Whatever happened to thank you?

We bemoan the fact that children are less polite nowadays; they don't say please and thank you.  We tend to notice the few who are polite, as they seem to be such an aberration.

However, children learn what they live.  How will children learn to say please and thank you, if they seldom hear those words spoken?  Have you noticed less civility in the world we live in?  I most certainly have.  I notice it every day, and it isn't children who are responsible for our RUDE AND UNKIND world.

Have a listen around you.  Have you noticed how seldom we hear thank you from an adult, unless it is a prefunctory one from that bored, underpaid clerk in a store, who is mandated to be polite?

When you say "thank you", you are showing G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D-E. Gratitude is a proven factor in people's happiness.  So why not first and foremost say"thank you", when you are the recipient of a kind gesture, or some small gift.  Why not acknowledge the giver, instead of just nodding, asking a question, or commenting on the gift.   Why not say "thank you" when someone does something for you, instead of saying "Oh, you shouldn't have done that."  We should not be telling someone what to do.  We can suggest, but when you use that comment, you are depriving the giver of an important feeling... that feeling which makes them feel good as well!

In conclusion, I believe that this time of year is a perfect time to express gratitude, on a daily basis.  You can do it in such a simple, heartfelt way by simply saying "Thank you!"  "Merci!" "Gracias!" "Danke!" "Obrigado!" "Grazie!" ... and accompanying it with a hug makes it even BETTER!

Don't even get me started on P-L-E-A-S-E!