Expressing Gratitude: Finding Words When It's Not Easy

Personally, speaking, writing letters of gratitude comes rather easily to me. This is due to several reasons first of all, I have an effusive personality, and feel beholden to many people who have crossed my path over the decades. Secondly, writing mostly comes easily to me. I have been engaged professionally with articles, essays and books for some 25 years. I guess what I’m saying is I am rarely at a loss for words!

However, just because an individual isn’t as comfortable reaching out, or doesn’t have overwhelming confidence in their ability to communicate effectively, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t show gratitude to those who have positively affected them. Just the act of reaching out, just the simple effort to show someone that they have been important to you, means the world. Syntax, punctuation, even hand writing challenges shouldn’t get in the way of your desire to tell someone that they have had a meaningful place in your life. In the words of Maya Angelou, “people will forget what you said, and what you did. But they won’t forget how you made them feel.“