G.K. Chesterton said, ‘I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder’. Saying ‘thank you’ is more than good manners; it is good spirituality. The attitude of gratitude can raise our altitude. Being thankful is a magical way to reach the top. Saying thanks costs nothing but gives everything.
I have been writing for Friday Gurgaon for over two years now and have written on more than a hundred people. All of these people, adults and children alike, were undoubtedly very grateful and happy to see their names and photos in print. I knew how delighted almost all of them were, but I did not hear the two words ‘thank you’ as often as I expected. Is it wrong for me to have such expectations and to put such value on these words? There are many ways to thank people. You can call them, text or mail them or send a ‘thank you’ note. How long does it take? And it costs nothing, not even any effort. One of the things my parents drummed into my ears and head as a child was the need to say ‘please, sorry and thank you’. I don’t know if it is the times we live in or the new culture that has killed these courteous acts. I’m really curious to know how many are out there in this big, bad world who feel the same way. Or do you think I’m overreacting? What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life works in the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. ‘Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. It expresses gratitude, humility and understanding. Make it a habit to say ‘thank you’; to express your appreciation - sincerely and genuinely; to truly appreciate those around you. You'll soon find many others around you. These small courtesies - especially a simple thank you - still create a powerful response in others.
According to positive psychologists, the words ‘thank you‘ are no longer just good manners - they are also beneficial to the self. Studies have suggested that being grateful can improve well-being and physical health, strengthen social relationships, produce positive emotional states and help us cope with stressful times. Thank you, thankfulness, gratitude, love -- these belong to a totally different plane of your being. They have little to do with the head, they have everything to do with the heart; and there is even a deeper layer than the heart – the soul.
Here are a few words that made my days!
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