Two words . . . two seconds . . .

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

- William Arthur Ward

Doesn't it feel great to say "thank you"? It's so satisfying and so simple.

"Thank you" can mean "you matter" . . . "you've helped me" . . . "I recognize your existence in the world". It only takes two seconds to say the two words yet so many of us forget to do it.. . . or are too busy or distracted to take the opportunity to say it.

Gratitude.

A sincere "thank you" is a gift you give. Don't underestimate the value.

When I say sincere, I mean with no expectation, no obligation, no attachment to the outcome. A "thank you" with a hitch is really just a bribe. But, a "thank you" for the sake of expressing sincere gratitude is a pure gift.

Do you hold back? Are you being stingy with your thank yous?

Unbelievably, we do keep them to ourselves sometimes. We have our reasons. Maybe subconsciously we are afraid, we are threatened or insecure in our own voice. We might allow jealousy or a feeling of vulnerability to keep us from expressing the words, all the while robbing ourselves and others of the pure power of gratitude.

It has been said that people who say they are grateful to those around them suffer from less stress, less depression and less physical ailments then the population as a whole. Saying "thank you" can clear up miscommunications, heal old wounds and actually change the course of a life. It seems in giving gratitude, we share equally in the benefits.

"Life's too short" we often say. And it certainly rings true here. There's no better day than today. There's no special occasion or right time to wait for to tell those around you how grateful you are for them, for something they've done for you, for making a difference in your world. Heck, for making your latte just the way you like it.

It only takes a conscious effort on your part to be aware and offer a sincere "thank you" at every opportunity.

Two words, two seconds to make the world a better place.

Say "thank you" and begin it.

A special group of women in Titirangi, New Zealand recently gave me this carved greenstone necklace. It is the Maori triple twist, symbolizing the strong bonds and loyalty of friendship. In our 6 short weeks of sharing together, they proved themselves so courageous in their exploration of personal development. The necklace is more precious to me than they will ever know. As I wear it daily, I am reminded of their strength and courage and how grateful I am to them for the experience. The gratitude they expressed is contagious and effects my life daily. They continue to teach me. Thank you.

And thank you to Helen while I'm at it! She exemplifies the phrase "pay it forward" and has been invaluable to me while rebuilding this site. Thank you, Helen, for taking time out of your busy day to share your expertise with me.

You can learn more about Helen and her work on her excellent website:
Consistent Parenting - places particular emphasis on parents' emotional growth and maturity, focusing on enabling parents' emotional maturity through addressing self esteem issues, feelings, habits, routines, relationsip issues, responsibilities and more.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

- Melody Beattie Ward