The other day I was driving by a junk yard and I saw a Culligan truck. For those not familiar, Culligan is a company that provides water softening, water filtration systems, and drinking water delivery. They were famous for their “Hey, Culligan Man!” commercials when I was a child.

My maternal grandmother worked for Culligan. Every year for Christmas she would send me Culligan toy trucks. She was my favorite person in the world, so it made sense that her gifts would be my favorites too.

My grandmother passed about 20 years ago. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.

I had a very special relationship with my grandmother. My parents weren’t the loving type – at least with me. They never told me they loved me or that they were proud of me. It was clear to everyone looking in that I was the scapegoat child.

My grandmother recognized that. So, she took it upon herself to become my champion. She was the one who told me “Ya done good” when I accomplished things. She always told me she loved me, too.

Even though we lived on opposite sides of the country, my grandmother still managed to be one of the biggest influences on my life.

I am a person who gives compliments freely. There’s a good reason why.

Because I didn’t hear praise in my day-to-day life, when I would hear from my grandmother and she would bless me with kind words it made me swell with pride. So, I know how powerful words can be. Her words may have been brief, but they mattered so much.

That feeling you get when someone tells you you’ve done a good job, is a pretty great thing. I like that feeling, so I try to give that feeling to others. And I don’t stop with just compliments, I also put myself out there to help people.

That’s not something you run into every day. Today, a lot of people are focused on how they can get ahead – not how they can help others get ahead.

I guess I’m just made different, because I like to see people succeed. Even better, I like to help people succeed.

I may not change the world, but I change the lives of individuals. And hopefully that inspires them to help others.

Pay it forward. It’s a simple concept that can have dramatic results. I didn’t invent the concept, but I support it and I live it. And you know what? It makes me feel good to know I made a difference.

Next time you see someone struggling, don’t wait for them to ask for help – because many don’t have the confidence to do so. Offer your help without being asked. Be a beacon of goodness. You’ll be rewarded by the way it makes you feel to know you have mattered in someone’s life.

Peace. Love. Trust.

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