Be a Bucket Filler

A few weeks back, I was getting dinner on the table and my five year old son was paying me compliment after compliment which pleased me to no end.  A few minutes of silence went by and then he asked me, "Mom, is your bucket really full now?"  Confused at his question I asked him to tell me why I would have a "full bucket" and his response literally brought me to tears.  "Because Mom, I'm being really nice and am being a good listener.  When I do that, it fills your bucket."  After I swallowed back a few tears, I called the school and left a message for Cole's teacher thanking her for teaching these little people about making others feel good by their actions and words.

As we go through the daily grind of talking to someone on the phone, meeting with someone face to face and dealing with difficult customers, it can be easy to neglect to tell someone thank you, or pay them a compliment, or to take a moment to let someone know how they make you feel.  The power of words are so strong that I think sometimes people forget that the way you speak or act towards someone can either "fill their bucket" or "empty" it.  It's an easy concept - one that is being taught to five year olds that not only understand what it means - but actually PRACTICE it!  It's a concept that needs to be brought back to everyday routine.

My take away... Will my words and actions fill or empty someone's bucket?