Everyone Needs a Warm Fuzzies Folder…
A few years ago, I was talking with a friend and fellow blogger/speaker, and she was telling me about a note that her son wrote and stuck in her lunch bag (a bit of role reversal!). She was telling me it was one she would keep. I shared with her how I have a “Warm Fuzzies Folder” that I keep for just such items. She informed me that I MUST blog about this folder and the need for everyone to have one. 🙂
An idea from a former boss
I can’t take credit for the idea of the Warm Fuzzies Folder. When I was a college advisor, a former boss of mine actually encouraged me to make one. A student that I had advised gave me a nice note. Their note stated how much they had appreciated me and how much I had encouraged and helped them in their college career. I shared the note with my boss because that token of gratitude had really made my day and meant a lot to me.
When I showed it to her she said, “You need to put that in a Warm Fuzzies Folder.” I replied with, “A Warm Fuzzies Folder? What’s that?” She then asked me to follow her to her office where she pulled open a desk filing drawer and pulled out a folder labeled “Warm Fuzzies”. Then she told me that the Warm Fuzzies Folder was a place where she kept items that people had given her that had made her have a warm and fuzzy feeling inside—things that made her happy and smile. She told me that it was important to keep those items so that I can go back to that folder on hard days for some encouragement.
I’ve kept a Warm Fuzzies Folder ever since!
I took her advice and have kept a Warm Fuzzies Folder ever since! Actually, I have a couple now. I have one for tangible items like cards, notes, and even some old homework assignments from some of my students. Now, I also have a digital Warm Fuzzies Folder on my computer to save e-mails, digital photos, or even nice comments that people have put on my blog. I can’t tell you how much it helps to refer back to those on days when I question why I do what I do…teach, blog, etc. On those days when I get hateful reviews, comments, or complaints, I can go back to those warm fuzzies, get encouraged and remember that I really do make a difference for some people.