5 Super Short Lessons-Learned About the Importance of Gratitude
6 years old:
Like every Tuesday afternoon, my mom and I were on the way to gymnastics class.
Being the hyperactive person I was (and still am), I could hardly contain my excitement — I finally got a chance to spend my pent-up energy from a long day at kindergarten. I hopped out of the car and sprinted through the gym door, which was held open by a mom of another boy in the class. I zoomed passed her, bent the corner, whipped my coat in my cubby and started tying my shoes.
My mom, storming in behind me, was unamused with my antics.
I had just started tying my left shoe when she grabbed my ear and yanked me to my feet. Stunned, I began to shout: “OW MOM STOPSTOPSTO — ”
“Go say thank you to Mrs. G for holding the door RIGHT NOW or I’m taking you home!”
10 years old:
We were at ZaZa’s — my family’s favorite local restaurant — on a freezing-cold, February night.
I remember being in a particularly grouchy mood. For whatever reason, I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. As the hostess walked us to our table, I dropped one of my winter gloves on the ground. She kindly picked it up and handed it back to me and continued on to the table.
I said nothing.
“Oh thank you, honey” my mom said to the hostess on my behalf. We sat down and after the hostess walked away my dad turned to me,
“Hey Jack.” he said sternly, “…how about you say thank you next time someone picks something up for you, huh?”
14 years old:
My parents threw me a small party with family and friends for graduating 8th grade.
As relatives came over, they all congratulated me, some giving me envelopes filled with kind cards (and money). And I said “Thank you!” to every single person that came by. When the night was over and everyone left, my dad pulled out a huge stack of blank cards and envelopes — the words ‘Thank You…’ typed in fancy cursive across the top.
“Get going on these.” he said.
They were Thank You cards. And I had to send one to everyone that came — even my friends.
By the time I started high school, my parents engrained in me the importance of saying thank you. Every time someone did something nice for me, even if a ‘thank you’ wasn’t expected, I made sure to say it.
19 years old:
It was my fifth and final year working at the Daily Scoop Ice Cream Shoppe in Chicago’s western suburbs.
It was mid-July and hot as hell — easily in the 90s. Safe to say it was a busy night, consistent lines out the door for over an hour. I come from a town where most families are financial sound, to say the least. Most kids come into the shop with a $20 bill from their parents and an empty belly ready for a cold treat. In the crowdedness of the store, a girl (couldn’t have been older than four years) who I had just served a perfect cone of mint-chocolate chip to was bumped into, her ice cream splattering on the floor.
My boss, being the kind-hearted guy he is, saw the scene and immediately brought her a fresh one. The girl, being so young, thanked my boss with a smile — the best way she knew how.
However, the mom of the girl — standing directly next to her daughter — said nothing to my boss, grabbed her daughter’s arm and left the store.
She didn’t say thank you. Never offering to help clean the mess. Not even a smile.
21 years old:
With much help from my uncle, I got an internship at an insurance company in Chicago.
Our first day, the HR department took all the interns out for a day of various team-building activities. They provided lunch and made us feel welcome. After the day was over, I thanked him, walked to Union Station and got on the 5:10 train headed home. When I got home, I sent him an email — thanking him again for providing lunch and for a great first day. He responded saying I was the only one who thanked him in person or by email. The next day, he asked about my plans after graduation and if I ever thought about getting into insurance.
Whether from my own mistakes or from the mistakes of others, every lesson I’ve ever learned about gratitude has been learned in less than a minute’s time.
Learn to show gratitude as often as possible.
Say thank you whenever you can.
At the very least, it’ll keep your positive face.
Who knows—maybe it will get you a job one day.
