With the recent passing of Steve Jobs, I think it’s so beautiful and touching that everyone from Fortune 500 CEOs to regular ol’ Mac users are paying tribute to his memory. Yet, whenever I hear people say so many beautiful things about someone after they die, it always makes me a little sad. How happy he would have been to hear these touching words when he was alive.
There are many ways to pay tribute to someone in an informal sense. Consider the following:
- 1. Recall a favorite memory with your best friend. Drop it into your next conversation. Bonus points if he or she did something particularly outstanding or wonderful during that memory.
- 2. Remember a time when a boss or colleague helped you out. Send a thank-you note, or casually drop it into the conversation the next time you interact.
- 3. Note when someone makes an extra effort at a store, restaurant, or other business. Call his or her manager with positive comments afterward.
- 4. Make holidays extra-special. Send a birthday, anniversary, or seasonal card that mentions a few wonderful attributes about the person, a special memory you share, or both.
- 5. Publicly note when someone gives you advice that has improved your life in some way. Make it your Facebook status, post it on your blog, or send a group e-mail. Not only does the original speaker get an ego boost, but you are helping other people as well.
- 6. Call or e-mail someone whom you admire, and ask him or her for advice. You would not believe the number of people who are willing to help you out, especially when you are expressing sincere admiration and a desire to learn how to be better.
- 7. When you get an e-mail or letter for a “free” subscription or service, rather than discarding it, think of someone you know who could benefit from it. My mom always clips coupons of items she thinks I would like, and I find it to be ultra-kind and caring. It shows as much thought as if she went out and selected an item I would love.
- 8. Learn to look for the unique, outstanding, and admirable qualities of those around you. The more genuine admiration you feel, the more frequent you will make spontaneous, from-the-heart tributes like these.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to make a tribute to someone who is an important part of your life. Make an effort to pay homage to special people in your life now.
Photo source:
Steve Jobs, a photo by macevangelist on Flickr.
I loved this, so true.
Taking a few short minutes to let the people around you know how much they are appreciated really has a ripple effect. Send out those feelings and you will get them back with dividends.