Gratitude Grows
When you spend even a moment in gratitude, the ripple effects can be?astounding.?
Consider this note I just received:
Hi Deri:
I attended a seminar you led recently. I enjoyed it, and got a lot of good stuff from the whole day, but wanted to share my favorite part of it, and the outcome. You asked each of us to write a gratitude letter at the end of the seminar. I chose to write my husband, and filled one side of the orange paper with things I appreciate about him. We were heading out immediately after to visit our daughter and her family in another city for the long weekend, so I didn’t give it to him until I saw it in my purse…good thing it was orange!!?? I gave it to?him on the weekend, while we were still visiting there.? He read it, gave me a big hug, and said he really thought it was nice.
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That would have been a fine ending, but it gets better. He works?away during the week in a town about 3 hours away, so we chat each evening about our day.? He told me that he had been having supper with a good friend, and found the orange paper in his pocket. He gave it to his friend, to read.? The man was visibly emotional, gave my husband a hug, and said that he wished that he had what we, as a couple, obviously had.
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This moved me for many reasons…my husband had the paper with him…so it meant something to him.? He wanted to share it with a friend, who further affirmed how special it was…and the fact that two men who respect each other really had a moment of communication that went way past the surface.
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Thanks Deri, for inspiring that wonderful moment, and for all the warm fuzzies I have had thinking about it!
Is that cool, or what??!
It amazes me, whenever I do an exercise like that, just how powerful moments of gratitude can be; and how they can grow.? If you are interested in reading more, you can find all sorts of articles on the power of gratitude online, in places such as Positive Psychology News Daily?and Psychology Today.???
I had another ‘moment’ just the other day.? My brother posted a video of my grandmother (who died several years ago at the age of 97) speaking about what her life was like in the 1930’s raising three boys in small (rustic) northern Manitoba towns.? It may not be riveting video to the general population, but it sure was to me.? I paused and reflected on how grateful I am to have had such a wonderful role model in my life.?
That’s not the best part, though!? The best part is seeing all the comments that soon attached to the video.? A whole bunch of people, who knew my grandmother as a teacher (and general character around town)?commented on what my grandmother meant to them,?and how happy they were to know her (a little moment of gratitude for them too!).? This one especially stood out for me:
I remember when we were kids, we used to wait after school got out for the grades one and twos so we could hold her hand on the walk home…She made us take turns so no-one got left out.??
That about summarizes my grandma.??Although life?was?tough and?she had her share of heartache, she always focued on what she?could do for others, and?on all the blessings she?quickly saw in life.?
So, try it out.? Take a few minutes and write a gratitude letter to someone in your life.?? Tell him or her what you appreciate most, and what impact he or she has had on your life.? That person will totally love it!? And, you might never know who else will benefit from your letter.? After all,?gratitude grows!
Deri Latimer, B Mgt, CSP, is an expert in positive possibilities for people! She is one of fewer than 10% of speakers globally who hold the designation of Certified Speaking Professional. Deri combines a Business degree in Human Resources with experience from business sectors including health care, manufacturing, education, agriculture, government, mining, transportation, tourism, and professional services. Deri provides practical strategies for mental health ‘at work’; impacting individuals and organizations?to increase resilience to change, energize engagement with the organization, and propel meaningful performance results that last!??www.derilatimer.com
Nice one Der. Here’s one more vid of Gram from around the same time. What a gal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwKocVrTOEo&feature=plcp
xo, d.
Love it! Thank you, Devin! What a gal, is right!!