Simple Challenge #3: Show Your Appreciation
Welcome to this week’s Simple Challenge! To check out other simple challenges, please visit the Simple Challenge category.
Today, I have a very special task for you. It is a simple, but powerful task. This task will truly make a difference in someone’s life.
Your task is to show your appreciation for the ones who have helped you. The ones who cared for you. The ones who listened to you. The ones who went out of their way for you. The ones who supported you. The ones who did something big. The ones who did something small.
You have the power to change someone’s day. You have the power to let someone know they are worthwhile and valuable. You have the power to inspire someone. You have the power to do all this and it will hardly take any effort on your part! Isn’t that great?
What I want you to do is pick one person in your life that you feel deserves some appreciation and recognition. Make a list of all the positive and wonderful things they have done for you. Now let them know how much those things meant to you! There are many ways to do this. Here are some that I like:
- Write them a small a letter or card, listing the reasons you appreciate them.
- Send them an e-mail.
- Hide notes in a few different places where you know they will find them.
- Buy them a small gift and tell them why you appreciate them.
- Ask if they need any help with anything in their life at the moment.
- Compliment them.
- Reciprocate some of things that they have done for you.
I know that it is incredibly easy to get caught up in our own lives. I do it all the time! You get a lot on your plate and all you can think about is how to solve your own problems or make things better in your life. It is easy to get trapped in our minds and forget about those around us.
But we must not forget the ones who have always been there for us. Think about how difficult your life would be without those key people in your life. Show them your gratitude! We all know how good to feels to be recognized for our kindness or caring, so do just that for the ones who have been there for you.
I encourage you to show your appreciation for the people who do the little things as well. Did a stranger hold a door open for you? Did your server at a restaurant provide an excellent dining experience? Did someone say something after you sneezed? Did you run into your mailman this morning? Did you have a pleasant experience at the DMV or some other dreadful place? Let these people know that their small efforts have not gone unnoticed and that they were greatly appreciated!
What are some things that people have done for you that you appreciate? Post a comment and let us know!
I am always looking for simple challenge ideas. Send me a message and let me know if you have any ideas that can help people simplify their lives. And yes, you will get credit (and some link love) for your ideas. Thanks!
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I hurt myself at the theatre recently and was helped by one of the staff in a way that went well beyond what you’d normally expect (or get). I emailed the theatre and told them how wonderful he’d been and what a difference it made because he made me feel safe.
All too often we’re quick to complain but forget the times when people made things easier for us.
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Hi Jack: Showing your appreciation for others is an important exercise in gratitude, and feeling gratitude is one of those things that increases our level of happiness. I think that when we acknowledge what others have done for us it also makes us feel safer in this world, because it makes us realize how connected we are and that if we need help there were always be someone to extend that hand out to us.
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This past Friday (Halloween), even though I knew my co-workers were not going to celebrate at work, I decided to buy candies and bring some hats that I had at home. We had a great time and I wanted to show them how I appreciated them. (Even if it meant wearing silly hats for the day!)
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Great reminder to show those ‘special someones’ that you appreciate their place in your life. Thanks for that, Jack! Eric.
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True. Sometimes we tend to take people for granted. Even though we appreciate a person our actions may somewhat indicated others.
Good suggestions. I also feel we can feel generous by giving out time. This days and age we are so busy and making time for is definitely a way of appreciation.
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Hi Jack,
Great post. This is really starting to warm up to be a great series. I agree with Shamelle. Sometimes the best appreciation we can give someone is the gift of our time.
Cheers,
Jeremy
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Great reminder Jack! Probably the person whom I appreciate the most – my wife – is the one I really need to tell more often. She is so good at this – at telling me how much I’m appreciated by her – and yet – I just don’t tell her enough. So, that’s my take-away — and what I’ll work on…
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I’m off to place an appreciation sticky note onto my husband’s bathroom mirror. Thanks for the reminder!
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Isn’t funny how these are so simple yet we often forget the importance! Small things can make a huge difference if we’d only get out of our own way.
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It’s is all to common to take people for granted. A simple thank you or act of gratitude can go a long way to brightrn someones day. Also, never take your loved ones for granted. I have made that mistake and learned the tragic way that they can be gone in the blink of an eye. Sometimes you don’t get a second chance to show your family how much you truely appreciate them. You may not always like them but you always love them and make sure you tell them everyday!!
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What a beautiful post. So many of us forget each day to do the simple things in life. We are all caught up in the hustle and rush of the world that we forget to stop and reach out to strangers and those we love.
I actually sat down today and hand wrote a letter to an old friend of mine. No email…just a real letter. It changed by day just by knowing that I know it will change hers when she receives it.
This is my first time over. Great post!
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@ Sharon J – That is so great that you emailed the theatre. I am sure that made a huge difference in his life as well. Thanks for taking the time to recognize his good deed. And welcome to Simple Sapien
@ Marelisa – That is true. It is so comforting to know that people are there for you, and that when you do a good deed, that people appreciate and will return the favor. I definitely agree that gratitude promotes happiness, for both people.
@ Julia – That is so sweet of you… in more ways than one, heh! I bet that small act affected a lot of people at work that day.
@ Eric Hamm – No problem! Thanks for stopping by. Your blog rules, by the way.
@ Shamelle – Time is a great thing to give. Sometimes even just a small chunk out of your day can mean the world to someone else. Time is worth much more than any material possession in my opinion.
@ Jeremy Day – I am glad you are enjoying the series. Be sure to check back each Saturday for new challenges! Thanks for the comment.
@ Lance – That is a great idea. Definitely work on that one. My girlfriend means the world to me… I also don’t tell her enough. When I try to imagine my life without her, it is an awful image. I am sure it is the same for with your wife. Cherish her and let her know!
@ Stacey C.A.B. – Ah, the all powerful sticky note! That is a wonderful way to show your gratitude.
@ Stacey Shipman – So true. These small things can have an enormous impact on someone.
@ Dave Jones – I am sorry that you had to lose someone so tragically. It is easy to take our loved ones for granted when they are there for you everyday. It becomes commonplace and you forget how lucky you are to have them.
@ Cricket – I love real letters! It means so much to me when I get a physical letter. They are so rare these days with all of the lightning fast technology. The joy of thanking someone definitely goes both way. It has the power to bring up two spirits with a single act. Thanks for stopping by!
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
I love this simple (but easy to forget) idea. I will start on my email to someone who helped me though one of the hardest times of my life. I have thanked her before, but I have not been in contact with her in several months and its about time I show my appreciation to her again.
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@ Carla – I am glad this has inspired you to write an email! Hope it all goes well. Welcome to Simple Sapien and thanks for commenting.
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien