5 Ways to Show Gratitude

You can spend hundreds or even thousands of pesos showing someone how grateful you are for what they have done for you. But many times it is the simplest gestures that stand out the most.

Say thank you.

It may seem trivial, but show your appreciation immediately after accepting the gift. Remember a gift can be anything – items, praise, advice, etc. This reiterates how grateful and thankful you are.

A handwritten note is better. How often do you get a handwritten note these days? My guess is that you rarely do. Spend five minutes and write a note either on paper or on a card saying thank you. It is a guaranteed way to make the recipient smile.

P.S. – If the recipient is always traveling, an e-card or an email. This is acceptable if your recipient is active on social media networks (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.). What better way to show that you are grateful than shouting it out to the world and reaching millions of people. You’re act of gratitude can impact others who may also come to appreciate the recipient.

Send a small gift.

Send something meaningful that shows your appreciation. Now, we need to pause and define meaningful: “expressing an emotion or idea without words; having real importance or value,” according to MerriamWebster Dictionary.

The gift must have some meaning to the recipient. If he loves gourmet local food, you might wish to purchase a gift card for him at the gourmet grocery. Buy his cup of coffee. If she loves flowers, send a bouquet to her office.

The point here is to not only send a gift, but to send something that shows you have taken the extra effort. It will show them that you truly valued what they did for you.

Smile.

This one is the easiest on the list. Smiling is contagious and instantly brightens someone’s day. Combine this with a thank you and the recipient will be on cloud nine. You never know how much this will brighten someone’s world until it turns your day around when someone does it for you.

Words can’t explain it, but the impact shows when the recipient instantly smiles and passes it along.

People remember when you are thankful and you express it. When you are genuine and always grateful, you also notice when people do not take the extra second to say the two easy words that have so much more meaning: “thank you.”

Being grateful shows that you care and are glad that the recipient affected your life in a positive manner. These acts of gratitude are multiplied when the entire world does it, making the world a better place.

Can one act of gratitude and thankfulness change the world? Most probably so. When we acknowledge what impacts us in a positive way – the relationships that we have, the people that make us smile and brighten our day – it is contagious and shared. We are immediately compelled to do great things for others and brighten someone else’s day.

So, it’s time to show that you are grateful for the person who makes your days better, helps you out, and is there when you need him even when you least expect it. Send a note, pick up the phone, or send a gift and say “thank you.”