Say Thank You to Yourself

By Lindy Earl

I realize that we are no where near Thanksgiving, but manners always count. Mom was right. A simple please and thank you can make a huge difference in this world. Not only might it help you get what you want, but it can make the difference between a good and bad response. Some people just really need to receive kindness, and manners are a good way to show kindness.

This, however, is not about thanking all the people in your life. You already know that. Yes, you need to show appreciation, even gratitude, when people do nice things for you, whether it is something as quick as allowing you in line, or something huge. You know that.

This thank you goes to the person who should be number one in your life. That’s you. Yes, you need to take care of yourself, so that you can be there for others, so you need to see yourself as number one. Now, in a well-balanced life, numbers 2-10 should be close behind. Be number one, but don’t put yourself in the clouds.

We are talking about you, however, so for a few minutes, it’s all about you.

I know that in life we all get beat up now and then. Back in our school days we might not have gotten the grade we thought we deserved on a paper or test. Maybe we didn’t get the date we wanted. In that case, we might have been able to see, after the fact, that it was for the best, but it still stung when it happened. Maybe we didn’t, or don’t, have the job we desire or maybe we lost our dream house due to a late offer. These things happen. Yes, we got beat up.

But . . . you’re still here. You handled it! You might have fussed at the time, but you’re past that now, and I want you to thank yourself – for getting past it and for persevering.

Thank yourself for all the times that you kept a great attitude, and smiled outside while you were hurting on the inside. Some people close to you might have seen the truth, but you fooled a lot of people. Give yourself a high five as a thank you for your great attitude.

Thank yourself for all the hard work you did, back in the day, last year and last month, and the hard work you’re going to do next month and next year. When was the last time somebody thanked you for doing what seems to just be your chores? Whether it is washing the dishes or mowing the lawn, those things don’t just happen by themselves! If you live alone, you’re responsible for all of it! Stop and thank yourself! You live in a clean and orderly home because you spend time and effort to make it so. Way to go! Thank yourself for your consistent effort.

In addition to thanking yourself for all the things that you have done, and continue to do, say thanks to yourself for all the things that you didn’t do. Wouldn’t you have preferred to go to that party back in the day, but you studied. I hope it was worth it. You wanted to say something when you saw someone lauded when you knew the truth – but you kept silent! Way to go, and thank you for keeping the peace. A friend keeps promising that the truth will out (with thanks to Ogden Nash), and I have to believe it when I see what others seem to miss. You can thank yourself for any stupid things you chose not to do as well.

There are have been so many times that you worked late, or came in early, or gave up a weekend, or chose to allow others the last piece of whatever – and even if there was a thank you mumbled, did you take time to thank yourself? You need to give yourself credit for being the mature, open-minded, conscientious person that you are!

Without being too dramatic here (I dislike drama), just give yourself a thank you for being who you are. It took you a lifetime to get where you are, and you put in the effort day after day. So this isn’t a thank you for what you accomplished, but for who you are.

Think about a child, yours or maybe a youngster on a playground. Just their existence, their smile as they laugh and play, brings pleasure to others. Well, you bring the same pleasure to people and you may not even know it. So, thank yourself for being the great person you have become.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all we have. Let’s take today to thank ourselves for all we do, and don’t do, on a daily basis, and for who we are.

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Lindy is a Consultant, Speaker, and Writer, currently living in Atlanta, GA. She is The Business Coach focusing on Relationships through Communication, Leadership, and Corporate Culture. You will be more successful with Lindy as your Coach. Please contact her at [email protected].