At 11pm Thursday night, I received a text message from a very important client. Normally, a late-night text – especially from a client – makes my heart skip a beat. I’m typically a glass-half-full kind of person; however, at that hour my first thought tends to be something like “What’s wrong?”
But this text served a completely different purpose. It was a text of gratitude, starting with a very simple phrase, “Just wanted to say thanks.” The rest was just as nice.
When was the last time you called/texted/emailed/wrote someone with the sole purpose of expressing gratitude? This text made my night! But, it also reminded me to spend more time on random acts of kindness. A simple gesture – even a brief, unexpected text – is so meaningful.
I get it. We’re all busy. So, start with these three tips, which will help you not only be more grateful, but convey it to the people who matter in your life.
- Each night before you go to bed, list three things your grateful for. (For me, this simple task helps me wind down from the day and reminds me how much I have to be thankful for.)
- Download the Postagram (iOS|Android) and Wordswag (iOS) apps. Use Wordswag to create a graphic. It can be a simple thank you, an inspirational quote, or even a couple sentences expressing your appreciation. Then, import that image to Postagram and send a super inexpensive postcard to a friend, colleague, client or partner. (Admit it, you still like receiving snail mail from friends!)
- Add a recurring half-hour “Express Gratitude” block to your calendar. Use that time each week to write a note, send an email or text, or – gasp! – pick up the phone with the sole purpose of expressing gratitude to someone. Don’t make an ask, don’t suggest getting together … just say thank you for something specific.
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Photo credit: Pixabay.com