Who Do You Need to Thank?

"What if you gave someone a gift and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another?  Life is the same way.  In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have."
~Ralph Marston

So... if you gave someone a gift and they didn't offer any sort of gratitude in return, how would you react?  Would you be upset and never give them anything again?  Would you try to give them the benefit of the doubt?  Would you be offended?  What would you do?

I am going to be straight forward - when I hold the door for someone and they don't say "thank you" or when I let someone go in front of me on the road and they don't give me a courtesty wave, I get a little offended.  I know, I know... that is not the POINT of being nice, but it helps a little to at least know someone appreciated the tiny gesture. 

This is something I am working on, though.  Maybe when we do something nice for someone else, they don't realize it at the time.  But when they have a chance to pay it forward by opening a door or letting someone go in front of them at Starbucks, they do it.  Something triggers in their mind and says "OH yeah, someone did this for me, I can do it for someone else."

Or maybe they never pay it forward and they don't even realize that you just did something for them that you didn't have to do.  And that is ok too.  Because you should feel good about doing it :)

Challenge of the week - Think about someone you don't thank enough.  Maybe it is your spouse or your friend or your dog or whatever.  Someone who is there for you regardless.  Maybe it has become second nature to count on them.  Don't forget to thank them.  Don't take them for granted!

Today's Starfish


I have been thinking hard about someone who does things for me who I don't really thank very much.  There is always my mom and dad who I will NEVER be able to thank enough for everything they have done for me - especially for giving me life!

But my mind does wander to one person who I have a hard time showing gratitude to... my brother!  He does a lot for me - everything that an older brother is supposed to do.  Of course we do have our little tiffs and scuttles, but at the end of the day he is my big brother and would do anything for me.  Like he lets me live in his house.  And puts things together for me that I have no idea how to start.  And fixes the TV when I press the wrong button.  And lets me have a bunch of girls over to his house for crafting, baking and wine drinking. And he tells me when I am dating a loser.  And brings me Starbucks (like tonight) when I am in the middle of reading, writing and organizing.  So yes - he definitely deserves a small token of gratitude from me.  And plus, I won't have to send this in the mail since he is right upstairs :).