GRATITUDE WORKS BETTER
A simple thank you goes a long way.
I remember my mom getting upset when I ate too fast. She would tell me how long it took her to cook the meal and how fast I plowed through it. Of course, it was also better for my health to slow down, but really, it was her feeling that I wasn’t grateful for her work of cooking a meal. These days I love lingering over food and conversation, and when I’m in a restaurant where I barely get to finish my plate before it’s taken away, I get frustrated. Looking around, I often see people rushing to eat, partly on their phones while doing so, and barely engaging and rarely noticing the people who serve them their meal, let alone say thank you.
The other day, I sat with a friend discussing something frustrating. I paused for a moment to reset my thinking and refocus my mind because all I needed was to vent briefly; I didn’t actually need to talk about the issue. Instead, I shifted my attention and said, " Thank you for listening. I just needed to voice it. " Then we shifted our conversation to having much to be grateful for, starting with the simple fact that we were safe.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
I have been practicing saying thank you more this past year. I say it to strangers, peers, friends, co-workers, and even my dog. However, the practice of saying thank you only works if it comes with a pause to acknowledge the person in front of you. Feeling seen and that our work matters can be a simple thank you. Feeling that our effort is worth it can be a simple thank you for your care, attention, and effort. People don’t have to care. When they do, it fuels connection, communication, and collaboration. The power of care can start with a simple thank you; it goes a long way.
Thank you for your care and attention towards yourself, the people around you, and your work. The more we care, the more we build something that matters together. The more we pause to see each other, listen, and ask questions, the stronger our connection. The more we pause to say thank you, the more we share the care and acknowledge people, showing them that they and their work matter.
We always said thank you when we finished a meal in our house. I still do, even if I’m the only one eating. Even though I’m the one cooking. I say thank you to places when I leave because it gave me shelter or an experience. I say thank you to my car and my motorcycle for getting me where I’m going safely. I say thank you to the water, the soil, the sun, and the fire because it’s all part of keeping us alive. I say thank you as a prayer, and it reminds me to pause and care with intention. Maybe it sounds a bit silly, but why not be more grateful?
Thank you for being you. Thank you for being here. And thank you for caring. It matters.
