empowerment & inspiration ... all for you
august 5, 2016 
a snippette

reflection section
a simple validation

During my Uncle Glenn's funeral after his son Glenn Allan delivered an extremely moving and eloquent eulogy, the pastor invited those who wished to share something special about Uncle Glenn's life and his impact on us, to stand up and say a few words.

After three others spoke, I also had stuff to say (surprised?) and so I stood up for my turn, spoke directly from my heart about Uncle Glenn, cried a little, and glanced face to face as I calmly delivered my words. 

As I sat down, these thoughts swam around in my head and heart: Did I honor Uncle Glenn well? Did I cover everything I wanted to say? Did I touch anyone with my words? Did it sound fine? My hammering heart began to slow its beat now that I had finished my few minutes of a mini eulogy.

A lady sitting two seats over - a stranger - reached over, and without a word, squeezed my hand and looked me in the eyes. A simple validation.

Snippeteers, sometimes it takes only a small, quick and quiet gesture or word to help someone feel validated, to ensure them they did okay, are doing okay, will be okay, or that you heard them. 
 
I wasn't looking for a pat on the back, yet it felt nice anyway. It felt kind of that stranger who took a second to say, "I heard all of that."

In our mixed-up-scrambled-swirl of human emotions (sometimes accompanied by a lack of confidence) as we chug through life, it can feel comforting to know someone else relates, a person heard us, or an individual was moved by something we did or said.

Stranger or friend, let's take a few seconds to reach out to validate each other: with a touch, in conversation, with a hug, eye contact, a thumbs up, a wink, a pat on the back, a big smile, or a squeeze of the hand ... without a word.

Just a simple validation.

Who might you validate today?  
        
Share any thoughts ...

email Suzanne
(include first name and state, or 'name withheld')
 

kiss a flamingo today

ciao ...
until you snippet again

suzanne molino singleton  
creator of SNIPPETS   

celebrating 10 years

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