If not, today is definitely the day to do it. It’s National Thank you Day!
Sometimes I think that there are holiday’s custom-made for The Appreciation Factor, and if so, this is surely one of them. As one of the biggest proponents of expressing my appreciation and saying thanks, this day speaks volumes. Of course, for those of you who know me well, we shouldn’t require a “holiday” dedicated to appreciation to be the only time and/or reason to say thanks, but if it helps… I’ll take it!
Does Saying Thanks Make a Difference?
Saying thank you is powerful. It can bring joy. It can immediately disarm someone who’s feeling under appreciated. It can also provide validation for the hard work. I even read a great article that said showing appreciation to your employees will subconsciously make them work harder for you and increase their longevity at the company. I know I try harder when a boss has told me that I’ve done a good job.
I think this is why it always puzzles me when these comments come up, “You’re paid to do a good job,” and “They are supposed to do X so why should I thank them?” I don’t ever think that monetary compensation or the fact that a task/chore is something a person is supposed to do should be a reason not say thank you. Nor do I think that others always intuitively know that you are grateful unless you say something. People thrive on praise and often strive to feel worthy. Saying thank you or sending a thank you note is a great way to acknowledge their help, and to help them achieve those goals.
Thanks Aren’t Necessary…. That’s probably not 100% True
I’m sure you’ve met someone who’s said, “It’s OK, I don’t need any thanks,” but likely it’s not 100% true. If you agree with Dr. Laura Trice (in the TED Talk below), people may say this simply because admitting that they need and want to feel appreciated and praised would be sharing their deep-seeded insecurities/needs. I would propose that these people would appreciate it if you shared your gratitude for the help, support, or kind act.
On this National Thank You Day, I’m pledging to write and/or say thank you to those who are making a difference in my life, supporting my goals. I’m also going to make sure that I go out of my way to thank those for the simpler things, like the stranger who holds the door for you, or the librarian who took a few extra minutes to help find that “must read book”. So how about it? Today on #NationalThankYouDay take that extra minute and say thanks. I KNOW it will make a difference in someone’s day.
And a tip: If you’re on the receiving end, be sure to say “You’re Welcome.” So often we counter with “No problem,” “It’s OK,” or “Don’t Worry About it,” but whatever we’ve done did help someone and it make a difference. So it’s better to graciously acknowledge the thanks and move on.
Want to Make Your Thank You Extra Special?
Send a handwritten thank you note. (Always my preferred method of showing gratitude.) These are some of the cards I’m using these days. Many have “Thank you” incorporated on the card itself, but if you recall Janet Parnes, the etiquette expert’s advice it’s actually better to NOT have “Thank you” imprinted. So I sometimes use these lovely gold embossed initial cards below that I received for Christmas.
Card Details:
Thanks a Ton: This cutie is from Red + Wolfe, an eco-friendly paper company that gives $1 per card sold to wildlife conservation. For all of you Bostonian followers, this owner/maker, Rachel Mott sells her cards at SOWA markets and at several specialty boutiques in the South End. (I’m planning to feature her in the blog soon so keep a look out).
Thank You with gold embossed starfish: Picked up these gems at #Marshalls. They’re a part of Graphic de France’s La Petite Presse line. They are so cute that I almost hated to use them!
Gold Hand Engraved Initial K: Available in every letter of the alphabet, these are from Crane
**Need tips on writing a powerful thank you note? Check out this post or this one.
The Appreciation Factor 