Today I wanna talk about something simple but super important – saying “thanks.” It’s a small thing, but man, it can make a big difference in how we get along with people.
So, I started thinking about this a few days ago. I was trying to write a thank-you note, and I realized I kinda suck at it. I mean, I know how to say “thanks,” but how do you make it sound like you really mean it? You know, not just some throwaway line. So, I did what any normal person would do and I Googled it. Yeah, I know, groundbreaking, right?
Turns out, there’s a whole bunch of stuff on how to write a good thank-you message. Who knew? I started reading through some articles, and they were all talking about being “genuine” and “heartfelt.” I was like, “Okay, sure, but how?” It’s like telling someone to “be funny.” Like, thanks, I’ll just flip my funny switch, no problem.
But then I started to get it. It’s not about following some formula or using fancy words. It’s about actually thinking about what the person did and how it made you feel.
For example, I was trying to write a thank-you note to my neighbor who had helped me with my broken lawnmower. Instead of just saying “Thanks for fixing my lawnmower,” I thought about how much time he saved me. I ended up writing, “I really appreciate you taking the time to help me with my lawnmower. I was totally lost, and you saved me a huge headache and probably a lot of money, too.”
See, it’s a little longer, but it feels more real, right? I also tried to remember specific things that people had done.
- Like when my friend Sarah helped me move last month. Instead of just, “Thanks for helping me move,” I wrote, “Thank you so much for helping me move last month! I couldn’t have done it without you, especially with all those heavy boxes. And thanks for ordering pizza afterward, that was the best!”
- Or when my boss gave me a chance to lead that big project, I wrote, “I am forever grateful for this opportunity. It means a lot that you have such confidence in me.”
I started practicing this in my everyday life, too. Not just in notes, but also in person.
I tried to be more specific when I thanked people. “Thank you for your valuable advice”, “I really appreciate your help”, “I applaud you for your excellent work” you know these words, say it out!
I noticed that people seemed to appreciate it when I took the time to really acknowledge what they had done. I don’t know, it just felt better. Like I was actually connecting with people on a deeper level or something. Plus, it made me feel good, too. It’s weird, but being more thankful actually made me happier.
So, yeah, that’s my little journey into the world of thank-yous. It’s not rocket science, but it’s something that I think we could all do a little better. It just takes a little bit of thought and effort, but it’s totally worth it. It makes the world a slightly better place, one “thank you” at a time.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!
