If You See Something, Say Something

The phrase “If you see something, say something”, was part of a United States Department of Homeland Security campaign after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, to encourage the public to increase awareness of their surroundings so we would report anything out of the ordinary.

It’s a great slogan to help you remember to be aware of what’s going on around you, and to report it if it seems suspicious in any way.  I however, have been thinking about this catchy slogan lately in a very different way than its original intention.

You see, there are people around you and me who are “out of the ordinary” as well.  There are people who are consistent and dependable, there are people who are kind and encouraging, there are people with incredible gifts and talents, there are people who don’t see their greatness and potential, but you do.  If you see something, why not say something?

Why don’t we say something? At least for me, I get caught up in the busyness, I get caught up in myself, I get caught up in the task at hand and I lose sight of what really matters, people.  

How about you?  Do you walk through your days aware of your surroundings, paying attention to the people you interact with?  Do you look for the out of the ordinary all around you and when you see it, what do you do with it?

Your gratitude, your love, your encouragement for others, means nothing if you don’t share it.  

Imagine how much sweeter and fuller our lives would be if we made sure we were people that when we see something, we say something.  

Imagine what joy and encouragement we could bring to countless others if we made it our job each day to look for the out of the ordinary around us and when we say something, we say something.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” – Margaret Cousins.