Reflection: I was scheduled as the after luncheon speaker, and things were running late. The servers were delayed in getting the last few items on the tables, while conference attendees milled about the hallway waiting for the ‘all clear’ cue to seat themselves. The clock was ticking; and time was a wasting.

I stepped forward and offered to place the last of the water pitchers and coffee urns on the tables while the servers took care of getting the salads in place. Serving staff were surprised, and so was the conference coordinator. ‘You don’t need to do that,’ was the comment directed my way.

They were right. I didn’t need to do that. Nowhere in a speaker’s job description does it read, ‘Put the water pitchers on the tables for lunch.’ But there was a need at hand and an opportunity to help. And since I could pitch in, I did.

A friend recently went through a very rough patch in her life. Her husband (who is also her business partner) experienced some serious health issues during their busiest season of the year. Another friend, whose schedule was open at the time, volunteered to come in and serve as their ‘gopher’ at the office.

She handled reception, mail, banking, chauffeur service, courier duty and more. If it would help ease the load, and she could do it, she took it on. What a practical way to let someone else know how much they matter!

Action: It’s possible we limit ourselves in the ways we support and encourage others.

Yes, cards, letters, tokens of appreciation, and kind words all matter. Yet, sometimes the thing that matters most is simply giving of ourselves – sharing our time and our energy and an active helping hand.

In the days ahead, keep your eyes and ears open for creative and practical ways you might be of service to those in need.

Quotes Of The Week: Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. – William James

I wondered why somebody didn’t do something. Then I realized, I am somebody. – Author Unknown

Find a need and fill it. – Ruth Stafford Peale

Help one another; there’s no time like the present and no present like the time. – James Durst

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. – Sally Koch

Resource Of The Week: Acts Of Service is one of the five languages of appreciation noted by Paul White. Click here for an article that offers helpful suggestions for making acts of service as meaningful as possible.

Readers Write: In response to the recent e-zine, How Is Your Situational Awareness, Pause reader CM writes: Thank you for saying this.  So many times people forget about others in their rush to get what they want. My favourite annoyance is someone who gets to the top or bottom of an escalator or inside or outside a door and then stops and stands there oblivious to anyone behind them.