Everyone likes to feel appreciated. It doesn’t matter if it is for something small or something large, receiving a thank you after doing something nice for someone else automatically makes us feel great about ourselves and has some significant health benefits, too.
For instance, whether you are giving thanks or receiving thanks, it increases positive emotion – it will make both the giver and the receiver happier. This in turn helps protect against negative emotions like resentment and bitterness.
Another benefit is being able to cope with stress better and experience better relationships. All these plusses can lead to a happier and deeper spiritual life and better physical health. Happy people tend to feel more energetic and recover from illnesses more quickly.
A written thank you card is always nice, but unless you carry a bunch of cards around with you, it’s a little hard to do spontaneously – so a verbal “thank you”, said with a friendly smile is quick and easy and just as good. A simple ‘thank you’ can go a long way to brighten up another persons day, especially when given for the little things. So remember to thank everyone every day, and especially on International Thank You Day, Jan. 11.
Thank the person who holds the door open for you at the store, your spouse who hands you your cup of coffee in the morning, and give a friendly wave to the motorist who lets you into the lane in front of him on the road.
