A little package arrived at the LAB yesterday. Inside was an unsolicited note of thank from a handmaker for a post I did a few weeks ago, as well as two handmade tokens of their gratitude. It’s not the first time I’ve received a gift like this and, knowing the kind-heartedness of the handmade community, probably not the last.
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have to say that each time I receive a note of thanks, my heart immediately warms. For someone to take the time to write (and in some cases, make) a card and put it in the mail, just to say thanks, is something that I don’t take for granted. I do love the little gifts too, but it’s the note of gracious gratitude that impresses me most.
Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don’t unravel. – Anonymous
Let’s face it, we live in a world that has grown increasingly thankless. Instead of diminishing the power of a kind ‘thank you’, that should make us ever more appreciative when someone displays appreciation, even for the little things. I find that I have to stop and ask myself, ‘Have I expressed gratitude to someone today?’.
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world. – William Shakespeare
For creative folks, most of us have mentors who encourage, friends who inspire and teachers who support us. When was the last time we sent a note of gratitude to them, unsolicited and unconnected, with the hopes of nothing in return?
My question to you is this: Can you think of someone who you would love to thank for helping you to achieve your creative goals? Let us know in the comments below.
Love this, Brett. Thank you. 😉
Giving thanks is a gift for the giver as much as it is the receiver…
Yes! Who doesn’t want the greater joy of giving thanks, right?
Oh yes Brett…several. I have packages and sweet notes to send out too. Thank you is so powerful. So nice to be reminded.
Hi Brett! I discovered your blog a few weeks ago (thanks, again, for featuring my tea towel!! It meant so much to me) and am delighted to see you here on OMHG. Great post on the power of gratitude 🙂 and so true.
My pleasure! Thank you for creating. I love your work!
I feel the same way. Blogging is such a great give & take.
Hi Brett, what a lovely post! I have a thank you/pay it forward project that I’m in the process of gathering together as I think it’s so important to stop & not only appreciate the help of others, but to recognize it. It seems so common today to hear all about the bad that we’ve become surprised when we hear the good! Well, not here on OMHG, but out there in the big bad everyday, I find. Humble be those that are graciously grateful… I would say, thank you, Brett!
Thanks Geri! I have a project in the works myself. There can never be too much gratitude. It’s so sorely missing from the world around us. So, let’s create some!
A beautiful post. Food for the Soul, your thoughts echoed so movingly through those you quoted. Your words reflect what my precious mother so often said to me. Thank people. Tell them when they are wonderful. Why wait? Tell them now. Spread gratitude. Thank you for planting such a lovely seed here in this post!
Thank you so much Brett for your creativity, gentlemanly awesomeness, and for sharing the power of gratitude with us. You walk the walk daily online and I have been so inspired by your growth in the last year. I am honoured to have you as a contributor and friend!
One of my favourite things to do is spread little bits of love and thanks when I can-I thank people for being awesome when I see them struggling or succeeding or just being fabulous. And I get it back in SPADES! It isn’t the intention-but spreading goodness makes you attract goodness. Bad things still happen but there is a network of support to always be thankful for-I think this makes all the difference! We all need cheerleaders and I am grateful you are one of mine, it means the world to me!
I am loving every last bit of this conversation and post- I wish I could visit with you all more here but I’m racing to get our marketplace all ready to launch next month. Thankyouthankyouthankyou to infinity and beyond:)
This ^ is exactly why we love you and why you are such an inspiration (and so much more)!
Kimberly & Jessica: Thank you both for your kind words. Can’t wait to see that marketplace launched and sailing through the stratosphere! Kim- I love finding artists to share. The creativity I discover is so moving and inspiring. And so is this great community that Jessika has dreamed into life.
Thank YOU for this wonderful post and litte reminder to give more thanks, Brett! I love that the communities here on both OMHG and the LAB have an attitude of gratitude that seems to permeate throughout everything. I think it brings us all so much closer together and that’s why they are both such wonderful communities! By the way, Brett, your website is looking awesome. I love all that you are doing with the handmade directory and all the sharing going on. Plus, the items you have been showcasing are so beautiful!
I agree, thank yous are SO important!
I would like to take this time to thank Michelle Ward, the When I Grow Up Coach, for believing in me and my dreams years ago before I fully did myself. Without her, I would definitely not be where I am today. Thank you Michelle.
I am always so happy when I receive a handwritten thank-you in the mail. It’s often so unexpected!
I would like to thank my friend Bonnie Alexander, who I met just as I was starting to embark on this journey. She has been inspiring, given me helpful tips, and lots of encouragement!
Hi Brett, I would like to thank my clients for their trust and cooperation on following through with agreed action items that enables me to help them. Without their participation, we cannot effectively execute the strategy which will lead to overwhelming success. My success is based on clients receiving tangible results. Thank you, Todd Schweich – Please send me a Facebook friend request to “Diversified Chitown”