Give Yourself A Hand! Eight Minutes
2:00 PM
There the resounding applause would permeate the atmosphere for eight full minutes. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, we muse, to feel appreciated every day for our efforts! Just a little boost of motivation to invigorate ourselves for the afternoon’s work ahead. Applause, Applause! Call it silly, but I think we were on to something. Silly does wonders to work out the kinks. So here’s a silly assignment that I seriously invite you to undertake this week:
Bravo! Bravo! Bravissimo! Author! Author! Give it up for _________! Let’s hear it for _________! Let’s give _________some love! Give yourself a hand! Here's to you, |
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When I was
twelve years old, I had a habit of slipping into my two older
sisters’ room when no one was around and cranking up the
stereo to dance. Granted I was limited by their selection of albums,
as my collection was pretty lean. One particular song —and,
all right, I admit that it was on the Barry Manilow Live
album— included an eight-minute drum solo followed by wild
applause from the crowd. I would listen to this track over and
over again while dancing and taking swooping, dramatic bows as
the applause rose louder. What an ebullient state I’d
be in when I was finished!
Fast
forward… I am 22 years old and in my first corporate job.
Six months into the “real world” and my friends and
I are trying to fight the mid-afternoon malaise that seems to
befall the building. I share the drum-solo-applause-receiving-bow-practicing
habit of my youth. We contemplate what the workplace would be
like if, at 2:00 pm each afternoon, everyone stopped what they
were doing just long enough to listen to a few minutes
of thunderous applause. We indulge our fantasy and imagine
everyone stepping away from their cubicles and gathering at the
large fountain in the atrium of our building.
Acknowledge
yourself for all you do and who you are. Practice your bows! While
you’re at it, spread the cheer and give someone else a round
of applause today, too. Getting into the habit of appreciating
yourself enhances your ability to appreciate others. Bravo!
Click to listen:
