How are we supposed to thank the people in our lives that move mountains for us? I’m not talking about your neighbors who help you out with some yard work, your parents giving you their classic worldly advice, or even your best friend. We all have coworker friends, acquaintance-type friends, good friends (and bad ones); but some people are fortunate enough to have found their person.
Characters Meredith Grey and Christina Yang, from the television series Grey’s Anatomy, have turned the words “my” and “person” into an infamously recognizable phrase. Finding your person is a task at which completion means that you will never be alone. This is a person that you stumble upon in life, and usually come at the most perfect time. This is not entirely reliant on finding a significant other, as those who are familiar with the television series are quite aware of. Not to say that your partner cannot be your person, just meaning that the two are not entirely connected. The show has also pointed out that a person can indeed have multiple people. Basically, the word person has turned into defining an extremely valued individual (or set of individuals) in our lives.
Your person is like your other half. You may not realize it the moment that you meet, but you soon come to find that they simply complete you. This person will know you far greater than anyone else in your life, maybe even your parents. Not matter what this person decides to do, you more often than not believe that they have made the correct decision; sometimes, you put your own decision into their hands, trusting them to make the choice that you would. Distance means practically nothing in this type of relationship. Sometimes, you feel like they are there with you. Especially with technology making communication so easily accessible, FaceTime allows you to almost be WITH that person, no matter how many miles separate you.
So, how are we supposed to thank the person(s) in our lives who drop everything to answer our phones calls? The one(s) who take us on late night drives to discuss important matters, which turn into midnight donut runs (when we all know both parties involved have to work in the morning)? The one(s) who we deliver good news and break bad news to, and know about the life-changing decision before we tell actual family? The one(s) who know something is wrong just by looking at us, or hearing our voices? How do we say thank you?
You can’t.
You cannot say, “thank you,” too many times—the words begin to lose their meaning. You cannot pay them back as if settling a debt; life is not even in that way. You cannot make plans to do something to show your appreciation for their help, because half the things they do for you are so natural, they are overlooked by everyone involved. You cannot write them a thank you card, or bake them cookies—these acts will not do justice to your amount of thankfulness.
The absolute only way to thank your person is to be their person.
