The team at the Academy offices is known for being a close knit family working toward the same vision. Periodically, one of our amazing team Members will bring flowers into the office to share with everyone. These small bouquets around the office brighten our day and remind us of what a great team we have the privilege to work with. After one such recent occasion of enjoying flowers around the office for a couple of days, we considered what we should do with the flowers over the weekend. It seemed a shame to leave them in the office where no one would enjoy them. Rather than divide the bouquets among our team Members to take home, we collectively opted to take the flowers to a local nursing home to share the cheer with a group who could definitely use a smile and a kind gesture. I am frequently at a nursing home here in San Diego visiting my grandfather, so I offered to take the flowers and share them with the residents of the nursing home.
As I walked through the doors of the nursing home with eight bouquets of beautiful flowers in tow, I saw the eyes of many of the residents and employees light up. I consulted with the head nurse at the home and asked to be introduced to some residents who didn’t have regular visitors. She took me around the home and helped me deliver the flowers to residents who were absolutely shocked and flattered that we would think of them. Every resident I visited with flowers had the same beaming smile and grateful response to my visit. I received many hugs, smiles, and gratitude.
This experience for me was very humbling and filled my heart with love and joy knowing that I brought so much joy to what may have otherwise been just another day for those residents. I truly felt like Mrs. Clause delivering gifts during the Holidays!
As we officially enter the Holiday season, I’d like to encourage you all to consider how simple it is to make someone’s day. Much like we chose at the Academy to share our flowers with those who enjoyed them the most, think about how easy a gesture it is to give a gift to another person. And better yet, the feeling of complete joy not only you receive by doing something for or giving something to another person, but the true joy they feel having received something so thoughtful.
Wishing you all an upcoming holiday season full of love and happiness!
Traci Paul
Operations Manager
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com
- The Gift of Giving - November 3, 2014
