The Little Things That Make You Remembered

Go the extra mile to thank someone when they commit a random act of kindness. If a store clerk helps you carry a heavy item to your car, give him/her a tip and a big thank you. You will inspire more acts of kindness by pointing them out and making a big deal out of them. This is even more true if you do it in public. Thank someone immediately, specifically and publicly and you’ll have a friend for life. You'll get better tables at restaurants, better customer service...simple compliments and a warm "thank you" will make you a wildly popular person.

Sending simple thank you notes is an almost lost art that can really distinguish you from the crowd. Taking the time to simply write an expression of your gratitude will stay with a person for a long time afterwards. Isn’t it worth a dollar to make someone remember you? Again, remember to do this quickly and specifically. You want to point out exactly what they did. It is far more meaningful to say, “Joe, thank you for helping my wife load the groceries last Wednesday, I really appreciate it.” Than it is to say, “Joe, I just wanted to say thank you for all your help.”

Also be thankful to God for the blessings you receive. It is a fact that the more you express gratitude for what you have, the more blessings you will be given. Even if you have yet to discover that God is in fact very real, express gratitude for what you have. If you don’t make a big deal about the things you have the universe will find someone else to give the blessings to.

There is a certain radio announcer on my favorite jazz station that ends his broadcast with, "When the praises go up, the blessings, they fall right back down." Better words can't be said. It's an amazing power this thing called gratitude. It fills your heart with light. It makes you giddy and feel like you got a good dose of childhood again.

You know I suffered a delusion for years. I memorized a verse from the Bible. I'm sure you've heard it, it begins with "The Lord is my Sheppard, I shall not want..." That first statement had me fixated on poverty for decades until I actually understood what it meant. See, I thought it meant that because I had accepted Christ, because I am a Christian, I shouldn't want things...in other words material possessions because my rewards would come later in heaven. It wasn't until much later that I read it in the context of the verse. The Lord is my sheppard I shall not want really means that because the Lord is my God, I shall want for nothing because he is taking care of me. Once I realized this I felt very liberated. I reactivated the flow I had been denying myself for years.

Listen, even if you don't believe in God...give praise for your blessings. Even the small things. If it is just that you feel like some force is kicking in when you do so...it works. (Of course I am hoping you'll see that it works and maybe suspend your disbelief for awhile...but that's up to you!) Thank everyone for the little things. Take nothing for granted.

Maybe this is why things "appreciate" in value huh?