Despite the writing, the books, the lectures, etc., I harbor no illusions that most who are exposed to my deep-seated gratitude philosophy will ever take it upon themselves to write Letters of Gratitude. (Or even a single Letter of Gratitude.)

The reasons are multitudinous. No time or interest. Little desire to expose feelings, discomfort with expressing themselves, self-conscious about their creative abilities, the list goes on.

But even for those who can’t (or won’t) invest twenty minutes, a stamp and an envelope, they can at least show a flash of verbal gratitude. This has become top of mind recently as mountain biking season here in northern Utah reaches its summer crescendo.

For the uninitiated: Most experienced bikers prefer single-track trails. They offer more interest and challenge than a wider dirt path, a forest road, etc. Virtually all these trails are multi-directional, so it’s incumbent on those careening downhill to pull over expediently and allow those laboring uphill the right of way. Similarly, it’s expected that hikers will also step off the trail for a moment, allowing either uphill or downhill bikers the opportunity to keep their momentum going. All of this is just standard operating procedure.

It would never occur to me to not thank a pulled-over biker or courteous hiker for their consideration, allowing my locomotion to continue uninterrupted, thus making things much more enjoyable. And while my head nod, smile or quick “thank you” isn’t the exception to the rule, it doesn’t happen as often as it should. Which should be all the time!

Why do one fifth or even a quarter of the bikers you acquiesce to maintain stony silence, eyes only on the trail ahead? When the subject is human behavior, it is yet another unanswerable question. How much more pleasant and welcoming the world would be if we all took a heartbeat to whisper thanks, flash a grin and say “hi.” Not just to our fellow bikers, but to grocery store clerks, pedestrians, elevator companions, tollbooth operators, shoppers in the same aisle, etc. In other words, our fellow humans.