“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou
Isn’t this so true?
I imagine we can all recall those people in our lives who have made us feel important, special, and treasured.
And on the other hand, we probably can recall also those who have made us feel “not so special.”
I’m remembering someone in particular who remembered my name from after the very first time of meeting her. She made me feel important. And I think of Mom…she had such a gift of making me feel so special. She would drop everything to take time for me.
I’m also remembering some from my past who left deep wounds with how they treated me. And just last week, someone who I was trying to talk to stopped mid-sentence in what seemed like a half-attempted conversation to talk to someone else. Talk about not feeling so special.
One simple way we can make others feel special is to listen to them. To pay attention to what they are saying, and to look them in the eye if we are face to face…To not look behind or around that person, but to really focus on them. If on the phone, to really listen and not seem distracted. That’s one thing that’s pretty important to me if I’m in a conversation. I can sense when someone really isn’t listening to me or not really hearing what I’m saying.
Recently I stopped in the middle of a sentence and didn’t finish as I was talking to someone, and she didn’t even realize I had stopped. Obviously she was not paying any attention to me or what I was saying.
That’s hurtful.
Another way we can make others feel special is to be interested in them… ask questions about them, pay attention to the little details, remember his or her name, notice others.
I’m sometimes guilty of being in “my own little world,” that I don’t notice the people right in front of me. That happened on Monday when Ali and I were out to lunch. One of my friends were in a booth beside us and I didn’t even notice her until she was leaving. 🙁
Today’s a good day to make someone feel special, valued and loved. Who can you bless today?
Julie
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