Karma Christine Salvato
Staff Writer
Grazie. Danke. Merci. Gracias. Arigato. Obrigada. Toda. Mahalo. Takk.
Thank you. No matter what language you say it in, the meaning behind the word (or words) is the same.
Unfortunately, this simple expression seems to have become as rare as a blue diamond. We all learned the importance of saying “please” and “thank you” when we were younger. But somehow, between our teenage years and adult years, these have evolved into forgotten phrases — especially the latter one.
Saying “thank you” seems like such a simple request, but for some people it becomes a complicated matter.
It may seem like an insignificant phrase, but it is really rather important when you stop to think about it.
For something that takes such minimal effort, it seems like something that would be heard all of the time. But that isn’t always the case. Often times we get so wrapped up in our own lives, or are so focused on the next place that we have to be — or thing we have to do — that we hurry along without expressing our appreciation.
We need to develop and cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
We need to start being thankful for all of the blessings in our lives and begin to share the gratitude with those around us.
Say thank you to your parents, friends, family, professors, strangers, the FedEx guy (or gal) who delivers your package, the clerk at the store who helped you (or simply rang up your items), the neighbor down the street who always smiles when you drive by, the person who touched your life in some way, or the individual who was there for you when you needed someone most.
Say thank you after an interview, when accepting a gift and before every meal. In other words, say thank you to everybody — and say it all the time.
Whether someone sends you an e-mail, gives you a call, sends you something or performs a kind deed — just say thank you. It may be all someone needs to hear to brighten their day.
We also need to start giving more thanks to God for all he does for us, and shares with us, on a daily basis.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name,” says Psalm 100:4-5. “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
We should be saying thank you to the Lord every morning that we wake up to greet a new day, and every evening after the day is complete.
We should thank him for all of the gifts in our life, and all the things to come.
Thank you is the one phrase that can never be said too much. So go ahead — overuse it a little. You might even be surprised by some of the reactions you get.
Oh, and by the way, thank you for taking the time to read what I had to say.
—Want to say a quick thank you? E-mail Karma Christine Salvato at PrancingPen@aol.com.
March 27, 2003