Thanksgiving is a holiday we usually spend with our families and our loved ones. The quality time is used for socializing, eating, listening to music, eating, talking, dancing, and of course, eating. However, sometimes it’s nice to go out of our way to show others how much we appreciate and are thankful for having them in our lives in some other ways. Whether is a family member, a romantic partner, a teacher, or a friend, if you want to try it out, here are 5 simple ways you can do so.
- Write a letter.
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I’ve always believed in the power of the written word and it can be especially useful for those of us who can get shy when expressing ourselves or have a little difficulty doing so. Writing a letter is perfect for when you’re not sure how to say things out loud. It’s such a personal way to express gratitude towards someone in words, anecdotes, shared experiences, and feelings that are only meaningful between you.
Feel free to be detailed and specific. You don’t want to sound like a postcard with a generic message! Also, with technology making it easier to write an email or a word document to print, the relationship between a hand, a paper, and a pen are often lost. Take it old school and write it by hand. Trust me, the specificity, effort, time, and energy that it takes makes the whole experience worthwhile and will truly show a person your appreciation. Besides, it’s something they can treasure forever.
- Send a gift.
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It’s not about getting a big and expensive gift. It’s about putting thought into what you want to give that person. It can be a spontaneous process. You weren’t planning on buying them a gift but suddenly, see something that reminded you of them so much that you had to buy it. You can also plan beforehand what you want to get them. It can go either way, but make sure it doesn’t look like you grabbed the first thing you saw to get it out of the way, as you might be sending the wrong message.
It can also be something personalized made solely for them, like a ceramic vase if they’re plant lovers, a piece of jewelry, or a painting. Finding creative ways to make something personalized without having to break your wallet is a very unique way to show appreciation. But again, do something well made and not something you made in a rush, as that may communicate you didn’t have time or money. (And let’s face it, those are possibilities, the key is putting enough effort to disguise it).
- Dedicate a song.
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As I was putting the subtitle for number 3, I sang the lyrics “dedicate a song with words meant just for you, ooh” that Amy Adams sang in Enchanted. (Ahh, that scene is amazing! #fangirlmoment). In that song, her character, Gisell, claims it’s not enough to take the one (I’ll expand that to “the ones”) you love for granted and you must remind them of it because they’re not mind readers.
I love music so it’s natural I would agree with Gisell and say that dedicating a song is a great way to show you love and appreciate a person. Let’s face it, we can’t all be singer/songwriters like Adele or Elton John, so searching a great song that might describe your relationship or expresses what you want to say to a person, is a great way to go. For example, my mom and her best friend (who are like sisters and I call her aunt) have a special movie, “Beaches,” which they both love, because they say they’re friends, is as strong as the main characters’. The main song is called “Wind Beneath My Wings”, and they mutually dedicated that song to each other. So now, it’s their song.
On the other hand, if you have the talent and ability to sing and compose, please do so. It will give it that extra touch to it and will make them feel extremely special. And again, no spending is necessary to show a meaningful appreciation to someone.
- Treat them to a…
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..concert, a movie, a play, a game, a meal, a picnic, etc. Whatever that’s out of the ordinary or that they haven’t done before but have wanted to, or whatever you decide in the spare of the moment and simply, call it an adventure. This could range from an inexpensive picnic at a park or a beach day to spending a little more by taking them out to dinner or treating them to a skydiving adventure. Different activities as such make you be in control of your budget and allow you to plan with what you have.
- Say “thank you because…”
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Take a few minutes out of your day to leave a loved one a text, email, voice message, voicemail or say face to face that you’re thankful or appreciate them followed by why you feel that way can not only brighten someone’s day but truly make them feel thought of and appreciated. Out of the five options, this one’s definitely the easiest, most inexpensive, and simple. It just takes a few seconds, desire, and initiative to make a change and show love and appreciation.
On that note, don’t just wait for Thanksgiving to get your appreciation mode on. You should let the people most special to you know how much you love and appreciate them every chance you get. Just be a little extra this Thanksgiving.