Words Can
Heal 
People We Often Forget to Thank
No words are as healing as words of gratitude. Thanksgiving is the
perfect time to express thanks - and not only to close relatives and
friends. This Thanksgiving, why not expand your circle of gratitude
to include everyone who has benefited you? Here are two
suggestions:
- People who benefited you long ago. The effect of a good deed
lasts forever. Why shouldn’t your gratitude? For example,
some people say, “I was a discipline problem in school until
fourth grade. My fourth grade teacher turned me around with her
understanding and encouragement. I became a good student from then
on.” But how many of those people take the time and energy to
locate their fourth grade teachers and thank them? Imagine the
effect on a retired teacher of receiving a thank you letter from a
student of twenty or thirty years ago, with an update on how he or
she has succeeded in life, thanks in part to the self-esteem
imbued by this teacher!
- How about the employer who gave you your first break? The
relative who lent you money to get started in business? The friend
who gave you emotional support during a crisis two decades
ago?
- How would you feel receiving a letter, phone call, or email
beginning, “Even though we haven’t been in touch for a
long time, I still appreciate what you did for me years ago. You
really helped me when I most needed it....”? If you would
love to get such a letter or call, why not initiate one? You never
know. Your communication may come at a time when your benefactor
most needs it!
- People who get paid for benefiting you. It is a common but
mistaken notion that if people get paid for helping you, you
don’t owe them gratitude. What would your life be like
without the garbage collectors, repairmen, income tax accountants,
computer technical support personnel, taxi or bus drivers,
supermarket stock boys, etc.? Everyone wants to be appreciated for
his or her contribution. This Thanksgiving week, how about
expressing thanks to everyone who benefits you! For example, after
standing in an unusually long line at the supermarket, you may be
too harried or impatient to notice that the checkout person has
been working non-stop for many hours, at a job that is probably
less creative or personally fulfilling than yours. How about
reading her nametag and saying, “This must be a really
pressured time of year for you, Melinda. I want you to know that I
appreciate your efficient and courteous service.” It will
take you eight seconds, and may make her day!
- If your oven breaks down the day before Thanksgiving, the
repairman who comes to fix it will certainly charge you - and much
more than you’d like to pay! But what if he and all the other
oven repairmen were not available to come at all? How about saying
to him, “I really appreciate your fixing my oven. I could
never in a million years have fixed it. When that turkey is served
tomorrow, you’ll be the real hero!”
Source: Brought to you by www.verticalresponse.com
Visit www.WordsCanHeal.org
for more ideas on how to heal with words. And spread the word! Send
this message out today -- together we can make a
difference!
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