I received this in an email from my sister-in-law. The author is unknown. I’m sure that many of you have read this somewhere before, but for those that haven’t please take a moment and read this. Who you are really does make a difference. Thanks.
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of herseniors in High School by telling them thedifference each of them had made. She called eachstudent to the front of the class, one at a time.First, she told each of them how they had made adifference to her, and the class.Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon,imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I AmMakes a Difference."Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a classproject, to see what kind of impact recognitionwould have on a Community. She gave each of thestudents three more blue ribbons, and instructedthem to go out and spread this acknowledgmentceremony. Then they were to follow up on theresults, see who honored whom, and report to theclass in about a week.One of the boys in the class went to a juniorexecutive in a nearby Company, and honored him forhelping him with his career planning. He gave him ablue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gavehim two extra ribbons and said, "We’re doing a classproject on recognition, and we’d like for you to goout, find somebody to honor, give them a blueribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so theycan acknowledge a third person, to keep thisacknowledgment ceremony going. Then please reportback to me and tell me what happened."Later that day, the junior executive went in to seehis boss, who had been noted, by the way, as beingkind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down, andhe told him that he deeply admired him for being acreative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. Thejunior executive asked him if he would accept thegift of the blue ribbon, and would he give himpermission to put it on him. His surprised bosssaid, “Well, sure.” The junior executive took theblue ribbon and placed it right on his boss’sjacket, above his heart. As he gave him the lastextra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extraribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else.The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doinga project in school, and we want to keep thisrecognition ceremony going and find out how itaffects people."That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-oldson, and sat him down. He said, "The most incrediblething happened to me today. I was in my office, andone of the junior executives came in and told me headmired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being acreative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am a creativegenius! Then he put a blue ribbon that says, "Who IAm Makes a Difference", on my jacket above my heart.He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to findsomebody else to honor. As I was driving hometonight, I started thinking about whom I would honorwith this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want tohonor you. My days are hectic and when I come home,I do not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes Iscream at you for not getting good enough grades inschool, and for your bedroom being a mess. Somehow,tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, justlet you know that you do make a difference to me.Besides your mother, you are the most importantperson in my life. You’re a great kid, and I loveyou!"The startled boy started to sob and sob, and hecould not stop crying, his whole body shook. Helooked up at his father and said through his tears,“Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote aletter to you and Mom, explaining why I had took mylife, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going tocommit suicide tonight after you were asleep. I justdid not think that you cared at all. The letter isupstairs. I don’t think I need it after all."His father walked upstairs and found a heartfeltletter full of anguish and pain. The boss went backto work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch,but made sure to let all of his employees know thatthey made a difference.The junior executive helped several other youngpeople with career planning, and never forgot to letthem know that they made a difference in hislife…one being the boss’ son.In addition, the young boy and his classmateslearned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make adifference".
nannajul
Beautiful story Dave, very touching and so very thought provoking
Dave Moilanen
Thanks for looking Julie!
Marion Cullen
Wonderful positve, modern day parable Dave, thanks for sharing it with us.
nmbrplus
Wow Dave, that’s a beautiful story; hope everyone will take the time to read it and give it some thought….thanks!
Heabar
Dave thanks for sharing this really beaut story & may i have the privillege of pinning a blue ribbon which says ~ who you are does make a difference on your shirt above your heart ~~ Dave you do make a huge difference in our lives thank you for making the difference in being who you are !!! love you heaps dear friend :)
Dave Moilanen:
Hi Heather! Only if I can pin one on you first! Thank you very much! Love you heaps also! :-)
Maria Dryfhout
Thank you for sharing. … so true it is!
mlgkats
thank you for sharing this i really liked it such a wonderful story
LocoCow
Wonderfully touching… Like spokes in a wheel we are all important to its stability… Thanks for sharing..
Dave Moilanen
A big heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you for taking the time to read this. You folks are the greatest! :-)
Deborah Duvall
awesome story. I love how it shows that it is the little things in life that make a big diference in life. Thank you for sharing your story.
Dave Moilanen
Thank you for looking Debbie!
Leena Hedman
Dave Moilanen:
You have the insight of an angel Sis! Thank you for looking! :-)
elisab
Very inspirational story, I think I will pay more attention to people around me and give them a “Blue Ribbon.”
Dave Moilanen
That’s a wonderful idea Elisa! :-)
Kym Breeze
wow Dave tears streaming down my face, it can be so easy to forget to let those closest how much they do mean to us, thank you for posting this it is a wonderful reminder for us all…hugs
Dave Moilanen:
Big hugs to you and yours Kym! :-)
Phil Thomson IPA
Dave, What a Blessing both you and this story have been to me !!! Thanks for sharing it, you’ve just made my day !!!
Dave Moilanen:
Thank you Phil! Believe me my friend, you have been a big blessing to me!! Thank you for everything! :-)
Arlene Zapata
Dave you are a really special person here @ RB + now even more so for sharing this story. It’s one of the best I’ve read in a long time + my sister-in-law sends them daily! Thanks!
Dave Moilanen:
Thank you Arlene. You have always been a sweetheart! :-)
Deborah Dillehay
Dave, What an amazing story. I fully agree with the principle behind it and I am refreshed to see all the people here who read it and responded. There is hope after all!
Dave Moilanen:
Bless you Deborah!
Greta McLaughlin
Yes! I have read it many times before, but I enjoy it everytime. And it makes me cry every time. It’s a wonderful story and I’ll read it again and again and I’m sure I will cry each time.
Dave Moilanen
Thank you Greta! It really is a wonderful story!
BLYTHART
Everyone needs to feel valued and many people value others without telling them so. I mentioned to my wife once that an old friend of my father’s had been really kind to me when I was a young teenager and how much I appreciated this at a time when I needed some support. My wife asked me if I’d ever told this man how I felt. I hadn’t seen him for a long time, but on a whim I visited him and told him how I appreciated his friendship in those long-past days. As a result, we became good friends and remained so until he died aged 86.
Dave Moilanen:
That’s great Dave! You gave me a big smile! Thank you!
MrsTregs
Though I have never seen this particular story before, it’s one that everyone should read!! So many times, people lack self-worth, simply because no one has ever taken the time to let them know that they, too, make a difference. We ALL make a difference. We just need to let others know that they do, too. Lovely journal entry, Dave…thank you. ~ :o) Diana
Dave Moilanen:
Thank you so much Diana!
flipteez
I couldn’t help but sink back deep into my chair & take all this in……………………..
LOOK!
You just have to marry me or something cause I need a softy!
A tear truly runs down my cheek…………
ever since I was born thru all my growing up I truly do believe in pay it forward!
I do tell my sons while I look in their eyes that they do mean alot that I love them alot & I am very proud of them…………….. (as long as they always rock’n’roll with their mum)
Dave Moilanen:
Sharon, would you please accept a blue ribbon from this softy? You not only make a difference to me, but to many others here on the Bubble. I give you blue ribbons to give to your sons and give one to your husband (but only if he leaves the keys within reach next time). You’re awesome Sharon!! Rock on with your sons! Hugs to everyone! :-)
flipteez
shit yeh in a heart beeeeet!
Just LUV ‘U’
story back at YUH
Had to hold off kidz tell ing ‘U’ how cool yooooo ‘R’ til after skool tomorrow!
Dave Moilanen:
You’re 1st Place all the way Sharon!!!! :-)))))
Jaybe
I’ve never read this before – it’s truly beautiful. Thankyou.
Dave Moilanen:
Thank you Jaybe! :-)
Michael Oubridge
Amazing story, just goes to show you can make a difference in this world
Dave Moilanen:
Thank you Michael! You are so right! :-)
Heabar
Just re-read this awesome message again Dave it is just sooooooooo inspiring thanks mate for sharing & reminding me to tell the ones i love that they do make a difference in my life ~ty for pinning a blue ribbon on my jacket above my heart !!! luv ya Dave :)
Dave Moilanen:
Heather, you will always wear a blue ribbon! You make a big difference for a lot of us! Thank you dear friend for being you!
elisab
I had a little extra time this evening and started going through my “FAVORITES”. I came across your journal of WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE that you wrote. It is still one of my favorites and i wanted you to know how much I still appreciate reading it again. Tomorrow I will give someone a Blue Ribbon. Thank you again for writing it!!
Dave Moilanen
Thanks Elisa!