I recall being invited on an exciting Pacific Coast road trip over the summer of 7th grade into 8th, with another family that had a daughter that was hoping to have a travel companion. Though, I didn’t know them that well, my parents did, and thought it would be a good idea to join them, if I wanted to go.

I was excited, scared, nervous, and beside my painfully shy, introverted self, for any possible and awkward encounters along the way, but was willing to make a go of it to challenge myself, and enjoy a good adventure.

We all piled into the old truck camper to get on the road and share the next two weeks together. Traveling for that long in those close quarters with anyone will eventually expose their personalities, characteristics, quirks, and habits for all to get better acquainted, good or bad.

After several days into the trip, the mother I traveled with made a comment to me that I will never forget. She seemed to be a very common sense and straight forward woman that seemed to always mean well, gave me some very nice compliments, was encouraging, and took good care while I was away from home.

As she was giving me one of her compliments of encouragement, I smiled, as I had done before, but didn’t say anything, thinking that smiling was enough and there was no need to respond.

She followed with, “Amy, when someone says something nice to you, goes out of their way, takes the time or effort, does anything on your behalf or pays you a compliment, you say, ‘Thank You’. It is more than just good manners.”

I was horrified to be put on the awkward spot of all eyes gazed upon me, but I also got that she wanted me to really understand that it was ‘OK’ for me to accept, ‘Yes, you are worthy of being acknowledged and/or paid a compliment’, and receive.

She also wanted me to get that it plays a big part in the giving and receiving of communication, community, and an important part of any relationship you have or ever will in your lifetime, regardless of intimate, friend, or acquaintance.

To this day, I understand and get the value and importance of acknowledgment and a simple, ‘Thank you’, regardless of your personality characteristics or social phobias.

Social media and digital communicating (or lack of) has seemed to enhanced the lack of manners, respectful acknowledgment, with the ability to peer behind the scenes, not be physically in front of another or speaking to them in person, and I hope you can learn a painful lesson too, sooner than later. Stay in the practice of action with #thankyou and of course, practice your respect, appreciation, and manners.

A few extra interesting tidbits:
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/09/15/why-thank-you-is-more-than-just-good-manners/

https://hbr.org/2012/11/do-you-really-need-to-say-than.html

I was invited last night to by friends, Michael Hurst, Tim Ballard, and the Operation Underground Rescue team, to attend a film screening last night in Washington DC called, “The Abolitionists”, documenting the incredible impact of this rescue team, working to abolish child trafficking.

The team of Military Veterans, former CIA Officers, and Homeland Security Agents are working with local authorities to rescue children all over the world. Every 30 seconds, a child is sold into slavery. For the last two years, a team of filmmakers and undercover agents have been documenting these rescues.

The film directors, Darrin Fletcher & Chet Thomas, producer Gerald R. Molen, and OURrescue Team, provided a Q&A after the film. Others present, such as Senator Orrin Hatch, Trey Gowdy, and Allen West were also inspired by the unforgettable experience, and Allen published his own thoughts today, as well.

The UGLY truth about the Obama administration and sex trafficking in America... - Allen B. West - AllenBWest.com

Just a few shocking statistics:
- Human trafficking generates $9.5 billion yearly in the United States
- The average victim may be forced to have sex up to 20–48 times a day
- 1 in 3 teens on the street will be lured to prostitution within 48 hrs of leaving home

“It’s funny, because we all read history and we think, ‘Oh, I would … have risen up, I would have been an Abolitionist,’ and I would tell them, “No, you wouldn’t have. If you would have, you’d be doing that right now. You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.” ~ Tim Ballard (Founder & CEO of Operation Underground Railroad)

From the producer of Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park, “The Abolitionists” will premiere for a special one-night event on May 16th at theaters, nationwide. We all want to make an impact and do anything we can to help. Please share and help spread the word about this film and see how you can help. As Allen West also mentioned, it would be a noble cause to have this discussed during the current election.

Learn more about Operation Underground Rescue. #rescue2M

My son and I were talking about the highs and lows of life and he asked, “What’s the point of going on? Every day is just the same old thing, working to make it, barely surviving, struggling, fighting the rat race, paying bills, never getting ahead, and it all just ends.”

Surprisingly, I didn’t have a great answer at the moment, as it took me by surprise, with the spark that I’ve seen so lively before, now seemed to be smoldering. Those words have sat heavily with me, as there as so many points to ‘going on’, and even being a parent, is a first day experience, every day, as is life.

Son, this is what I would say to you and hope it re-starts the spark that on some days may be a flame, and others, a low roar, or maybe even a bonfire, and if it goes out again, that you have a bucket of kindling you choose to pull some light for the next time around.

The greatest gift every day is being alive, feeling your heart beat, every breath your lungs inhale, your body functioning to its best capacity, providing you with what it’s able to, and possibly even more.

It’s having the gift of choosing your own thoughts, what you’ll do with them, and how you might even share them with another, not knowing that you could be re-kindling the spark for someone else in your same shoes, or even worse.

It’s taking on a challenge you think might be near impossible, and choosing it anyway, without self-judgement of what the end result has to be.

It’s trying something new and different today, even if you think you already tried something similar yesterday. It will always be a new and different experience.

It’s creating your own belief system, simply because you can, or enjoying one that resonates.

It’s knowing your existence has an impact on everyone you meet, including yourself, and what you choose to do with that.

It’s creating the experience of respecting and loving yourself for exactly who you are today, as you’re not the same person you were yesterday, and you’ll be different tomorrow. Change is consistent.

It’s venturing into the unknown of, “What if’s”, because you can.

It’s the beautiful experience that some days you may cry, mourn, and weep. Others could be filled with laughter and smiles, and some, reverent observation, feeling inspired, or the fullest capacity of heartfelt love or even broken.

It’s choosing your own journey, not to be compared with another.

Son, what you choose to do with every waking hour is a beautiful journey that every soul alive, makes a choice of what they will do with that, and the meaning they give everything. I hope you do get to experience it all, to know the difference, and come up with your own translations. It molds us into the unique person we are, what we’re capable of, and never stop trying something new. You’re beautiful and imperfectly, perfect…and, what I love most about you.

#LiveBecauseYouChooseTo

It’s never an easy conversation with someone that you know is about to lose someone or something they love, but there was a little bit of something extra, as I stepped into the music studio to record one of my tunes, “Remember Me”, for Starship Farragut Films.

Some regret all the things they didn’t say, things they wish were different, take on unnecessary guilt, blame, or place labels on themselves or others. To all of those that have lost someone or something they held close to their hearts, or it is simply a time to let go, this song is for you or one you may want to share with another.

Here’s to Endings and Beginnings.

► Remember Me by Amy Berry
Written, composed, and performed by Amy Berry
for the movie, “Homecoming”, Starship Farragut Films.

Follow/Like/Signup @amyberrymusic on Twitter, Facebook, and Reverbnation for updates and to hear something that may speak to you.