And…that’s a wrap!

After two weeks on the road, the Recognition Road Trip made it to Santa Monica Pier, the official ending point of Route 66.

What better place to end? The pier was filled with people of all ages and nationalities. Some had also just completed their Route 66 journey. Others were simply enjoying the beautiful California weather, the company of loved ones, and the upbeat atmosphere.

At the start of our trip, we wondered if we lived in an “Under-Appreciation Nation.”

Well, we interviewed a total of 86 strangers (and talked to many more) about their OGOs, who are the most important people in their lives. We asked why recognition is important and how it makes them feel when they receive it. We also dared them to recognize their OGO on the spot!

Our experience talking with these folks totally confirmed our hypothesis that there are so many good, open people in the world!

To be honest, we had no idea if people would give us the time of day. (And to be fair, the first man that we approached literally said, “That’s weird,” and walked away!)

But after we got that one blip out of the way, it was smooth sailing all the way across the country, and we've never been so optimistic about humanity!

We met inspirational people like Charlotte from Normal, IL, who spent a lot of time in the hospital as a child because of temporal lobe seizures. Due to the side effects of her treatment, she was bullied throughout childhood. Despite everything she’s been through, she believes that “People are awesome!” When asked to recognize her OGO, Charlotte rattled off so many names of amazing people who have made a difference in her life. She could hardly decide! That was the moment that it clicked for us that there are so many OGOs in the world, all deserving of recognition.

We asked people what they thought about OGO and our Recognition Road Trip.

The majority said that because the media is so inundated with negative stories these days, it is easy to lose sight of the positive.

These same people also believed that we need OGO in our lives to help counteract this and change the story - to celebrate the positive in life! To recognize your mom’s strength and positive attitude as she finishes her last round of chemo. To give a shout out to the stranger who paid for your subway fare in NYC. To step out of your comfort zone and give recognition and appreciation to the people in the world who need it most.

Overall, people were willing to admit that they sometimes let recognition fall through the cracks. They’re overwhelmed with work, kids, school, friendships, and life that sometimes it can be a struggle just to get through the day in one piece. But those who acknowledged this also believed that recognition is extremely important and were ready to take make a change. They accepted our challenge to write letters, make phone calls, and give meaningful, personal compliments to the person next to them.

And why is recognition so important?

Because it has the power to change someone’s day. Heck, it has the power to change someone’s life!

Curtis in Venice Beach believes that recognition “is vital. We all crave validation and love from our fellow human beings, and I don’t think we can pass it on enough. So the more that we can pass it on, the more that it will come right back to us.”

Linda from New York says that her dedication to complimenting her students “absolutely” has the power to change their lives. “I’ve had students come back to visit and tell me that the things I said to them changed them and that they remember for years and years and years."

In Flagstaff, Anastasia talked about her OGO, who is her mother. “You don’t feel the need to tell her about it because it’s something that you get so used to. But it’s important to bring attention to the important people in your life because you wouldn’t be the person that you are without them. It’s important to let them know how thankful you are. Some people are like, ‘I never told them how I really felt,’ but you should tell them every day! Stop being emo and tell them how you feel! It’s important for people to be expressive and let others know that they are appreciated!”

And as Lucas, the Rollerblader of Venice Beach, said, the power of recognition “is like a wave.” When you go out of your way to say something unexpectedly kind to someone, that person is then more mindful about how they are treating other people, and is more likely to pass that kindness forward. You could be wearing “the ugliest shoes in the world, but when one person says a nice thing to you, you’re ecstatic. You’re stoked!”

The moral of the story? We all have the power to initiate that wave of positivity and have an obligation to keep the ripple effect going.

So I challenge you to help us keep what we started on Route 66 going! If a stranger compliments your shoes, give a genuine smile to the next person you see! If it’s your dad’s birthday next week, don’t just buy him a gift card! Create a video of his friends and family recalling their favorite memory they’ve shared with him. If you have let a friendship fall through the cracks due to your busy schedule, call them up and ask how their year has been!

Set aside your pride or apprehension and recognize someone for being awesome! It can make the absolute difference.

And to answer the question we asked at the beginning of our trip, are we the Under-Appreciation Nation?

Some might say yes.

But I have full confidence that the OGOs we met along the way have set that recognition wave in motion and we are well on our way to a more positive, appreciative world!

Let’s go OGO!

- Carly Sullivan