Years ago, when our girls were younger, I always tucked a “napkin note” into their lunches, a short message scribbled on a napkin, designed to brighten their day at school and to remind them how much I loved them. Around the same time, a favorite book of our then seven-year-old daughter was “The Kissing Hand.” For those unfamiliar, “The Kissing Hand” tells the story of Chester Raccoon, who is a little anxious about heading into school. To ease his fears, his mom, Mrs. Racoon, shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to reassure him of her love any time his world feels a little scary. She takes his hand and places a tender kiss in his palm, then gently closes his fingers around it so he won’t lose it. Recently, I discovered a photo of an old napkin note from my daughter to me, which read: “Have a good day, Mommy. If you have a bad day, remember that I did the Kissing Hand on your palm. :)” That small and surprising gesture made me smile, ensured I’d have a better day, and demonstrated a universal truth: words have power. Be intentional with your communication and be kind with your words. Use them to uplift and encourage rather than criticize or demean. Remember, you always have a choice in how you use them; choose wisely. #communication #kindness #career …see more