Think about the last time that someone did something for you and the feeling with which that left you. Now think about the last time you did something for someone and how good it made you feel. The act of appreciation releases a set of endorphins that just makes the body and mind feel good and is one of the most underrated forms of self fulfillment that we have.

Showing appreciation does not require large amounts of energy or money. A simple thank you, card or verbal acknowledgement is all that it takes. It lets the person that has gone out of their way to do something special know that they matter and that their act was well worth the effort.

In the Bring Smiles to Seniors program we send receipts for all donations that we receive, no matter how large or small. I sign each and every one of those receipts. At the bottom of the letter I always write a personal note to the sender to let them know how much their donation meant to us. It takes extra time and effort, but something that I feel is incredibly important to ensure that those who continue on our smile journey know that the time that they took to be a part of what we do matters.

Appreciation is our way of honoring those that honored us. It is an interaction that matters, is important and is necessary. It also provides validation for the person on the giving end that what they have done was meaningful. It provides encouragement for future acts of kindness and ensures a world where we all know what we do makes a difference.

Mornings with Ron is available as a podcast at anchor.fm/morningswithron or on iHeardRadio, Apple or Google Podcast, Spotify or most podcast sites.