On Sunday, we spent the evening with friends. Our banter ignited an insightful energy and in the background our daughters laughed and played in a way only children understand. I thought about this evening two days later and smiled, recalling the sunset that I caught from our friend’s balcony, a complex layer of pinks, purples and a brazen yellow signifying the ending of the day. There were several gifts from that night that lingered in my mind and these thoughts prompted me to open my desk drawer. I reached for my stationery. A fuchsia flower decorated the front and inside the words, Thank You, appeared on the creme background. I wrote a special note emphasizing our gratitude and mailed it to our friends.
I’ve always believed in the power of the words, “Thank You.” One of my favorite quotes about gratitude is from Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” For me, saying thank you is not only courteous, but is an active practice to participate in mindfulness. It is the the simplest way to affirm all of the people in your life, from the grocery clerk to your son or to the stranger who picks up your daughter’s pacifier at a restaurant.
In the days of texting, email and other impersonal ways to communicate our gratitude, the power of thank you gains more importance. How many times in the last year have you written a thank you note or picked up the phone to express your gratitude to a friend or a family member? I often hear many of my friends complaining that they cannot remember the last time they received a handwritten note in the mail. Its become a novelty to see a colored envelope in the mail that displays handwriting not generated by a computer.
Over the years, I’ve collected various thank you or handwritten notes that I’ve received in the mail. A few times a year, by sheer chance, one note might cross my path. I reread the lines written inside and smile at the various ways friends and family members express their thanks. Most of them end with those two words, thank you, and I am reminded again of a moment we shared. I smile, tuck the note away and that sentiment lingers throughout the day.
Saying thank you often carries the power to uplift, soften hurt feelings or build relationships. I saw it again, this evening, with my daughter. She wrote me a little love note and I wrote back two words, “Thank You.” As she grabbed the note and read the words, her skip back to her room carried an extra bounce.
There is power in the words, thank you. We should never underestimate its reach.
This post originally appeared on the First Day.
Gratitude is transforming. It is the one thing that always reframes my experience. I used to keep a gratitude journal and each night I wrote 2-3 things that I was thankful for that day. They didn’t have to be big things — in fact the smaller the better. It changed my outlook because as I went about my day I was searching for something to write in the journal rather than focusing on things that upset me.
Thank you 🙂 for reminding me about that journal. I think I’ll start it again. Wonderful post, Rudri.
“Thank you” is my favorite. It has so many meanings, and then only one – just the same. I love its power. I love when my kids say it. I love when I do.
Thank you is powerful…it validates, strengthens, and unites.
A beautiful post! Thank you is powerful and the only way to live. Coincidentally I have a card on the counter heading your way. I am sorry it took this long but things have been crazy for me. Thank you! Xoxo
Yes and thank you! For the reminder. I often have the urge to do this, but for some reason stop myself- maybe I feel silly? I have a note I’ve been meaning to write and today I will do so.
Have a beautiful day!
xo A.
It all rings true – I try to always remember to say ‘thank you’ and definitely try to remind my son to do the same because it makes all the difference. Especially when someone is being gracious and doing something that takes time out of their day for you. 🙂 Have a great one Rudri! -Iva
I love this Rudri, and agree. Handwritten notes are so special, and I save the ones friends send me, which is rare are you know. I hand wrote thank you notes for my daughter’s birthday and while it was arduous in a way, it felt good to know people were receiving mail about my genuine gratitude. Thank you for reminding me that we don’t need a special occasion to do so.