So I'm sitting at my computer working last week, overwhelmed with work, and life in general.

I was concentrating, hard at work, when I got an e-mail alert. The e-mail subject line simply said "Valuable."

Curious, I clicked on the e-mail. It was from a person whom I didn't know, but who obviously was aware of the newspaper and my involvement with it.

In essence, the person asked me if anyone had told me that week that I was worthy and valuable. He felt I needed to be told that I am much appreciated and a great asset to my employer.

That was it. Short and simple. And just what I needed to hear.

The compliment was nice, and I'm not saying that my efforts are not recognized at work. But it was whom the compliment came from and the timing that made such a difference. The compliment was from a person I didn't know in the community, someone who noticed my hard work and part in things. That made me feel good that I am doing a good enough job to be noticed. And it came in the middle of mid-morning stress, in the midst of e-mails of things that were not working properly, in the midst of the long list of what else I needed to do that day. It just popped up, a small, yet powerful reminder to say, "Hey, you're doing a good job." All because someone took the time to give someone else a compliment. And it made my day.

So often people want to tell you what is wrong with what you are doing. Not very many stop to recognize what you have done right.

This person has made it his personal goal to pass out compliments.

I wrote him back to tell him thank you, and that I wasn't sure if he knew how much his e-mail meant to me. I also commended his mission. I told him that more people need to be told that they are appreciated and making a difference. I am often reminded, especially in church, about the power of our words. It's important that you build people up instead of dragging them down and it's very easy to do both. Think what kind of a difference it would make to tell someone "Good morning," or "You look nice today," or "You're doing a good job," or to hold your tongue when you are about to say something that doesn't really need to be said?

I myself am trying to make an effort to say something nice to someone everyday. The e-mail I received reinforced how important it really is. It made me very aware that my words, and actions, affect those around me daily and it reminded me of a saying on a poster at my church, "Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?"