EXPRESSING THANKS THROUGH THE HAND-WRITTEN NOTE

At the crack of dawn, I found my husband catching up on emails in our home office.  He inspired me to clean out my side of the office, and to wrap up all kinds of loose ends.   I love the satisfaction that comes from doing this.  Also love how I always get fresh ideas during the process, and often come across office and art supplies that motivate me to take some kind of creative action.

This time around, I came across a bunch of thank you notecards.  It made me think about the fact that it's Thanksgiving time.  So there's this holiday with a kind of built-in reminder to be thankful for all that we have in our lives.

I do definitely like giving thanks out loud , verbally, in front of others.  And I also think that it's very powerful to put pen to paper when it comes to giving thanks.

So, this morning, I started to think about who I'd like to express thanks to with my note cards.

One person is my podiatrist, who referred me to a fantastic physical therapy venue that is filled with thoughtful people, a beautiful fish tank, and an adorable dog named Norman.  So I wrote a brief thank you to that podiatrist and will pop it in the mail today.

Now, I'm thinking of a few other people to whom I'd like to send a note. 

Here's a practical tip when it comes to writing thank-yous:  Make it easy and simple by having your supplies on hand.  Buy a box or two of thank you notes - ones that match your personality.  Invest in some return address labels (inexpensive to get on the Internet) and buy a sheet of your favorite postage stamps so you have plenty of those around as well.  Keep all this stuff handy, in one box, tray or folder.  That way, when you get the urge to thank, everything is right at your fingertips.

Trust me: In the age of electronic communication, your note will stand out.  People are more likely to keep a hand-written thank you longer than an email thank you.  And it's important to actually let people know how we feel, not just keep it a private thought in our heads.

So who in your life would you like to thank with a note?  Who has thanked you in this manner, and what impression did it leave with you?

CHECK OUT COLLEEN NEWVINE'S GRATITUDE CONTEST WITH COOL PRIZES!

Colleen Newvine Tebeau, who writes the sharp and thoughtful personal/professional development blog Newvine Growing, is sponsoring a very cool contest.

Let her know who you are grateful for and why and she will consider you for some lovely prizes appropriate for the Thanksgiving season. Go to her contest by clicking HERE.

In Colleen's own words:

"In the first week of Month of Thanksgiving, I’ve expressed gratitude for things including democracy, traditional jazz and New York City.

I also gave thanks for my trainer, and there are plenty more people in my life who make me grateful.*

Who are you grateful for? And why?

Maybe you thought of your spouse, or your best friend, or the best boss you’ve ever had?

How about the mechanic who you trust totally to never rip you off? The author whose books bring you joy? Your favorite waiter at your favorite restaurant, the one who makes you feel like a VIP?

Tell me who you’re grateful for and I’ll help you say thank you to the people who make your life better.

Comment on this blog post telling me who you’re grateful for and why, and I’ll choose my favorite and send that person a thank you gift during Thanksgiving week — a flower arrangement or a Zingerman’s treat, your choice."

THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED: THE WONDERMENT OF LIFE

Re-printed from Daily OM

Most of us begin our days with a continuous list of things we need to do to keep our lives running smoothly, but we rarely take time to note all the things we don’t need to do. For example, we don’t need to figure out how to breathe. We don’t need to find a way to make sure the earth continues to revolve around the sun. We don’t need to concentrate to ensure that our heart beats and our cells regenerate. All of these things, and many more, take care of themselves without our having to think or do anything at all. This is the miracle of life on earth.

Beyond the wonder of the natural world, we have the wonder of human-created conditions such as indoor plumbing, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, telephones, and the Internet to name a few. Someone living just a hundred years ago would be overwhelmed by the ease with which we can communicate with people all over the world. Every day, millions of us jump on airplanes and fly to distant locations in a matter of hours. If we have access to a computer, we can read obscure information about any subject, free of charge, at any time of the day or night. And yet, it’s only when one of these miraculous inventions fails that we notice it at all.

When you wake up tomorrow, take time to notice how many things are running smoothly, how many small miracles compose your day. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, as you put them on, take a moment to appreciate the fact that without them, you would be unable to see. Your life would be entirely different if someone hadn’t invented corrective lenses. As you take in your world, you might feel a moment of gratitude for the basic fact that, once again, the sun has risen to illuminate the abundant earth, and the earth’s gravitational field holds you and all that you hold dear in a tight, life-affirming embrace.