No matter what, we all like to be recognized for the things we’ve done.
It doesn’t matter if you love doing it, or hate doing it, or didn’t really mind—chances are, you're appreciative when someone notices.
I think this is because we all strive for affirmation, and having someone else affirm our actions as good is very gratifying. It reminds us that we are doing something right, and someone else realizes it.
Ever since I’ve been little, I have always been told to say thank you. My Mom would always remind me by doing the sign language for “thank you” whenever I forgot. It is something I’m glad was instilled in my character as a child, because I believe saying thank you is the best affirmation.
However, there is a difference between a genuine thank you and a fake one. If you are offering thanks that is not real, you might as well not even say it at all. But, giving a genuine thanks to someone is something that is important and should not be overlooked.
A simple thank you goes a long way.
This past week, I was teaching a few 10 year olds in a camp. At the end of the week, two of the campers presented me with a handwritten note.
I was first, shocked, because I had expected nothing.
Next, I smiled as I opened the card.
They had both taken the time to write me a note, thanking me for being their teacher and explaining to me how I helped them and how much fun they had.
They had also signed their names in cursive, a feat in itself for a couple of 4th graders.
To be thanked in such a meaningful way is something that truly means more to me than any gift ever could. This is an affirmation that I did my job and someone appreciated it.
A thank you is so simple, and yet so understated. It is something that we often don’t do enough, and forget to do.
I think giving thanks is the most important thing to do, and it is vital we do not forget it. We can not let ourselves become a society that forgets to give appreciation for the actions of one another.
Giving a thank you is simple. It takes seconds, but has the power to make someones entire day.
