Please Say Thank You
When I was growing up, my mother was uncompromising when it came to manners. Please and thank you were considered a must. She used to say that even if we robbed banks for a living, we’d better say please and thank you while doing it.
Consequently, I say thank you a lot. People I have worked with over the years have often told me that I don’t have to say thank you so much, to which I always respond, “Oh, yes I do!”
Recently, a woman at work who works on a whole different floor, doing a totally different job than I do, stopped to help me out for a few minutes. I wasn’t struggling and I hadn’t asked for help, she was just being kind. When I thanked her, she told me I didn’t need to thank her, it was no big deal. I told her that if I didn’t thank her, my mother would come back to haunt me.
The truth of the matter is, I wasn’t thanking her out of habit–I really appreciated her thoughtfulness and kindness.
When I am the happy recipient of someone’s act of kindness, I want them to know that it didn’t go unnoticed.
I am thankful not just because someone was kind to me, but also because when people put themselves out to be kind to someone else it makes me feel more connected to humanity. It makes the phrase “family of man” feel real, not just a figure of speech.
Then that one act of kindness inspires me to do random acts of kindness of my own. And I’m smiling and feeling good about life and someone else is inspired to be kind.
It snowballs.
Next thing you know, kindness is breaking out all over the place.
That’s the world I want to live in.
I’ll never find the cure for cancer.
I won’t solve world hunger.
I’m pretty sure if a way is found to stop wars from breaking out, it will not be me who found it.
I don’t have the skills or the fortitude to do those great things, but as Mother Teresa said, I can do small things with great love.
I can be the change I wish to see in the world.
I can acknowledge the kindness of others.
When you catch someone being thoughtful and kind…please say thank you.
Know someone who would appreciate this post? Please pass it on. Thank you!
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You never know how far the effects of your kindness might go Carol. Maybe the child you were kind to will grow up to cure cancer! I love Amelia Earhart’s quote – “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” I love that your mother said you better say please and thank you even if you rob banks for a living – that is SO her 🙂 I walked past your childhood home a few days ago and saw a nice looking young man coming out the front door. He said hello, and I said hello. I wanted to stop and tell him that I spent many of my early years playing in this house, but I felt silly so I kept walking. So speaking of thank you, thank you for all of the fun times playing at your house, in your yard, shared meals and sleepovers in your tent camper! Such great memories. I’m so lucky to have grown up in Walnut Street!
I agree with you and Amelia…you never know where that act of kindness will lead. I love the visual of it making new trees!
Speaking of Walnut Street…those of us who grew up at that time and that place were all lucky. What a wonderful childhood it was. You’re welcome and thank you for the memories. For letting me borrow your bike, for letting me have my breakfast cheerios without sugar, for having the only place I was able to spend the night at without getting so homesick I had to go home.
If you see that nice young man coming out of my house again, please tell him that I hope he and his family have as wonderful a life in that house as I did! Thank you!
I will definitely do that! I just passed by again but of course, being a weekday, nobody was home. I think it’s sweet that they have a dog and so do the neighbors (the old Williams place!), so they put an electric fence around both properties so the dogs can play together.
I’m glad you didn’t get homesick sleeping over at my house 🙂 And you can borrow my bike anytime!
That is so cool! The Walnut Street spirit lives on!
Next time I’m home, I’ll take you up on the bike thing!
Marcie drove by 274 a while back and they were having a garage sale. She stopped in and met Shelby and Dan, the new owners . They told her that people always comment about how sweet our parents were when they find out that they bought our house.
Nancy, next time stop and tell them. They do seem to me to be a next gen. Art & Lucy.I believe we sold the house to the right family. Mike
NoraFey, says thank you all the time. She’s thankful for you, you can tell 😘
I love it that thank you is one of the things she says the most. It’s a good thing to say!
If she only knew how thankful I am for her! I can’t imagine life without NoraFey. She’s such a loving and special child (as all your children are)!
Thank you for making me a grandma!
Thankfulness and love seem to belong together, they fulfill each other to happiness…
I love that…thank you!
Good morning. I love your thoughts and your writing about kindness and just saying thank you and meaning it. Girl, I am sitting at my desk and my Mama and Daddy’s pictures are proudly displayed where I can see their smiles daily. I looked up at both pictures, particularly at my mama’s and just chuckled out loud! I can see her looking down at me from heaven right now and saying, “Yep I taught you that too”. To this day I am like you. I often say just a simple thank you to the cashier at the grocery store or any store for that matter or to a fellow coworker or a friend in conversation. Sometimes I get a you are welcome back from the older cashiers. Most of the younger ones, who first of all unlike the older ones, have not even said hello or looked at you until they ask for money. This is after I have said, “Hello, how are you today?” But no response and then when you say thank you, they just look at you like you are ridiculous but occasionally you get that hesitant, “you are welcome”, along with a slight smile. A simple thank you, an act of kindness a gentle word or a smile still goes a long way today. Have a great weekend Carol Horton and THANK YOU for your writings. I love them and the smile your ideas and thoughts always put on my face and lift my spirits. So, again, Thank You Ma’am. I am looking forward to the next writing.
Love,
Susan
You are absolutely welcome!