Thankful? Appreciative? Yes, please and thanks

Written on August 15, 2011 by Kaarina in Motivational and Inspirational, Musings

Gratitude: [noun] a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

I got to thinking about this a lot today. It’s Monday, and my good friend Al was sharing his gratitude over at The Care Movement. If you haven’t checked out his awesome new site, you must. Especially on a Monday where he promotes Gratitude Monday.

Then I headed over to TheJackB where I said: Jack, you paint a picture with your words that comes to life in my eyes and my heart. If you haven’t read his post today, head over…I’ll wait.

In one of his comments, Jack said: “Sometimes the simple things have the most power.”

That got me to thinking about how often, in business and in life, we forget that it’s the small acts of gratitude, kindness and thoughtfulness that make the biggest impact. So here’s my list of Gratitude-Prompting Thoughts for you to ponder.

When was the last time you:

Sent a hand-written note to someone, thanking them for their friendship, their business or the difference they made in your day or your life

Turned on the faucet and felt thankful that you have cool, clear water that flows over your hands, never doubting for a moment that this precious treasure is indeed just that

Opened a door for someone, literally and figuratively, expecting nothing in return

Bought a little gift for someone “just because”….just because you knew they’d like it

Told someone you love that you love them

Followed up a business meeting or conversation by sending links to an article or website that associate might appreciate, or linked up two people because you knew they’d just “click”

Spoke in a tone of voice to your customer that said in more than mere words, “I appreciate your business”

Recognize that every day is a new day, and no matter what you’ve done or said before, you begin each day with a blank slate: forgive what needs to be forgiven, appreciate yourself and those around you, and give thanks where thanks should be given.

Can you add to this list of Gratitude-Prompting Thoughts? I’d love to hear your Thoughts. I’m grateful to you for stopping by.

http://billdorman.me Bill Dorman

I’m thankful for friends like you; seriously.

As we bounce around this crazy blogoshpere, you have been a great sounding board and have allowed me to bitch and moan without sending me packing.

Sometimes we do allow ourselves to get caught up in the insignificant and don’t take time to appreciate who and what we have.

This was good ma’am; thanks for sharing.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Without getting gooey-mushy on you, you are a friend that I’m truly thankful for. I’m honoured (yes…that’s Canadian spelling:) to have provided you with a sounding board: and ditto back at’cha.
  
  And I like that you say we don’t take the time to appreciate the “who” and the “what” we have. The faucet comment sprung to my mind today when I was at the sink, washing my hands. And instead of just doing that rote routine, I really looked at the water…clear as crystal…splashing over my hands and thought…how many other things do we take for granted? Fresh water is not only a luxury in some places, but completely absent from the lives of many.
  
  My pledge: to always be present, to stay aware, and to show my gratitude whenever and wherever I can. Thanks for being such a good friend. Just sayin’….;) Cheers! Kaarina
Betsy Cross

I was having a meltdown last night because I wanted to be with my dad in the hospital. But then I remembered my son who was staying near him and called him up. He didn’t hesitate when I asked him to just check in and let him know a family member cared.
I am incredibly grateful to people who help me when I really need it.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  That is such a wonderful example, Betsy, both of reaching out and asking for help when we need it, and being grateful to those who are there for us. Caring and kindness: such simple concepts that, when acted upon, are priceless. My warm wishes to you. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, especially when you are experiencing difficulties. I appreciate it. Cheers! Kaarina
http://acertainsimplicity.com Diana Strinati Baur

Ciao, cara Kaarina!

Today I am very grateful for great B&B guests. We have two couples here right now, and they are both lovely – very willing to take in the goodness around them. I must be a little careful though, when people are so nice, it’s way too easy for me to do too much — the extra cocktail, the fresh cut melon by the pool, until there’s not enough time for me to rest. So I struggle to keep it in balance and need to remember that I am only good for them when I am good for myself.

But it makes this life a pleasure to get to know such people. xoxo

Hope you are well.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Ciao, cara Diana:)
  
  And a sincere but belated Happy Birthday greeting to you! I can’t believe I missed sending you birthday wishes on your special day (August 7th, right?), but that just gives me the opportunity here to say: I’m grateful for your friendship, and making this a blank slate day so I can say….Happy Birthday!
  
  I sooooo relate to what I call the “going overboard syndrome”. Sometimes my gratitude knows no bounds (and as you can tell, sometimes I strike out completely:), and I can tend to over-do. But I guess more is better than less…until it comes to personal health and happiness.
  
  You make such a significant statement when you say “I am only good for them when I am good for myself.” I always picture in my mind the sage advice that’s given to us on airplanes when they say: if the oxygen masks drop, put it first on yourself and then on your child or seat-mate. When we take care of ourselves, we can care for others. Cheers! Kaarina
http://ideagirlmedia.com/ Keri J

@twitter-257025239:disqus ,

Thank you for the reminders — Every now and again we need a “check-in” to refresh our thoughts.

The most meaningful for me above is:

Every day is a blank slate.

It is. Too often I forget this.

Thanks again for your words today!

~Keri
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Keri, for dropping by. Ditto that on the blank slate. Too many people keep ruminating about things they’ve done and can’t undo, rather than putting it behind them and forging ahead. I give full kudos to Margie Clayman for citing the “blank slate” in her blog post today, but I will say…I’ve always believed that every day is a day to start anew. And if we embrace some wide-eyed innocence and child-like wonder into that, all the better. Cheers! Kaarina
Anonymous

Great job Kaarina. Grateful for all my new friends I have met on line, for all my family and friends that have been so supportive. You bring up some great points. Forgiveness is huge. We must forgive ourselves and others in order to move on with life. I think listening is something else we can do more of. Everybody wants to talk, write and be heard, but truly listening is where the real connection is made. @NancyD68 had a great post this morning on knowing when to talk and when to be quiet. I felt moved to write this quote from Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. “A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well intentioned words.”

Thanks for this and all your support and encouragement. You are a special person.

Al
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Al: happy to give a tip of the hat to you and your new site, and delighted to have provided support and encouragement to you.
  
  In terms of knowing when to talk and when to listen, I’ll say: “We were given two ears and one mouth to listen twice as much as we speak”. To use a Bill’ism…just sayin’…Cheers! Kaarina
  - Anonymous
    
    That is always a good lesson. 2 ears and 1 mouth. Hello ? Love quotes on listening. think I changed from pas consulting to the care movement on disqus. Still have so much to learn. Thanks again.
    
    guess its not changed yet. oh, well.
http://www.waxingunlyrical.com Shonali Burke

I’m grateful to you for having come into my life!
Something interesting happened recently; I had a call with someone I’d interviewed with for a position before I started my consulting business. I never got the job, though I knew I’d come close to it, but never knew why it didn’t work out. I’d sent a thank you note regardless, and last week, after almost three years, that person got in touch with me for a consulting project… which we agreed on today.All because of a thank you note.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Shonali, for that wonderful compliment: I’m so glad we’re in each others’ lives:) You’ve brought a richness and a friendship that I’m very grateful for.
  
  And your handwritten note example is a PERFECT example of doing something, without expectation of return. There’s a beautiful “karmic” return that comes from doing nice things…from doing the “right” thing without expecting something in return. It might not happen right away, as in your case, but I truly believe that when we give without strings attached, beautiful things float or fly back to us. Cheers! Kaarina
Patty Glassford Horton

Wonderful Post Kaarina — Thank You!
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Patty: I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment. Looking forward to a coffee date sometime in the near future:) Cheers! Kaarina
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Patty: I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment. Looking forward to a coffee date sometime in the near future:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.businessesGROW.com/blog Mark W Schaefer

A breath of fresh air.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thank you Mark: I am very grateful to you for stopping by:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.margieclayman.com Marjorie Clayman

thanks for the link love, dear lady. *smushes* I am thankful for YOU! And your idea are fabulous!
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks Margie: I love your blog posts, and I’m so delighted to share the love. Cheers! Kaarina
http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

I love every one of these of these Kaarina!

Every now and again, I slow down long enough to catch myself totally enjoying a moment with my family, my business or even those rarer moments when I have some time to myself.

I always feel grateful for that moment when you catch yourself, knee deep in a “this is cool” moment!

Sort of like how I just felt reading your post today!

Respectfully,
Paul Castain
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks so much Paul: you just made my day with that comment! Had to rush on over and follow you on Twitter, sign up for your blog. How have I missed you in the past? Grateful to you for dropping by and commenting: I look forward to getting to know you:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/TranscripESvcs Alicia M. Jay

Love this post, Kaarina. Having a child can often bring up moments of gratitude more easily. To watch my son smile and know that I’m his whole world makes me truly thankful for the experience. I also totally agree with sending hand-written thank you notes. It’s something my mom taught me when I was younger that I still do today.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Alicia, I think if we take the child-like quality of how easily children express themselves…how quickly they acknowledge, give thanks, and how much their innocence and appreciation brings out the gratitude in us adults, and make this our daily practice, the world would be an even better place. Cheers! Kaarina
http://pioneeroutfitters.com/AlaskaChickBlog/ Amber-Lee Dibble

Ok, I’m stealing the Gooey-Mushy phrase… Kaarina, I .. well I’m not after doing anything inappropriate by saying this, but the best way for me to tell you how I feel about your post is in the comment I made on my blog, on “Sheep on the Mountain” with Pioneer Outfitters post. I wont link it, you know how to track me down!! (and I’m not trying to break any of the link-laws!! LOL) It’s there. When you have a minute, please read my comment back to Lori @ Life, For Instance on that post. You mean so much to me. Really. Thank you. ~Amber-Lee
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Amber-Lee, you always intrigue me with your writing and your spirit. I will head right over to read your blog and comment…and no problem, you could have inserted the link here:)
  
  And by all means…spread the gooey-mushy phrase and luv. Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/adamtoporek Adam Toporek

This is such a YOU post… and I mean that in a good way! I swear we’ve got some kind of mind link going on lately. I was actually thinking about a post the other day about gratitude in customer service. So here’s my addition to the list:

I think one should always, but particularly in this economy, be grateful for someone’s business. Those dollars could easily have been spent elsewhere, and I think it is important to remember that. And if you do have that sense of gratitude, it comes through in how you treat the customer.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Adam, we’re on that mind-meld thing:) What is it that they say about “great minds”, haha!
  
  I sooooo agree with you on the “be grateful for someone’s business”…not just now, but every single day. To earn the trust of your customer/client means treating them as more than a transaction. Relationship-building, online or off, with commensurate gratitude for their business is what should make the world go ’round.
  
  And I’ll take it as a compliment that this is such a “me” post, my friend. Cheers! Kaarina
Vicky Spring

Thank you so much for your friendship Sis Kaarina. I greatly appreciate your Friendship and your Kindness to me.

Your Nice Posts opened my mind and guided me to have the possitive thinking.

Thank you again and Love you!
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Vicky, how kind and lovely your comment. I’m grateful for our friendship and our connection. Much love. Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.expatlifecoach.com/blog John Falchetto

Hi Kaarina, I love this gratitude Monday idea. Thanks for pointing this out, I will definitely be incorporating it into my blog.
I’m grateful I found you online and how you always remind me what really matters in the noisy social media arena we live in.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Glad to have pointed you in the direction of Gratitude Monday. And I’m honoured by your words. I’m delighted to be that “reminder”, and very grateful to have found you online. Your words always make me think and inspire me to greater things. Cheers! Kaarian
http://soulati.com/blog Soulati

I did this Friday. I thanked my community for their support and encouragement and more. It wasn’t required, but when you blog and develop relationships and people come to comment, you need to say thank you and be humbled.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Dam Jayme…I saw your vlog and didn’t get back to comment. As you know, I’ve been shifting gears a bit, and some days I’m just stuck in a ditch, pushing myself out.
  
  So…thank you…I’m humbled…and I’m heading over to your vlog right now, with gratitude. Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.allisondevelopmentgroup.com Erica Allison

Kaarina, thank you! What a timely post for me. I consider myself to be a grateful person and one who shows that gratitude to others. Lately, however, I feel as if I have lost my compass in that regard and as a result, feel adrift. Thanks for pulling me back to shore, my friend. Thanks also for the link to Jack’s post and the reminder to check on Al – both good eggs with lots of gratitude in their hearts as well.

All my best to you, Kaarina. I’m grateful to have met you!
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  And I, you, Erica. I’m glad to pull you back to shore anytime. I think there’s a lot of “drifting” and unease in the blogosphere right now, but that’s a good thing. Change comes from places of unrest and disruption, and prompts us to move in positive and constructive ways, when seen as opportunity. And you know me…I see everything as opportunity, even on the tough days.
  
  It’s OK to drift for a while…I’ve been doing a bit of back and forth paddling myself. But my vision is clear: my intention is set: my gratitude for all of you, my online friends, is immeasurable. Wishing you only the best as you come back to shore:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://vizsource.info/ Kim Davies

Hi, Kaarina.

Yes, there are so many things we should be thankful for that we take for granted often. The sunrise because it signals another day of our lives. The air that we breathe because without it we’d be dead for sure. The cry of a child because it tells us something is not right with them. These are just among the things that should fill us with gratitude. We may not think about them all the time, but they are there, holding us up, keeping us alive.

And, we should also be thankful for all the people who grace our lives since the start and even those who come unexpectedly. You are definitely one of the latter for me, my soul-sister friend. I didn’t expect you, but fate sent you my way and what a wonderful blessing you have been. I am one of the luckiest persons to have known you and your love.

Thank you.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Kim, I don’t even know how to respond to this beautiful comment. To say I’m grateful for the comment, for our friendship and for our “soul-sister friend” bond is a vast understatement.
  
  I like that you said “fate sent you my way”…that conjures up a lovely picture for me, as does your poetry, your writing, your art and your words. Sending much love your way. Cheers! Kaarina
  - http://vizsource.info/ Kim Davies
    
    You always say the right things, Kaarina. You always do. Now, I am teary-eyed. Thanks for helping me pull-off one of the most arduous weeks of my life.
    - http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
      
      It’s an honour and a privilege to have been able to help, even if only in some small way. Now let that beautiful smile light up your face:) Continuing to send well wishes and positive vibes your way.
http://twitter.com/gingerconsult Jen Olney

Each day is our own canvas to paint a new picture. What a wonderful message. I wake up each morning and give thanks what I do have and appreciate each gift that has been given to me. I think being in this state brings more abundance to our lives if we can appreciate what we already have…health, people and talent. I also try to give thanks by giving someone a surprise they aren’t expecting and seeing that smile in return what a lovely gift for each of us. Thank you, Kaarina for the reminder of gratitude.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Aren’t surprise gifts just the “cat’s pyjamas” (no, I’m really not that old, but I do resonate with that:)
  
  Jen, you are always so gracious with expressing your thanks, it seems like you have a never-ending supply of gratitude that emanates out from you. I’m blessed to have you as a friend, and am happy to provide the reminder…although, my dear, you hardly need reminding:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/TheSalesLion Marcus Sheridan

Hey Kaarina, wonderful little post here. In fact, I wrote about this very same subject as well last week. For me, the further I understand the blogosphere and relationships, the more my mind shifts towards the word ‘thoughtful’. How can I be more thoughtful each and every day– in my actions towards others and the words that I write. This is my goal, and although I’ve got a long ways to go, it’s certainly getting better and better.

Thanks so much,

Marcus
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Being thoughtful…and being full of thought are both excellent concepts, in our writing, in our relationships and in our life: couldn’t agree more Marcus! I like the affirmation, “Every day in every way I’m getting better and better”…so in line with your statement. Nice to see you here Marcus: the welcome mat’s always out:) Cheers! Kaarina
Sandybienkowski

Kaarina – First let me say, I appreciate you! You inspire, give back, connect and mentor. I love it! I love your post because I believe gratitude is essential to happiness. If your mind is constantly filled with all the little things you are grateful for, your mood soars! I try to live with gratitude and run all of those small things through my head as they happen, each day. Like: I love how coffee smells. I love working for myself. I love to write. I love how it feels to go for a long run. I love it when the run is over. For people who aren’t accustomed to feeling gratitude as their days unfold, keep a gratitude journal and just list all you are grateful for each morning. It works! Thanks Kaarina for writing about something so important! I am grateful for you! – Sandra
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thank you so much Sandra! It warms my heart to see you here.
  
  I remember our very first online chats about being each other’s writing “accountability partners”, and how you were one of the very first people I really connected with online. And look at you now: newly married, awesome runner and athlete, achieving your dreams, livin’ the life:)
  
  I am so, so very grateful for your friendship, and honoured that you chose to drop by and comment. And I can tell by your posts and your photos how happy you are, and how much you appreciate your life and all those around you. Cheers! Kaarina P.S. And I almost forgot the last name you used here, as I’ve gotten used to the “new” one. Give my best regards to Reed. I LOVE his current FB photo!
- http://twitter.com/beka_dawn Rebekah Bowen
  
  I love your idea of a gratitude journal! I’m starting mine today!
  - http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
    
    And Rebekah and Sandra…I’ll tag onto the Gratitude Journal thought…For years I’ve kept what I call my “Book of Smiles”. I now have numerous beautiful once-blank books filled with things I’m grateful for: clippings, cartoons, photos, pictures from magazines, ribbons and bits of ephemera that always make me smile. Things I’m grateful for…things that bring a sense of peace and thanks.
    
    And since writing makes it real, and we think in pictures not words, when you combine words with pictures, the memories become even more profound. Just a little suggestion. Cheers! Kaarina
Carrole

Thank you for the reminders to stay mindful. I try to give thanks each day as I drive to work along the beautiful Hockley Road. I never want to take for granted something people drive and bicycle long distances just to experience. I try to take note of the small differences in the landscape as the seasons change. The beauty that is always all around us, and that we often take for granted.
Carrole
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Carrole, I’m with you on appreciating the “beauty that is always all around us.” I think if we each just paused for moments throughout the day to really see, hear, feel and experience our surroundings ~ both people and things ~ our world would be less frantic, and our lives so much more enriched. Thanks for stopping by: I’m grateful:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/beka_dawn Rebekah Bowen

What a great and helpful blog post! It definitely made me stop and think about what things I need to do a better job of being grateful for and how I need to take time to tell people how much I appreciate them. One of my new years resolutions was to take the time each day to just “check-in” with my close family and friends every day (or at least every day or two). As with all resolutions, I started off doing a good job of this, but then life got busy and I’m becoming a real slacker. Thanks for this kind and heartfelt reminder that there is no excuse for not taking the time to be thankful and appreciative of the people and the things that we are so blessed to have as a part of our lives. Your faucet example made me think of Charity:Water and their description of how so many people die from lack of clean drinking water. I, on the other hand, am blessed to have all of my needs and most of my wants fulfilled. Thanks for reminding me to be grateful!

Rebekah
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Rebekah, thanks so much for dropping by and commenting. I added a little comment and suggestion to the Gratitude Journal too:)
  
  I really like your website: very attractive and very clever. And thanks so much for the RT on Twitter. I’m grateful:)
  
  When we really decide2do, instead of thinking about it or pondering it..when we really and truly make a decision, and make that decision a priority, the actions to follow become easy. Glad to provide a “heartfelt reminder.”
  
  All the best in your studies and research project. Hope you’ll continue to drop by this “neighbourhood”…the welcome mat’s always out. Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.balancedworklife.com/blog Bryce Christiansen

Hi Kaarina,

This is my first time visiting but I had to comment about how much I loved this post.

We make it a regular occurrence in our meetings to have a gratitude moment right at the start. It really helps generate a caring atmosphere as opposed to one of pointing fingers.

Hope to be back more often,

Bryce
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks so much, Bryce, for dropping by and commenting: I am grateful:) I hope you’ll continue to drop by, and I look forward to checking out your blog and connecting further. May I ask…how did you come by finding my blog? Warm regards, and of course, Cheers! Kaarina
  - http://www.balancedworklife.com/blog Bryce Christiansen
    
    I found you on GetBusyLivingBlog’s list of 40 bloggers that are heating up this summer.
    
    Thought I should get to know them.
    
    http://getbusylivingblog.com/40-rising-bloggers-who-are-heating-up-this-summer/
    - http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
      
      Thanks so much Bryce: I had no idea that Benny had provided that lovely tip of the hat in my direction. You provided not only a lovely comment here on my blog, but also a connection back to Benny, who I’ve now thanked and shown my gratitude towards. This is the real “social” in social media. Cheers! Kaarina
    - http://getbusylivingblog.com Benny Hsu
      
      Hey Bryce! I’m glad you found Kaarina through my blog! Thanks for reading that list. Definitely a great person to know. That’s what great about blogging. You get to meet some wonderful people. The goal of that post was to give attention to people who may be flying under the radar.
      
      Thanks again!
      - http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
        
        Benny, you definitely made my day with that blog post! Not only because you included me in your list (thanks again), but you did what “social media” is all about….you’re social! Bryce came my way as a result of connecting via you, and I’m hoping more people will now come and visit you, my friend, as a result. Connections make the world go round:) Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/lifeforinstance Life, for instance

Hi Kaarina
I was wicked busy so far this week and missed this post! Would you believe I wrote about Gratitude, though, two days ago and posted it today!?!? There must be something in the air – I linked to Al and his movement as well!
I’m grateful every time I find a blog post like this, one that reminds me of how lucky I am, not only for the great things in my life, but for the opportunity to meet people such as you!
Lori
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Ah, the synchronicity of life Lori:) Thanks so much for dropping by: always great to see you here. I’m heading over to your blog now. Grateful for your friendship and support. Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.thejackb.com/ The JackB

Kaarina, I am far too late commenting on this post. I saw your tweet the other day and thought that I had been by- but I clearly dropped the ball.
I am grateful for many things including my online friends who do more to help than they realize.
I am grateful for so many big and little things. I am grateful for those people who understand that it is ok not to heap praise all the time and that there is value in civil disagreement.
I am grateful for a million other things big and small. We live in challenging times but I feel like good things are coming- we just need to recognize the opportunities when they appear.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  It’s never to late, Jack. I’m grateful to you for stopping by. A dropped ball is simply the opportunity to pick it up again. Glad you could drop by…you know the welcome mat’s always out, and it’s never “too late” in my books. Cheers! Kaarina
http://twitter.com/John_Trader1 John Trader

Kaarina, this is a great post and I too am sorry for the late reply. I’ve been making it a point to keep up with your blog lately in addition to the umpteen others I read each day. Two of these reminders that stick out to me are the one about water and the holding the door open for another without expecting anything in return. Curses to most of our society for taking water for granted and there will be a day in the not so distant future where it will be in such scarcity that wars will be fought over it. Holding open the door for someone usually prompts me to expect a “thank you” or some sort of acknowledgement but after reading this post I realized that it’s the bigger person that does that just because it’s the right thing to do. Nothing else.
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Taking the high road may not always seem fair, but it’s the right road. And we take the high road any time we do something that’s “the right thing to do”. Great comment, John, and I’m so with you on the appreciation of water…and all our natural resources, that we seem to take so for granted.
  
  As I said to Jack: the welcome mat’s always out, so it’s never too late to drop by. Cheers! Kaarina
http://www.unlockthedoor.net Stuart Mills

Kaarina, I’d like to apologise for not commenting on this site recently – now that I’ve made the switch to creating a ‘blog business’, my commenting time has shrunk :-/

Now, onto this post. Gratitude is wonderful, and I think the world at large should practice it more. Some areas of the world need it more, like the big cities where it’s near impossible to truly thank someone. Some areas already have plenty of gratitude, like the small communities who supply each other with food and trade.

But I think we all could do with reminding ourselves why we are grateful in life.

To add to your list, I’d say this, “Kiss a loved one”. Whether it’s your partner, your parents, your children, your close friends, or even your work colleagues or your pets, give them a kiss and show them how grateful you are. Even if you kiss lightly, it’s better than no kiss at all
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  You are a man after my own heart, Stuart. x
  - http://www.unlockthedoor.net Stuart Mills
    
    Thank you Kaarina x
http://www.marianneworley.com Marianne Worley

Hi Kaarina,

I’m finally catching up with my blog reading and commenting. I read this post the first day and I thought I would come up with a brilliant comment. But after a few days, I decided that what I really wanted to say is this: Thank YOU Kaarina for being such an amazing, insightful, and supportive person. You truly inspire me!
- http://twitter.com/KDillabough Kaarina Dillabough
  
  Thanks so much, Marianne, for dropping back by and commenting: I’m honoured by your words, and grateful for your friendship. Cheers! Kaarina

Thankful? Appreciative? Yes, please and thanks

Kaarina on Facebook

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives