[Greg Needel]

Taken from Dave on Facebook

Last year, NASA issued 283 grants to teams to participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition program. By the end of the year exactly six formal "thank you"s had been received from those 283 teams. Six. Out of 283. There are some days where I see the behavior of the 277 silent teams as a depressing commentary on the lack of manners of two generations (FRC teams are made of both students and adult mentors - a failure to display good manners is just as much their responsibility as the students, if not more so).

But more often, I try to focus on the six messages that did arrive. Since last year those six letters have sat on the corner of my desk, and have never been filed away. When things at work get overwhelming and I start to question the value of being in the middle of yet another large government bureaucracy, I pick up one of those letters. When they are needed, those letters are my “Thursdays.” They remind me why NASA participates in a program like FIRST and the value that it delivers. But even more, reading one can revitalize an entire day. That the day may be dominated by activities unrelated to the letter doesn’t matter. Just the fundamental message from someone saying “thank you – we noticed what you have done, and it is appreciated” can change a day for the better. It is one of those little things that really can make a difference.