The Oxford Dictionary and Google defines gratitude as the “quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”
With Thanksgiving coming up and today being Veteran’s Day, being thankful is on everybody’s lips, as it should be. But what I struggled with, and maybe you have too, is accepting thanks.
Have you ever waved away somebody’s thanks? Have you said any of the following?
“It’s nothing.”
“I was just doing my job.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Anyone would have done the same thing.”
These replies aren’t really comparable to “You’re welcome.” We need to start accepting thanks from other people because it acknowledges the good deed. And when we acknowledge the good around us, maybe…just maybe…it will inspire people to do more good.
Servicemen and women, you really are doing your job, but it’s a job that risks your lives. You deserve every thanks that comes your way.
And hopefully, when you do what you do, we will be inspired to risk our lives for others too. Most of us will never face a life or death situation, but we can risk losing our popularity to stand up for the underdog. We can risk losing our jobs to follow the law. We can risk losing relationships to stand up for what we believe in.
Doing something good is not nothing. It is worth mentioning. Social psychology research have shown that people are more likely do what everyone else is doing. If nobody around them takes that first step to do the right thing, they wouldn’t either. So no, not just anyone would do what you did.
The gratitude attitude is a two-way street. We need to be grateful for others, and accept their gratefulness in return. Give thanks and accept thanks.
It’s not an ego thing. I think that’s what makes us wave away thanks. We don’t want to seem egotistical or prideful, or we’re embarrassed of the recognition. Instead of those things, when we accept somebody’s gratitude toward us, let us allow it to inspire us to do more good. Let us allow that gratitude to foster community.
The next time someone thanks you, welcome them into the good things of this world. Welcome them into paying forward the good they received. Welcome them to risk something for the greater good. Welcome them into the community.
Let us show gratitude toward the people around us, and let us accept their gratitude in return.
