Ways To Show Gratitude

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. -Marcus Tullius Cicero

How about we start by simply saying thank you, daily? I mean, how difficult can that be, right?

If you’ve opened a few doors, given up your seat for another person or basically done just about anything for anyone other than yourself, you might have heard these magical words before.

Gratitude is not the same as giving thanks, though. It comes from a deeper place that knows the story could have ended differently, and often does.

According to many religions around the world gratitude is demonstrated through giving. It could be sacrificing your body in a form of fasting or something a lot less dramatic as offering flowers. If you’ve ever wondered why so many temples around the world are so breathtakingly beautiful, it’s just because some people continue, day after day, showing how grateful they are to what they believe in.

Yet, there come times were we, very deep inside, tend to believe we deserve everything that comes our way. Disagree? Let’s take a minute (or maybe a few more seconds, if you will) to remember the lives of all those brave women and men who’ve fought so you can continue to read this article in peace, without having to turn your head in all directions in fear. Did they have to do it? Did they have to do it for you at all?

Did I go too far? Ok, then. How about the girl at Starbucks? Extra foam on your triple grande latte just because you spared some change for the tips jar the last time you were there and the smiles, too, that was just her way of saying “Thank You” to you.

So, you see, it’s all about giving. Giving a smile, a handshake, a hug or share a few words of wisdom with those willing to listen.

You will find an unreasonable amount of websites online dedicated to providing ideas on how to be grateful. Is that a bad thing? Well, it really might depend on how you see it. If there are so many pages out there, it could be that more and more people are forgetting how to do it or, on the other hand, they might still want to maintain that correct attitude of gratitude. Either or, check out a few. Just write the words “ways to say thank you” to begin with.

If you’re still wondering why or how to be thankful, I guess it’s going to be mighty tough to pin-point a few. If you really must find out how to be grateful try focusing on your attitude. Being grateful is about having an attitude of recognition for other people’s doings and how they affect you, directly or indirectly.

Don’t think that everything coming your way is because you earned it. Maybe someone up there is keeping an eye on you; even if that someone up there is aunt Beth hoping you won’t find out she was the one who slipped those $50 bucks in your wallet when you forgot to take it out of your jeans when you put them into the washer.

So, I encourage you to start saying thank you a little more often or simply smile when someone holds the elevator door for you.

I am grateful that you took the time to read this. Below are some helpful sites I found if you’re in the mood of saying those magic words.

• 50 Ways to Show Gratitude for the People in Your Life
• 20 Ways to Show Unique Gratitude
• 22 Ways to Say Thank You