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appreciation, connection, friendship, gifts, gratitude, happiness, heartfelt, Intentionality, kindness, life, love, presence, Reflection, relationships, thankful, writing
How do you express your gratitude? This prompt made me really think about how I show people I appreciate them, and whether they really feel it when I do.
I don’t often make big public proclamations of thanks. It’s not that I’m not grateful (I am, deeply so) but sometimes it feels more meaningful to express it directly, in a quieter way. That said, if something began publicly (like someone went out of their way for me in a group setting or helped me in front of others), then yes, I’ll absolutely speak up and make sure the whole room knows just how thankful I am. I want people to know they’re seen.
Most of the time though, my gratitude comes out in words and actions. Not just a quick “thank you,” but something more thoughtful. I try to let people know I appreciate them, not just the thing they did. That matters to me. I want them to feel valued, not just useful.
One of my favorite ways to show it is through small, personal thank-you gifts. Nothing major or flashy, just a little happy that makes someone smile. Something that says, “Hey, I see you. I appreciate you. You made a difference.” It could be their favorite drink, a funny keychain that reminded me of them, a handwritten note; just something that feels like them. I think the effort behind the gift says more than the gift itself.
Gratitude, to me, isn’t just about politeness. It’s about connection. About making sure people know that what they did mattered and that they matter.
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