What went well today?

How many people do you hear saying, “I stopped watching the news because it is all awful. It worked, now I feel better.”

It’s a trend, for sure. I don’t advocate for being uninformed, but …

It isn’t just the news.

In one of my first jobs at a logistical software company, I answered 30 calls a day as a technical support analyst. Admittedly, it was my job to troubleshoot customer issues and help solve them; however, hearing 150 complaints a week does take a toll on anyone. One day, a customer named, “Jeff,” who was notorious for calling every day with a laundry list of complaints, called and said, “Hi Stephanie, It’s Jeff. I just called to let you know that we have no issues today, and I wanted to thank you and your team for all of your help. We sent you two dozen cookies in the mail.” Wow! That was thoughtful and refreshing. It doesn’t hurt to reach out on occasion and let people know that you appreciate their assistance.

My best friend was the president of the school board for a large Ohio school district. It is a thankless job, but one she has taken very seriously for eight years. When we are out and about, it never fails that someone emails or calls to report an issue. She never complains, but some people call every day. She has received threats and even had to install a security system with cameras to ensure safety for her family. For all the hard work this board does to ensure the best learning experience for students and financial responsibility for the community, wouldn’t it be nice if someone reached out and shared what went well at school today?

I don’t know that the bad news trend will ever be cured, but I encourage you to take a few minutes to look around you and think about what went well today. Then, if you have an extra 60 seconds to spare, reach out to someone and let them know how they made your day better. A few kind words can go a long way and are remembered for years.

Share a time when you called out something that went well in the comments.