Over the last couple of weeks, a few compliments have found their way into my inbox. They caught me off guard, coming from parts and people unknown. Of course, I appreciated the sentiment, but what surprised my more than the kind words themselves was the effect they had on me.

I was overwhelmed and humbled, and perhaps a bit giddy.

I didn’t expect the lift those messages would give me. Although every day I extol the value of words, I was still shocked to find out how much they actually matter. I’m still carrying them with me.

Give someone a compliment today, someone whose path you don’t often cross. And don’t forget to mean it.