I kept a gratitude journal for years, but for whatever reason I had stopped doing that until I started up again recently. Some evenings I have to think a little to find my 'required' 3 entries for that day, while other times I have 'trouble' picking from a plethora of choices. In any event, it's definitely a worthwhile exercise - everyone should try it. It's a delightful way to discover that in the Big Picture, there's SO much in Life for which to be grateful... but too often we focus on hole and not the bagel!
A university professor began reflecting on the people who had a positive impact on his life. In particular, he remembered a schoolteacher who had gone out of her way to instill in him a love of poetry. He hadn't seen or spoken to her in many years, but he found her address and sent her a letter of thanks. A short time later, he received this reply:
"'My dear Willie, I cannot tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my 80s, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and, like the last leaf of autumn, lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue-cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has in many years."
The teacher's note brought the professor to tears - and then he began searching for others who'd shaped his life, just to say thanks.
If only more people held onto gratitude the way they hold a grudge!
None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone's help is a big part of understanding the importance of saying thank you.
It's more than just good manners. Saying thank you - and meaning it - is never a bad idea. It appeals to a basic human need to be appreciated. It sets the stage for the next pleasant encounter. And it keeps in perspective the importance of receiving and giving help.
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