When I was a little girl I wanted to be nothing more than Martha Stewart. Parading around in old dresses 7 sizes too big with clip on pearls and spatulas, that was my reality. In the summers I would setup a recording studio in the living room, my Grandma would tape me creating the finest lines of potpourri with none other than her kitchen spices. Who knew one could be so inspired by basil? Grandma Sue did. I remember hot summers with sticky Missouri air and the smell of flowers. I’d listen to her stories about growing up in the country over fudge pops on the back porch. After playing outside we would watch I Love Lucy for hours and dance around to Elvis in the kitchen. She taught me to sleep without a night light and how to wear red lipstick like a lady. Most of all she taught me the real meaning of encouragement. “When you grow don’t just do, but be happy doing..and be SMART.” Those words have always stuck with me and I know they always will. While I’ve yet to find success in a mixing bowl or with a spatula, I found success through her words. I grew up knowing that I really could be anything, no limitations. John M. Maxwell once said, “Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.” So thank you Grandma for giving me just that. Ask yourself how you can be more instrumental in the success of others, be it in your personal relationships or you career. After all, words can stem encouragement and out of encouragement action develops. Who will you influence today?
