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An Honoring Note Courier is a catalyst for inspiration, someone who shares their heartfelt Honoring Note and ignites the spark in others, inspiring 3 or more people to share their stories. Together, they create a ripple effect of appreciation and recognition, making a lasting impact.

Thank you for being the change I want to see in the world and for creating space for others to do the same.

Chris Palmore / The Gratitude Junkie

Stepping into the elevator, I absentmindedly pushed the button for the fifth floor, 5C. The elevator was crowded, but I can’t recall who was there with me. My mind was already on the day ahead, mentally preparing for another shift caring for patients. As I moved off the elevator and approached the nurses’ station, the usual hustle and bustle of a busy unit greeted me. It was 6:30 AM, and I was ready for the day shift—a routine I knew well.

As the charge nurse, my responsibility was to ensure the smooth operation of the unit, to be aware of everything going on with our patients, and to support the nurses who needed help. I glanced at the large board displaying everyone’s names and the status of their rooms. One room, however, stood out. It was empty, though it shouldn’t have been. The patient who occupied that room, someone I’d come to know well over the past few years as she received nutritional support and off and on medical treatments was no longer listed.

A quick explanation from a colleague informed me that she had been transferred to the ICU overnight. She had developed adult respiratory distress, and her condition had worsened. Her husband had.been at her side, playing the guitar as they prepared to take her off the ventilator. The news hit me hard. She was more than just a patient to me—she was someone I connected with, someone close to my own age. We had shared many conversations, and now, she was gone.

Her death was a stark reminder of life’s fragility, and it forced me to confront the reality that our time here is limited. In that moment, I realized that I didn’t want her passing to be just another loss, another sad event in a day filled with them. It needed to mean something more. I decided to use this experience to reevaluate my own life, to ask myself how I would feel if I looked back ten years from now. Was I making the best decisions for myself? Was I living in a way that honored the time I have?

This reflection became a turning point for me, a pivot that has shaped how I live my life. I often revisit that question: If I look back ten years from now, how will I feel about the choices I’m making today?

Her memory continues to guide me, reminding me to make the most of every moment and to live with intention. It’s a lesson learned on 5C, a lesson in life, loss, and the importance of living fully, even in the face of inevitable goodbyes.

Christopher, your presence in my life has been transformative. You are a person of incredible depth, kindness, and wisdom, and these qualities have had a profound impact on me. Your love for the spiritual realms, your passion for the Norse culture, and your unique perspective on life have taught me to see the world in a different light.

You’re not just my son; you’re a guiding light. Your sense of humor brings joy into every room you enter, and your ability to see beyond the surface has often reminded me to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the everyday. Your tattoos, which represent your beliefs, are a testament to your strong sense of self and your commitment to living authentically.

In moments when I’ve struggled, it’s been your quiet strength and understanding that have helped me find my own. You’ve shown me how to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience, and I am endlessly proud of the man you’ve become.

Your impact on my life is profound, and I am forever grateful for the way you’ve shaped who I am today.
You are a beautiful soul, and being your mom is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.
I love you,
Mom mama ma mommy Debbie aka Blah

My stepfather. Sleepless nights, physical and psychological abuse. Running away from home because of it, and becoming a nomad out of necessity, being discriminated against for feeling like I could be anywhere but also feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere. Creating my own path since I was 10 years old, forming my own moral principles, and deciding along the way what I wanted and didn’t want to do with my life, despite the temptation to do everything morally wrong. Being a victim of the consequences of another child’s trauma (my stepfather) and having to face the world at such a young age, and still emerging unscathed from such an experience, helped shape the man I am today, to rise above adversity, and to say NO to evil even though it was the only thing I knew. The abuse my stepfather inflicted on me and the unintentional complicity of a mother who made me feel alone and abandoned while I knelt and prayed to God in the early mornings to rescue me from that place, is the best thing that ever happened to me in life. Because despite my physical suffering and lack of help, I didn’t realize that I was building the mental and emotional strength I now possess, the strength that made me build without depending on anyone, the strength that empowered me in my ventures, the strength that made me resilient in the face of discrimination for not being born with a silver spoon. The evil and destruction I endured as a child gave me the strength and emotional intelligence I have today, which allowed me to achieve everything I’ve set my mind to and to rise from blows that would knock down anyone else. Thank you, stepfather, thank you for being an instrument, I forgive you, it wasn’t your fault, you were a victim too, I understand your pain, I felt it in my body while you unleashed your anger. Thank you for being an instrument of God. I am grateful for the life God gave me and your role in it.

I don’t think Mr. Hanson, my 9th grade English teacher knew the impact he had on my life. I may have realized it a few years later – from the English fundamentals he taught and the vocabulary he gifted us as reluctant sponges. But later in life, my friends and I have often talked about the life lessons he also instilled in us. I was fortunate to talk with him one day when I was already a young mother and he was long-since retired. We had a talk about all the lessons I remembered and the ways he shaped so many lives. He asked me to be sure to pay it forward with my own children and any children I teach. He died soon after our conversation. I have kept his memory as a blessing and shared so many stories, lessons AND vocabulary words because of my experiences with him.

Chris Palmore / The Gratitude Junkie has been an inspiration to me as he is passionate about helping others and generous.

My Dad. We always didn’t have a great relationship. The last ten years I was his caregiver and by the time of his passing we both learned about forgiving each other. Now I know that forgiveness truly does set us free.

My wife has been my rock. My inspiration. My partner. My life would have a hole in it without her. She is the foundation on which everything is built.