Saying Thank You
Thank you. Two words we were all taught at a young age. While we've known them for as far back as we can remember, I find that they are grossly underused.
Every November it seems like suddenly people are full of gratitude. I am all for this, but what about the other 11 months of the year? Being thankful should be something we do all year long, rather than only because it's Thanksgiving/the Holidays. I don't mean to pat myself on the back here, I am certainly flawed, but one thing that I do pride myself on is saying thank you.
I recently had someone tell me that she needs to get better at thank you notes. Her comment struck me as strange, but then I realized that perhaps this is what's holding people back. When I thank someone, it isn't always in a formalized note. It may be a text, a Facebook message, a phone call, or in person. It's not so much about making a big fanfare as it is letting someone know that their actions matter and by association, they matter. We are so conditioned to expect criticism that a compliment and thanks catch us off guard; I want to change that. I can't tell you how many times I have called a restaurant or store to let them know that I appreciate their service or compliment something a particular employee did. Managers are often speechless, having steeled themselves for an angry customer complaint.
As we head into Thanksgiving week, I promise to keep saying thank you and hope you'll join me in giving thanks beyond Thursday.