A colleague I admire called me yesterday to talk business, but she ended the call wonderfully by encouraging me. It lasted all of 45 seconds, but it meant a lot to me, and I told her so. I wasn’t having a particularly bad day or anything. It was ho-hum business as usual, but after her phone call, I definitely perked up a bit. My productivity likely increased, and a slight spring appeared in my step. I know people appreciate me, but it is always great to hear when people appreciate me.

After our phone call, I remembered Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE’s, hilarious talk at the 36th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress ONCC Breakfast, which celebrates nurses who are certified in oncology nursing. Among the side-splitting laughter, she said two things that stood out to me.

First, she said, “If you want to be significant, encourage the people around you.” How true. When I think about the significant people in my life and those that have made the biggest differences, they have always been people of proximity that have spent time encouraging me and shaping my character, knowledge, and experience. Doing such takes an extensive amount of time and both miniscule snippets of time. The best encouragers are those that uplift the people around themselves consistently 10 seconds at a time. A “great job” here and a “I am so glad I get to learn from you” there. They have built encouragement and positive thinking and words into their daily lives.

Second, Karyn talked about how nurses remain in the profession simply by “just showing up.” It might not be easy and we may not want to do it for days at a time, but we do it anyway. We show up. We know people depend on us to be beside them during the best and worst moments of their lives. We show up. Every day. We show up.

So, today, thank you for just showing up, for conquering half the battle, for being present and caring for those you do not know. I may not know you personally, but by way of encouragement, keep showing up, and remember the people around you. They’re doing a great job, too. Let them know so.