I am thankful for this time of year because it never fails to give me the nudge to reach out to others near and far to say hello, extend gratitude, or simply let them know they are loved. There are of course millions of ways to express gratitude but here are a few ideas that caught my attention:
Therapist, Julia Childs Heyl, suggests how to add meaning that goes beyond a quick “thanks.” Convey the depth of your gratitude by completing or adding to these statements:
- This means a lot… (tell them why you were so moved)
- I can’t express my gratitude enough. (when you can’t find the words)
- This makes me feel… (fill in the rest)
- This reminds me of … (what does the act of kindness make you think of)
- This moment will stick with me forever…(why?)
Consider treating someone to a coffee or lunch; handwrite a note; give credit where credit is due with a public shout-out; compliment someone with something specific; share a homemade gift or volunteer.
If you are lucky enough to gather with others during the holidays you might want to:
- Create a gratitude jar (where everyone drops in notes about what they are thankful for – you can read them aloud and guess who said what)
- Pass around gratitude journals (as a reminder to keep in mind what you are thankful for every day)
- Distribute stamped envelopes with note cards and give to guests (with the request to express gratitude to someone in their life).
I love how author Anne Lamott frames gratitude. “Gorgeous, amazing things come into our lives when we are paying attention: mangoes, grandnieces, Bach, ponds. This happens more often when we have as little expectation as possible. Astonishing material and revelation appear in our lives all the time. Let it be. Unto us, so much is given. We just have to be open for business.”
Gratitude in our hearts and minds translates to behavior about how we can be of service to others. When we are thankful for all we have been given, it is truly humbling and inspires us to look outside ourselves and say, “How can I help?”
