Thanksgiving is one of my favorite US holidays. It is Fall and getting cold in Maine, but there are still sunny days perfect for walking in the woods. Family gathers – with kids returning home from college to reconnect with parents and siblings for a four-day weekend. And most importantly, the holiday is based on the concept of expressing gratitude – giving thanks – for the good things in our life, and the need to not delay and just say it now.
The Importance of Gratitude
Giving back to others is Rule 8 of the Personal Kaizen 10 Rules of Life. Giving boosts your physical and mental health and makes you a happier person.
One of the easiest ways to give back is by taking the time to thank others for the work they do or contributions they make. Expressing gratitude can be done in person, by phone call, by email or text, or with a simple “thank you” note. To provide health and wellness benefits for both the giver and receiver of the gratitude you only need one thing – for the gratitude to be genuine.
A Lean East Thanksgiving Tradition
Lean East has been expressing gratitude at the Thanksgiving holiday for many years now. We typically send a holiday card from our team to thank the many clients we have worked with throughout the year.
I would like to encourage everyone reading this to also set aside a moment for expressing gratitude during this holiday week. Please consider completing one or more of these ideas:
- Send a thanksgiving card or note to someone who has helped you at work or home
- Visit an important person in your life to let them know how they have made a difference
- Call, text, or email someone to express gratitude for how they helped you
The key is to do it now, before it is too late!
Don’t Wait Until It Is Too Late…
When I was just 23 years old, I led a team of maintenance workers at a paper mill in upstate New York. This was my first job leading people, and a challenging one as I had multiple unionized mill workers reporting to me who had started working at the mill before I was even born.
I learned a lot about leadership in the position and have my boss at the time to thank for many of the lessons. I decided to thank him for his lessons during a visit back to the area. Only I didn’t make it back there for a few years, and a friend contacted me one day to tell me that my former boss had died suddenly of a heart attack.
Just Say It Now!
Think of all the people who have helped shape your life. Isn’t it time we let them know? Say It now before it’s too late!
I recently came across the site JustSayItNow.org that claims to be the largest gratitude moment on the planet. They provide another simple option for expressing gratitude:
- Think of someone in your life who you are grateful for
- Reflect on the impact they’ve had on your life
- Film it and share your #JustSayItNow with them. Share Now!
My hope is that everyone who reads this post will click on the Share Now link and record a quick video expressing their gratitude.
Summary
Happy Thanksgiving to our friends, followers, current clients, and future clients!
Please share additional thoughts and more ideas for expressing gratitude in the comments below.
