Encouragement 1



A mother, a brother, a teacher, a spouse, a child, a coach, a stranger, a friend – any or all or other than these can be a source of encouragement.


Written, spoken, whispered, bellowed, frequent or rare – words of encouragement are precious.


I have received, witnessed and given encouragement to others. Allow me a few examples –



  • My sister encouraged her friend who lived next door to aim for and go to college when they were in high school – something her friend hadn’t considered, intending instead to do a civil service job.  They both became teachers and have made great careers in edcation.

  • Mr. D – my supervisor in my first job at a public television station in St. Louis encouraged me when he discovered I’d talked my way into a clerical job but couldn’t type.  He gave me a month to get it together.  My uncle encouraged me not to quit said job and bought me a typewriter that I practiced on every night.  He also gave me insight to go early and stay late to get the work done.

  • I encouraged two women who were mere acquaintances at the time I met them, to pursue careers in facilitation and training.  I coached them, had them assist and shadow me, and they both went on to have significant success.

Dreams, goals, desires and sometimes fantasies get achieved with encouragement, such as




  • a door opening that seemed closed,



  • an introduction given,



  • a connection made,



  •  a scholarship granted,



  •  a fee waived,



  • a deadline extended,



  • a janitor taking that late grant and putting it in the received pile,



  • a call taken, 



  •  information about opportunities shared,



  • an event/gathering/meeting attended,



  • a contribution made.



  • Etcetera


 


External, internal, earth-bound or from a realm beyond encouragement abounds.


 


There are so many ways to for us to support each other.  Encourage and noursh!


 


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

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One thought on “Encouragement

  • Jim

    Right! The amazing thing is that encouragement can come from the least likely places…and often depends on the person who receives it, whether or not they are looking or are open.