Have you filled a bucket today? According to the children’s book, Have you Filled A Bucket Today, by Carol McCloud, everyone carries an invisible bucket. The one and only purpose of this invisible bucket is to hold your good thoughts and feelings about yourself. You feel sad and lonely when it’s empty, but if it’s full you are happy.
Pretty simple, right? But here’s the kicker, the author says you need other people to fill your bucket and they need you to fill theirs.
She explains, “When you show love to someone. When you say or do something kind. Or even when you give someone a smile. That’s being a bucket filler. “
This concept reminded me of January’s BIG IDEA, Humility, specifically the take home connection kit. At Family Experience (FX) we defined Humility as putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.
We want to come along side your family and get those BIG IDEAS working for you. Those fun kits you take home after each FX are designed to help you connect the BIG IDEA with real world application, especially within your family.
In reality Humility is actually the result of a host of other characteristics. Serving others. Accepting others. Loving others. Encouraging others. Being patient with others. Having concern for others.
These are the ways you put others first by giving up what you think you deserve. Humility is generated while living out of life full of those characteristics.
“Your caring words will fill their buckets right up.”
“A smile is a good clue you have filled a bucket.”
“Think of what you can say or do to fill it.”
“Decide to be a bucket filler.”
It’s a choice. You make a conscious choice to put someone else first. That doesn’t mean you think less of yourself, you just think of yourself, less. There’s still time left to pull out your conversation starters from your connection kit and have a great discussion about Humility. Then after you’ve done that check out Carol McCloud’s book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?