The late John Valvano asserted in his very famous speech in 1993 at the ESPN ESPY awards, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day; that’s a heck of a day!” The laughing and the crying will be up to you today, but I’m going to help with the thinking. I recently stumbled upon this question: “Who has shown you kindness?” I could have easily glossed over the question with an answer like, “So many people,” but I didn’t. I stopped and really gave it some thought. I challenged myself to come up with 10 people who truly showed kindness to my recently, and I didn’t expect what came next.

I told you the laughing and the crying would be up to you, but I may have mislead you a bit. I got really choked up as I wrote about all the people who had been kind to me recently and what they had done for me out of the goodness of their heart. Some of them knew me and a few where perfect strangers who were just, “doing their job.” Writing the list was a very humbling experience and it reminded me how important my actions are every day to everyone.

So, do I think most of you will write out this list? Probably not. But if you do, you will not be disappointed, I can promise you that. Taking the time to go over who has been kind to you is an exercise in deep and profound gratitude—and that is food for the soul! It will warm your heart and make you want to be more kind, knowing and experiencing the impact it has had on you. After that, go watch a funny movie, The Heat with Melissa McCarthy is my go-to, which will surely make you laugh. You will have nailed the Valvano Trifecta! And THAT’S A HECK OF A DAY!

With Gratitude,

Beth