Who you are makes a difference

[rabernet]

Everyone in this fantastic community makes a difference in my life! All the birthday wishes extended to me yesterday really made my day and made me grateful to have each and every one of you share a small part of my life through our participation and contributions here! I just had to share this story that I got in my e-mail today.

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read: Who I am Makes a Difference.

Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, We're doing a class project on recognition, and we would like for you to go out, find somebody to honor, and give them a blue ribbon. Then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened.

Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, Well, sure. The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want top keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people.

That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am a creative genius! Then he puts a blue ribbon that says, Who I am Makes a Difference on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor, and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I do not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You are a great kid, and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob, and he could not stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and mom, explaining why I had killed myself, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to commit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I just did not think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it after all." His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain.

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life one being the boss's son. In addition, the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference."

You are under no obligation to pass this on to anyone, not to two people or to two hundred. As far as I am concerned, you can forget it and move on. On the other hand, if you want, you could send it to all of the people who mean something to you, or send it to the one, two, or three people who mean the most. Or, just smile and know that I think that you are important. Who you are does make a difference, and I wanted you to know that.

Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for who YOU are does make a difference, too. May GOD BLESS YOU. Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought about you today

[Nate]

Thank you Robin for posting that!

[tigerlily]

Robin, what a wonderful and inspirational way to start my morning. THANK YOU!

[ZEKESMOM]

Thank you Robin.....That was beautiful

[Laooda]

Wow Robin, that was awesome...

[PythonWallace]

I read this story before, only it didn't involve blue ribbons or a school project. Other than that it was the same story with the same outcome. Seeing this one makes me think that one or both are fictional, inspirational stories. Sorry if this post lessens it for anyone.

[LadyOhh]

Bottom line, even if the story was fictional or not, it is meant to warm the heart, make you feel thankful for what you have, and cherish those around you.


Never can have too much of that, now can you?

[AkivaSmith]

I checked snopes.com and could not find it there. It is possibly true or a more colorful version of a true story.


If any of you are interested in finding out if a story is true try: http://www.snopes.com

[Rapture]

Reminds me of the movie, "Pay it Forward"... if you haven't seen it yet, give it a whirl.

[rabernet]

Reminds me of the movie, "Pay it Forward"... if you haven't seen it yet, give it a whirl.

A most excellent movie, and a real tear jerker!