Gratitude vs. Thank You

I believe it's quite obvious that my favorite word is gratitude, and I think it's a good word to promote. I have a gratitude jar, a gratitude journal, and an overall attitude of gratitude. I am thankful for breathing and being and everything in between. But I also believe that there is an extreme importance and need to increase the words "thank you." A few weeks ago in the mail I sent a card to a good friend over in the midwest. She sent me a text to say thank you. For a card! On the same day, I sent a card to a friend up in Massachusetts with a small little insert that reminded me of her. She sent me a snapchat and said thank you. Also for a card! I brought a hostess gift to a friend's parents in New York and just got the most thoughtful thank you card in the mail. It mad me smile, it made me realize how grateful they were, and it made me want to continue giving. They all truly appreciate the little things, as well as the big things. Saying thank you these days, with infinite means of constant communication, is quite simple. Things slip our busy minds all the time, but reaching out on some sort of technology is easy. Tradition is also important too though; sending actual thank you cards in the mail is both exciting and appreciated on the other end. There are some occasions where thank you notes don't need to be sent, though they would always be appreciated. However, there are also situations where thank you notes are absolutely necessary. When people go above and beyond, out of their way, make specific plans, or provide an extremely thoughtful or cherished gift or note, saying thank you via old fashioned snail mail completes the package! Saying thank you makes the extra effort worth it, and enjoyable. Going months without a word of thanks for hard thought out gifts is upsetting, at least to me. I am the type of person that puts a lot of thought and even some of my own DIY creativity into gifts that I give. Saying "thank you" should be an automatic response. It's sad that it's not, and makes me think my effort and ideas went completely unnoticed. Sometimes, it makes me not want to give again. I seem to think I have good intentions, but if they aren't perceived as such, I will save my energy the next time.

Saying thank you and meaning it needs to occur more in people's every day life. Learn how to look people in the eye, don't be afraid of strangers and hurry by, and don't forget the thank you notes to people who have made you smile.