I'd like to send a message to you.

Yes you.

On this, the second year anniversary of writing this column, I want to tell you how vitally important it is to have you as a reader and how much I appreciate how you contribute every day to the ebb and flow of your community.

I truly value you. I value the commitment you’ve made to your job, your family, your neighborhood and yourself. I value your strength and perseverance when things are difficult and the wisdom you gain from the challenges that life presents you.

I want to acknowledge how hard you try to do the very best in providing for your family, your children, and yourself. I realize you might make mistakes the underlying beauty in that realization is that it’s okay when I make them, too. I want you to know that for every unexpected turn, lies a path of uncharted opportunity that we have the tools to embrace and overcome. I want you to know that even when things seem bleak, you’re doing an incredible job.

I need you. Without you, my car wouldn’t run, my family wouldn’t be fed, my home wouldn’t be functional, or my stories wouldn’t be read. Each one of you is a vital thread in the fabric of our community. I wouldn’t be able to make it without you.

I especially want to give gratitude to those of you who have reached out to me and taken the time to give me feedback or express your appreciation for the stories I have shared. Believe me, the pleasure and joy have been mine. I have been gifted with an opportunity to search deep for the laughter, the light, and the “bright side” of some of my most difficult moments. It has made me love my spouse, my children, and my daily experience even more, which in turn has made my life richer than words can say.

Ever since I was a child, I have wanted to make people feel, even for a moment, a greater appreciation for love and for life. Humor is a fabulous panacea. For me, it is my personal way to extend a moment of kindness to another human being. I believe laughter or a smile is monumental in raising our experience to a higher level. I hope I have been able to bring some of those moments to you.

In light of this, I’d like to extend an invitation to all of you to join me in extending some “Random Acts of Brightness” to friends, families, and maybe most importantly: strangers. One kind gesture to just one person can impact an entire family, or perhaps, an entire community. Here are some ideas to get you started, but being the exceptional individual that you are, I’m sure it won’t take long to think of some ideas which are uniquely special to you!

Random Acts of Brightness:

Write a thank-you note to someone who made a difference in your life.

The next time someone speaks with you, make a point of really listening.

Commit to not supporting gossip in the workplace.

Leave the housework and play with your children.

Pick up litter as you walk home.

Plant a tree for the planet.

Make a donation of blood to the local blood bank.

Visit an elderly neighbor and shovel snow, rake leaves, or cut the lawn: free of charge.

Take a dog for a walk at the local animal shelter.

Baby-sit for a friend or a single mom on your community block.

Forgive someone.

Make a commitment to be the change you want to see in the world.

Thank you for giving me this awesome opportunity to come into your lives and homes in this way. I am a better person because of it. (You can ask my husband!)