Thanksgiving Monday - November 23, 2020

 Thanksgiving Monday - November 23rd, 2020

https://www.rd.com/list/13-simple-ways-to-give-thanks/

This is Thanksgiving week!

What does it mean to you to give THANKS?  

The Free Dictionary says 

“give thanks - express gratitude or show appreciation to. thank them. acknowledge what they did, recognize, - express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for; "We must acknowledge the kindness she showed towards us" convey - make known; pass on, of information; "She conveyed the message to me"

Is there a right way or a wrong way to express gratitude?  

I wonder about this.  How many times during a day do we say “thank you” as an expression of goodbye.  Think of this scenario.  I’ve just gotten groceries and as I leave the check-out counter I say “thank you”.  It isn’t a deep ‘thank you’ - but on the other hand, I am thankful that the clerk was there to check me out!!!  

[Aside - I grew up before checkout scanners and automated checkout stations.  I remember being in a grocery store as a child and the checkers seemed to have memorized almost all the prices.  Plus, in most stores, shelf stockers had a price-sticker-label gun that would print a sticker that would be affixed to every can box and product in the store.  Of course, lines could really back up if a checker had to call for a “price-check”!!!  Technology has really added the checkout process - with more technology coming!!]

The linked article today is from Reader’s Digest from readers on how they express thanks.  Let’s look at some of the ways

-. 1 “I send an actual note in the mail”

Do we send anything in the mail anymore?  I get my bills online and I pay them online.  I get ‘thank you’ notes online and I send ‘thank you’ notes online.  Some of my friends send online greeting cards (thanks Tom).  

Thinking of the Thanksgiving Holiday, I sent five notes (and cards) by post office mail.  I did print out ‘adult coloring pages’ and colored them saying thanks to my wonderful neighbors and friends - but I hand-delivered them.  

(Aside - I’ve almost used up all of last year’s Christmas stamps, so this week, I found 2020 Christmas stamps!!)

-. 2 “Open my heart and respond with love, no matter what.”

Those who read this blog frequently know I write “LOVE WINS”.  Responding in love is, at least to me, a part of saying “thanks” and really meaning it.  How can we really respond in love for when somebody has stepped out ‘above and beyond’ for you?  I’ve mentioned AP (and three other friends - who went ‘above and beyond to find me last year when I went to the Mental Hospital - without my phone or communications for four days) - they tracked me down!!!

-. 3 Praise what the person did to everyone so he or she looks good.

This is especially important in workplaces.  Compliment good work!!  To me, this is very important in volunteer situations.  If I am doing something good - for free - then make sure you thank me - and if somebody else is doing something good - for free - then I need to make sure I thank them!!!  If you want to encourage somebody, praise them for what they have done!!!

-. 5 Pay it forward with a kind deed.

I’m a big supporter of “Paying it forward”!!!  

(Of course, you should still say “THANK YOU”, but with a full and grateful heart, show some love to the next person!!!)

-. 6 Give a sincere thank-you, a genuine smile, and a heartfelt hug.

I’m a hugger.  I miss the days when I could give a side hug to a friend or to somebody who was kind and nice that I wanted to say “thank you”.   And, even with a face mask on, I can smile and say very sincerely “Thank you”!!!

-. 7 Let your actions speak loudly.

What actions can we do if we don’t hug?  Let our eyes sparkle?  Let our body language say “thank you”?

-. 8 Be kind to others and give a helping hand

I like the expression if you can be anything - be kind.  And, that kindness goes to ALL people.  The other day I was in our apartment office.  The manager and I are friends, but I’m also a friend with the reception  I made sure she was greeted and thanked.

-. 9 Actually mean it when you say it!

That sums it up.  Don’t say ‘thank you’ in a monotone, in a perfunctory manner.  Say it out ‘THANK YOU’.  

And, a little pet peeve.

In recent years, the response to “thank you” has changed.  I always used to say “You’re welcome”.  It seems like the response is getting to be ‘no problem’.  If I’m pushing my grocery cart through an aisle and a person moves their cart out of the way for me, and I say “thank you” (sincerely), a “no problem’ seems so much less than “You’re welcome”.  Yes, it was a little act - put the cart out of the middle of the aisle so I could pass - but I did appreciate it.  

Now, this week, we WILL count our blessings.  We are alive.  COVID hasn’t killed us.  We have a roof overhead.  We have food (and this week, probably plenty of food).  God is good!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Hugs!!!

Karen