Gratitude letter
Today is overcast and I think the rain is not very far behind. It’s the kind of day that moves me to think about my Grahams coming in from outside in her raincoat, boots and umbrella. I think about how hard she worked to provide for all of us and how many people over her lifetime I heard say thank you to her. As I sit and think, I know I did not say thank you enough. It’s only with the benefit of growing older, having children of my own and learning more about the importance of saying thank you that I can pen these words. “Thank you, God for my Grahams.” Yes, I said thank you as a child and even as a young adult, but it doesn’t match the gratitude of my heart today for this very special lady.
She is long sense gone home to be with the Lord, and there can be no more flowers given for her on this side of glory. She did, however, plant the seeds of what it is like to be a person who lives in a constant attitude of Thanksgiving. I don’t think thank you can be said enough, although sometimes people we want to say thank you to, like Grahams, are very far away or even unreachable. How then, can we say thank you? I have found journaling my thoughts of thanksgiving just the right heart medicine or perhaps sending a formal letter of thanks to someone who has done something for me in the past but I am still benefiting from it today. Don’t know how to get started, no problem. I got your back!
A letter of thanks, also known as a Gratitude letter, is written when one person or group desires to express gratitude to another. When the addressee is a friend, acquaintance, or relative, personal thank-you letters are sometimes written by hand. Handwritten letters are my favorite as writing not only takes more effort, but it is also a healing art from in that it unifies both parts of the brain. Yes, writing can be therapeutic. How do we get started, glad you asked!
Writing a Gratitude letter:
Bring to mind someone who has done something for you that you are grateful for but to whom you have never expressed your gratitude. This could be a family member, a friend, a teacher, or a coworker. Choose someone who is still alive and could meet you in person in the coming week. Selecting a person or behavior that you haven't thought about in a while—something that isn't always on your mind—might be most beneficial.
Steps:
Now, using the instructions below as a guide, compose a letter to one of these persons.
- Write as if you're speaking directly to this person ("Dear ").
- Don't be concerned about your spelling or punctuation.
- Describe what this individual accomplished, why you are grateful to them, and how their actions influenced your life in particular words. Make an effort to be as specific as possible.
- Describe what you're doing right now in your life and how you recall their efforts frequently.
- Keep your letter to one page or less (around 300 words).
Types of Appreciation Letter:
There are 2 major types of appreciation letters. These are:
Personal Appreciation Letters and
Business Appreciation Letters.
Examples of personal appreciation letters include:
Appreciation letter to a friend
Appreciation letter to a neighbor, etc.
Examples of business appreciation letters:
Appreciation letter to a boss
Appreciation letter to an employee
Appreciation letter to a colleague
Appreciation letter to a team member
Retirement appreciation letter
Appreciation letter to the speaker of a seminar, etc.
Tips to Remember:
- For personal reasons, write a handwritten letter.
- When writing to a firm's higher official, strive to utilize the corporate letterhead.
- Not flattery, but appreciation.
- Make sure the letter is proofread and edited for grammatical and spelling problems.
- Do not thank the person in advance.
- Be concise, but provide all pertinent facts. Don't just express gratitude for the day; express gratitude for assisting me with so and so task on that day. Again, don't express stuff like how worried you felt with aid from nowhere and how miserable you became as a result. Maintain the letter's focus on the recipient and his work, as well as the gratitude.
Merits of Gratitude letter:
Some psychology research suggests that writing such letters to show thanks can also have emotional benefits, although this is not true in all cases. The custom of handwritten letters of gratitude has been reported in the news from a cultural standpoint, with some saying that the extra effort indicated by handwriting (as opposed to text messaging, for example) makes these letters more emotionally significant for both sender and recipient. Don't know who to thank first, start with yourself. I know it sounds hokey but imagine sitting in a beautiful garden with different types of flowers, different colors, sizes, and stages of growth. Now, imagine plucking one flower and laying it next to you on the ground. Take out of pad and pen in your minds eye and write down all the characteristics of the flower that are pleasing to you and bring you joy. Now think of your mind, body and spirit like as the flower. What about your charactersitics can you be thankful for and express gratitude. I'm sure you can find quite a few things. I would love to hear how this exercise worked for you.
MJ
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www.soundhealingwithmj.com