The Art of Thankfulness
Thankfulness is an important ingredient to add new friendships and to strengthen our existing relationships along the way. We are days away from the season of Thanksgiving here in America and typically is a time when friends and family gather around the table for a meal.
Thankfulness can be expressed in many ways. I remember a time when my Father and I went to a grocery store to pick up a few things – ‘The Honey-Do List’. While in the checkout line I noticed the clerk had a look on her face expressing to all, this was not a good day. It was our turn in the checkout when my dad spoke up and said, ‘Your hair looks very nice today.’ She immediately began to shine and said, ‘Thank You.’ After saying that, she turned to the clerk next to her and said, ‘You know you look very nice today.’ I stood there and watched this happen, when all of a sudden the next clerk turned to the third clerk and commented on her appearance! I was amazed how I was able to witness how one compliment began to have a ‘Chain reaction’ from one to another.
Showing thankfulness to each other can take someone from a place of feeling low to a feeling of elation. Try this on for size. What if you were feeling low and instead of groveling over your misfortune, you turned and thought of the people or things you were thankful for and then acted upon it. Give action to your feelings. Maybe the clerk noticed that the other one looked nice but she was too focused on her own pain to actually say something.
Zig Ziglar once said, ‘To deny your talents, is to deny your friends and family the fruit of those talents.’ Expressing thankfulness is a talent and is not to be denied but expressed.
One night my lovely wife, whom I have written about, was fast asleep from a long day. I realized that she does a lot that I am thankful for, so I left ‘I Love You’ notes everywhere on things that I knew she did everyday. I left one on the mirror when she gets ready in the morning, on the toys for the boys at bath time, on the door when she lets the dog out – you get my point. Over the next few days she would stumble upon an ‘I Love You’. Everything she does means so much to me that I wanted her to know I am thankful for her and all the things she does.
Now it’s your turn to put action to your thankfulness. Leave your comments of whom or what you’re thankful for on this post and then forward this post (Share This) to them to put action to your thankfulness. They will read your comments and then comment and pay it forward as well.






November 24th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Great timely post Michael. I am so thankful for so many blessings.
My home, my job, my family, my health, the ability to touch others in positive ways. This is a ‘Pay it forward’ post.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
For my husband who has made so many sacrifices that I might be able to follow my dreams.
November 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Well put! Having an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness not only does wonders for yourself, but it can be contagious (as you witnessed). Being thankful for who you are and what you already have will open you up to receiving more of everything great in the world. It also allows you to be more comfortable sharing with others and improving the lives around you through simple acts.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 24th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
This is a fantastic way to show your gratitude and thankfulness for the everyday things. My Mom and Step Dad do the same. I am going to start training my boys young to do this as well. Thanks for the reminder!
November 24th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
It’s true sometimes it’s the little things that mean so much to someone and it gets passed around and can do more good than one person can know. That’s what little blessings are about. I just posted Thanksgiving Day Grace and Christmas Day Prayer on my site. I’d like to encourage more pay it forward type of acts.
Thanks for the opportunity to post on this subject.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Hey Michael,
Enjoyed your thoughts…. and I know that even after 20 years of marriage…Jim and I need to express thankfulness to each other on a regular basis….I appreciate your initiative to express that to Jen…I know she doesn’t do those things for that….but it does mean alot to be appreciated…
Patti
November 25th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Love it!!!
November 25th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I love and ma so thankful for you, Jen, Joshua and Josiah.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I love it. You’re right. Good deal. Keep up the good work, man!
December 1st, 2008 at 1:04 am
Great post. Thansfulness is so important. When we appreciate what we have. We will notice we have more and we will also be given more.
Thank You.
Giovanna Garcia
December 4th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Hi Micheal I have been meaning to write to you as I love your site and your blog, you have great ideas and write well and seem to have the knack at being successful with UFF. Which is what we all want and you seem to be a good role model.Thanks for being helpful to us troubled ones on the forum.
Thanks
Kevin Jackson
December 10th, 2008 at 6:18 am
I love the I LOVE YOU sticky notes! I do the same for my husband…actually I haven’t in a while because I’ve been so busy blogging! But thanks for the reminder on how important it is to express thanks! (Although my husband always comments on how “corny” the notes are, I think he appreciates them)!