a hundred articles to reach that level of worth in readers’ minds and hearts. For once, I was wrong!
Coffee times made my dreams come true. I now wake up to mentions with my morning coffee. B-E-L-I-E-V-E!
At first, it was thrilling to know that “Shoutouts” are mandatory in order for the pub to accept an article. I read in one of Winston’s articles about the challenges of having such a prerequisite. Yet, the pub persevered.
The amazing editors of coffee times go the extra mile to create more visibility to our articles. Both inside and outside of Medium.
I have published my articles in many publications within Medium. But My first breakthrough happened with this pub. A sense of belonging embraced me. And, I felt noticed and appreciated. What more does a writer want?!
The ingenious idea of uplifting one another is the default winner!
Since the time I joined the coffee times movement, my inbox has been screaming for attention. Being flooded with unconditional love and appreciation!
It gives me the joy of living a hundred dreams in parallel.
Thanks a ton to the dazzling team at coffee times and Winston. Or I may have not experienced the delight of giving appreciation and receiving in plenty.
I am a pro Shoutout movement because I am a believer of: Miracle, Joy, Love, Appreciation, Delight, Dreams, Giving, and Receiving!!
And it is only the beginning…
Thank you all for being YOU
Here is me sharing my virtual coffee time with each one of you ❤️
No better time than now to shout out my lungs[screw covid and all the new variants] to my fellow writers, who make me believe in my fantasy world of writing. Thanks a Zillion!
To my beloved writers adorning my stories with their beautiful comments: Umme Salma, Suma Narayan, Yana Bostongirl, Drashti Shroff, Sharing Randomly, Kris Bedenian, Maggie Kelly, Jimmy Misner Jr., JM Heatherly, Filiz Özer, David Perlmutter, Marrisa W.
To my darling writers, who I wish were my neighbors: Indubala Kachhawa, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, and Liberty Forrest, Author.
To writers who elicit their creative sparks: Adelina Vasile, Srini, Jan Sebastian, Ankit Priyadarshi, Gaurav Jain, BichoDoMato, Donnette Anglin, Robin Le Roy-Kyle, repurposed educator, Barb Dalton.
To my wonderful coach Kristina God and my fellow boot campers Nancy Blackman, Sally Prag, Courtney Simms, Trisha Dunbar (She/Her), T Mann, Alicia Domínguez, Christina, Jameson Steward, Michael Nagy, and Charles Waters.
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention -Kahlil Gibran.
You are all so special to me. Because you are kind!
Shout out to Coffee Times, Winston.
© Tamil
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I was inspired to write this story after reading the below article from Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles.
Yes, It is a-shoutout-for-another-shoutout-of-shoutouts. It can’t get any better!
https://readmedium.com/we-rise-by-lifting-others-739a8430a5f7
This article from Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi about gifting a tree to her friend blew my mind. Please check it out:
