Blessings abound! My daughter, Jessica, her husband, Bob, and my son, Reece, are going to be spending this weekend with me, and that will be a total pleasure. They live considerable distances away and maintain very busy schedules, so having them here — even for a few day — is a blessing to me. 

I am so very proud of them and I don't hesitate to let them know it. We should all be in the praise-giving business, in all walks of life, because most people are routinely doing good things, but very rarely are they receiving any positive recognition for so doing. And that recognition doesn't have to be epic or profound — just a simple thank you or warm smile from us toward others can make a person's day. 

Over my many years as a Dale Carnegie instructor, I have heard hundreds of real-life examples of lives literally being changed for the better as a result of someone taking just a few minutes to give some honest, sincere appreciation. And we don't have to search for actions on the part of others that are deserving of praise. 

Those actions are everywhere. People in all walks of life are routinely doing good things and they are not doing these good things to bolster their egos or enhance their self-confidence. They're living out the words to that beautiful old hymn, "Help Somebody Today." 

One example I like to cite is this: I was standing in a rather long, slow-moving lane at a supermarket and the young lady at the register was really doing a superb job of taking care of each customer as quickly and as efficiently as possible. 

However, she was encountering a good bit of hostility from people who felt things should be moving more swiftly and they were taking out their anger on her. I was so impressed at the way she was handling this situation so when it came time for my purchases to be processed, I said, "Can I just take a second of your time?" 

I could see that "Oh, no" expression on her face, expecting more criticism. 

Instead, I said, "I have been observing you while in line and I just want to tell you that you have made my day. I have seen you take difficult situations and handle them with poise and professionalism and I applaud you for that." 

She said, "Sir, I have been working here for almost a year now and this is the first time anyone has complimented me. I really do thank you!" 

Now for a little humor: Joe asked Bob to help him with the deck, so when they got home from work Bob went straight over to Joe's place.

When they got to the door, Joe went to his wife and gave her a hug and told her how beautiful she was and how much he had missed her at work. When it was time for supper, he complimented  her cooking, kissed her and told her how much he loved her.

Once they were working on the deck, Bob told Joe that he was surprised that he had been so sweet to his wife. Joe said he'd started this about six months ago and it had revived his marriage. 

Bob decided to give it a try. When he got home, he gave his wife a massive hug, kissed her and told her how much he loved her. 

His wife burst into tears. 

Bob was confused, and he asked her why she was crying. 

She said, "This has been the worst day of my life. First, little Billy fell off his bike and twisted his ankle. Then, the washing machine broke and flooded the basement. 

“And now, you come home drunk!"

Have a really great day!