Thank you for reading my blog.
We Canadians are famous for our politeness. We throw around “Excuse me”, “I’m sorry”, “Please”and “Thank you” with abandon. It’s like it’s second nature for us. Maybe that is because it is second nature for us. We could be known for worse things! However, our common use of these polite phrases can make us take them for granted.
At a recent seminar entitled “Knocking Down Silos”, www.realhumanbeing.org the speaker, Dave Howlett, guides us to become “Real Human Beings” (RHB). Among the several insights he offers on the road to becoming an RHB is this challenge. Over a period of five weeks, send out two thank you cards each week. That means you have to actually buy 10 thank you cards. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive. It means you have to buy 10 stamps (remember those?). You have to actually write something in the card and mail it. The key is to make them sincere and specific. Send them to people who have made a difference in your life. This seemed like a simple task and I was eager to tackle it. There are many people in my life that made a difference and when I really thought about it, I had neglected to let them know that. The results were astounding!
As I wrote my first couple of cards I found myself pouring out feelings of gratitude I had never put into words. I scribbled out mistakes and created words (no spell check here) and made a decision to mail them as I wrote them, errors and all. I can’t tell you the sense of fulfillment that came over me as I dutifully mailed these cards. If the results stopped there, it would have been enough. That’s not what happened. I received an overwhelming response. Every card I mailed was gratefully acknowledged, read and re-read, and cherished by its recipient. My 87-year-old father received the second card I wrote. Now, my father knows I love him and I know he loves me. We tell each other every time we talk. This veteran of wars, marriages, and life phoned me in tears, overwhelmed by this card. He talks about it constantly and shows it to everyone who will let him (he’s really not one you can say “no” to). He has insisted on displaying it at his wake (hopefully not too soon).
How can such a simple gesture mean so much to people? My theory is that you have acknowledged their contribution to you, and too many people go unacknowledged for anything. Needless to say, I have long ago seen the end of my original obligatory 10 cards. I continue to send out “thank you” cards on a regular basis. It’s a simple thing but I am always rewarded with a smile, a hug or just a “thank you”.
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Michelle,
I’m so glad to hear you’ve done this. Isn’t it the greatest feeling? How could we ever have lost the art of a simple, hand-written, sincere expression of thanks, an attaboy, encouragement, affection, appreciation?
Great blog. Thanks!
– Lynn Marie
Michelle,
This is a great blog. I’m glad to see the impact the cards have made. You are right, the simple things can make such a differerence or have a huge impact on someone.
Never under estimate the impression you can leave on someone.
Dan
Hi Michelle,
Good for you for trying “the sincere expression of thanks, an attaboy, encouragement, affection, appreciation.” I’m always gratified when someone from Knocking Down Silos takes up the RHB challenge.
And remember, to send the cards in 3rd gear, all those responses from your friends and relatives will be so much more special if they are unexpected. We always appreciate a thank you wave, we never demand one.
I’ll have another Toronto KDS event coming up soon!
Dave
hi michelle.
you’re so right, just letting someone know that they have made a difference with something they have done, said or simply just being part of your life can be so meaningful.
Funny I even did a thank you note for my late husband for his contribution and love and helping me be the person I am today.
Line
Thank You for this idea and Thank You for being YOU!
Showing LOVE is so powerful… this is such a fantastic way to share intimacy with people who are important to you. I can’t wait to start sending out my own thank-you cards… but first I must THANK YOU to you for this great idea!
I thank you all for your kind comments, and of course for reading my blog. It appears that many of you may take up this challenge and I would love to hear about it when you do. It was a pleasure to pass the idea along.
Thank you.
M
Great site, how do I subscribe?
Heart-warming wonderful blog! We spend so much of our days being on the receiving end of indifference and lack of acknowledgment, that it slowly chips away at us. We don’t tend to think about GIVING acknowledgment out first. Your thank you cards did just that and it always does come back to you tenfold. Dave’s message is powerful. I’m so glad you got to hear it and more importantly, that you embraced it. It’s one of the secrets to opening the door of each day and truly enjoying what comes your way. People have so much to give you if you set the stage for it. Thanks for sharing your great thoughts, Michelle!
You’re welcome!
😉