This one goes out to the unsung heroes of this world:

The retail workers, the parole officers, the medical supply salesmen, the grocery store cashiers, the IT analysts, the teacher aides.

This is for every person who has at one point woken up thinking, Will anything I do today even matter? For all the people who work for hours with no gratification, for everyone who deals with angry, rude or unpleasant people day in and day out. Regardless of your field, your company, or your salary, no matter what your job title is, you deserve a sincere apology.

I am sorry. On behalf of that guy who yelled at you when you brought him a cheeseburger that the chef forgot to put onions on, I am sorry. On behalf of the very angry woman who could not wrap her head around your company’s return policy, I am sorry. On behalf of the boss who still hasn’t acknowledged that your attention to detail is the real reason for your company’s recent success, I am sorry. On behalf of everyone who has disrespected you for waking up every day, working hard and doing the right thing, I am so incredibly sorry.

You should know that you are appreciated. Thank you for working long hours with no real gratification. Thank you for dealing with very angry or unpleasant people. Thank you for putting up with hot shot bosses who think they know it all, for swallowing your pride and powering through, no matter how much you want to stand up and quit. Thank you for doing things that are boring, difficult, messy, unpleasant and tedious.

Your work matters. No matter how small it seems, no matter how boring it may be, you are making the world a better place by doing your job. You perform a job that is necessary and important, and even though it may not be championed by society or the media, it matters. Every day that you begrudgingly put on your big kid pants and head off to your thankless job, you are making a difference.

You might be working to save money for your future, your college or your family. You might be working for a company or organization that you truly believe in. Whatever the reason, thank you. You are doing the right thing. Your dedication, hard work and perseverance in the face of a job that truly sucks is admirable. You should know that even though it may seem like nobody cares about your work, without you things would fall apart.

Just because you don’t hear it every day, doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve it, so thank you. Next time you feel like quitting, next time you feel the need to throw your company cell phone off of the Golden Gate Bridge, just remember that the world needs good people like you and that even if you’re just doing this for the paycheck, you are doing the right thing by not giving up. For everyone who doesn’t notice everything you do, thank you.