“Thank You” is one of the most powerful phrases in every language. By giving our gratitude to others, we show them how much we value their presence in our lives, as well as remind ourselves of the good in this world.

In light of recent events in the United States, I have been thinking about the importance of values such as charity and kindness, along with the transitory nature of human life itself. I was reminded of this TEDxToronto Talk by Drew Dudley (written transcript here) on “Leading Through Lollipops”. Using an example of a time when he unknowingly changed a university student’s life with a simple joke, he says that in even in our daily interactions, we are leading people through our actions and words. Thus, he has developed this concept of a ‘lollipop moment’, when someone says or does something that you feel has fundamentally changed your life for the better. I think it’s thrilling to know that we can influence others in positive ways without even knowing it. Wouldn’t it be great if we were more open towards recognizing these integral moments when it happens to us?

Therefore, I am starting a personal initiative to acknowledge the catalysts for those impactful ‘lollipop moments’ in my life – be it people, projects, events, places, things, etc. – that have helped me by sparking a profound realization, by motivating me to make a difference, or by simply brightening up my day. In all of our interactions with the world, we are leading the way by motivating others to build a better tomorrow – together.