Monday, November 24, 2008

Have you said "Thank You" today?

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. - G.B. Stern

This week I'm giving as much thanks as possible. With that thought, I've decided to write on gratitude every day until Thankgiving. I hope you'll spend as much time giving thanks too.

There's been a lot of talk about gratitude of late. Anyone who's seen The Secret or read anything about the law of attraction in the last few years has noted that this is apparently a very important part of attracting all that is good to you.

I agree for this reason, but also for others.

As a child, I, like so many other good children, was taught to say "please" and "thank you". The point was to be polite above all else. But as I grew up, I began saying "thank you" for a whole other reason.

You see, people react a certain way to you when you extend the courtesy of a well said "thanks". People need to feel appreciated, respected, and wanted. They want to know that what they do has some measure of reward - just as you do. And when that appreciation is shown, they continue doing that which rewards them with gratitude.

Also, it means nothing to feel grateful if you aren't expressing it to this person. Silence, in this case, means that you have not noticed someone's thoughtfulness or kindness. Silence may mean you don't care when you should.

Now, take that one step further, and apply this to the Divine. Your gratitude towards God/the Universe/the Eternal Being (whatever your point of view), should be said aloud, expressed as fully as you can. Hearing yourself say it can only reinforce it.

And in this case, there's so much to be thankful for.

Have you said "thank you" today?

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