A few months ago, my husband found out that an old neighbor of his was diagnosed with cancer. He went to her home that day, cut her grass and told her he would continue do so for the remainder of the season. He also donated food for a benefit the community had to help her with living costs.
A few days after her benefit, he received a “thank you” card in the mail. In the card, she expressed her gratitude for the things he had done for her.
A thank you card. It is amazing how two words can mean so much to a person who has done something nice for someone. It’s recognition that serves as a meaning of appreciation instead of entitlement. It’s just plain courteous.
Just in case you need a reason to be courteous, I thought I would share some from an article in Forbes Magazine:
1. It’s the right thing to do.
2. Jimmy Fallon does it.
3. It sets you apart: “If you want to stand out, to be more polished, probably the easiest thing you can do is write that thank-you note.” –Heather Wiese, owner of Bell’Invito.
4. Gratitude is good for the brain: The more you practice gratitude, the more attuned you are to it and the more you can enjoy its psychological benefits.
5. Handwritten letters perpetuate a very important part of our culture: “When you write, there is no response to distract you from reaching within and exploring exactly what you feel and want to say”.-Florence Isaacs in Just a Note to Say.
Show appreciation for acts of kindness. Give acknowledgement of that action and let that special person know that their kindness left an impact and was appreciated.
;)
