When you see her shine, tell her

It was after the Life Design Retreat and I was recounting the event and assessing (obsessing?) how it went. 

Although I felt it went well….  I wondered what  others thought. 

How did they feel about the content I created?

“Did it meet their expectations?”

“Did they learn something that feels realistic to implement?”

Were the women comfortable?

“Did I create a safe space for them to share openly?”

“Will they reach out to me, when a challenge hits?”

Was the food tasty and well prepared?

“Did I make enough?”

“Was it good? Did it look pretty?”

It’s good to assess, for…. 

Wisdom can only come from reflection. 

However, it’s not good to ruminate and obsess, and that’s where my head was going. 

It was my desire for the Life Design Retreat to go well… for the content to land, for the women to feel comfortable and well cared for… for the food to be not only satisfying but beautiful… that I was caught in a perpetual loop of questioning myself. 

And then, the email came. 

The Life Design Retreat was hosted at Modernwell because of their welcoming staff, and their comfortable, elevated vibe.

So less than 24 hours after hosting the retreat, I received this email from Madison on Modernwell's staff:

She wanted to thank me for choosing Modernwell for my event, offered to help me reserve the room for future events… AND gave me the neatest compliment!

“Your food looked so fun! We were admiring what you brought and how you presented it!” 

My heart exploded! 

Madison didn’t need to follow up… Modernwell had already received their money. 

She didn’t need to add a personal note.

And she certainly didn’t need to say anything about how I prepared the room for the women. 

But she did. 

And because she decided to say something to me about how the food looked, she helped me get out of that rumination loop and she made my day!

I don’t know if Madison second guessed herself before she sent me that compliment. 

But, I DO KNOW many of us have positive thoughts about others… and yet don’t share them.

For whatever reason, most of us don’t share compliments easily.

We’re keenly observant, and we have many thoughts silently running around in our heads…

“Her kids have lovely manners.”

“She always makes time for me.”

“Her haircut is sassy.”

“She looks like she works hard at the gym.”

The experience at Modernwell was really good and they weren’t ever in jeopardy of losing me as a customer. 

However, Madison’s personal note sealed the deal!!! It’s a no brainer. I’ll be going back to Modernwell.

Women are doing great things everyday. 

They’re showing up, even when it’s hard. 

They’re doing work under the surface. 

When you see something… Say something. 

When you see her shine, tell her. 

Modernwell and Madison reminded me of how important the simple act of sincere acknowledgment is. 

So, who do you see?

What’s she doing that you like?

Now go ahead, and tell her.