In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude¹ to the one who'd lived those years with us. In fact, we don't have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones closet to us—the ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now! While your feeling of appreciation² is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world's happiness.

 

Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, it brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.

 

Of course, there are times when you can't express gratitude immediately. In that case don't let embarrassment³ sink you into silence-speak up the first time you have the chance. 

 

Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia. The Indians, he had been told, did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people had exceptional generosity⁴. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks. 

 

I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive, more caring? 

 

Thankfulness sets in motion a chain reaction that transforms people all around us—including ourselves. For no one ever misunderstands the melody of a grateful heart. Its message is universal; its lyrics⁵ transcend⁶ all earthly barriers; its music touches the heavens.

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