A Note of Thanks

Card and original verse created by Kay Foley The energy at a good conference is palpable. The buzz of new ideas and repurposing old ideas permeates every session and congregates around every outlet. I love going because I always learn so much and I feel like I absorb that energy and excitement. I struggle a little bit because, while my primary goal is to build relationships with professional contacts, my inner voice tells me to sit off in the corner, or better yet, disappear to my hotel room after the sessions are done. That's why one of the best practices networking experts often tout is to set up meetings prior to the show, and that works doubly well for introverts like me. Knowing I have a face-to-face meeting, which I love, gives me something to look forward to, instead of looking for the next opportunity to duck back behind my computer screen and surreptitiously watch from afar. I was able to schedule those meetings with a few of the editors I work with during the thre...

Photo by  Elijah O'Donell  on  Unsplash I've fallen out of a lot of habits so far this year. My weekly thank you note is one that I'm barely clinging on to. Every time that alarm goes off, excuses appear like the dust bunnies that manage to evade the broom every time I clean the kitchen. I didn't even know they were there, hiding deep in the corners, but they clutter up my thoughts. I don't have time right now. I sent a note to that person a few weeks ago. It would be weird if she got another card. I'm out of stamps. I don't have a small gift. The note is not worth it on its own. When I'm not practicing gratitude regularly, I forget that many times, these thank you notes are less for the person receiving it and more about recognizing the wonderful people in my life. I also forget that these notes might bring a bit of light to an otherwise dark day. That person crossed my mind for a reason -- possibly because of something they need to hear ...