Reviewing former musings over the last year or two, there is a predominant theme: Certainly not the subject of every entry, but I consistently marvel at various gratitude “milestones” that occur, apropos of nothing. For example: reaching 300 Letters written/sent. Or, for the first time ever, having a cache of letters written and “in the pipeline,” but not yet ready to be mailed. These appear to be one-off situations, never to be repeated, but pale in comparison to this very recent, highly unusual feat:

I created three separate Letters of Gratitude in about five hours! (Normally I’ll write three in a month, but only if it’s a productive month!) As always, the circumstances were unusual:

First, I was on a ten-hour transoceanic flight, hurtling homeward after three whirlwind weeks on a globetrotting journey with a cadre of strangers. We were assisted by an incredibly talented and dedicated team of professional guides, experts, hosts, etc. (Probably twenty key people, with scores of other “locals” joining the ‘A Team’ at each stop on the itinerary.)

I was particularly impressed with the derring-do, intrepid nature, interpersonal skills (and incredible eye) of a young Chilean photographer, who left her husband and kids at home to document the journey. Also, the empathetic ministrations of the trip’s official doctor, who consistently dealt with the maladies, larger and smaller, that inevitably occur on a “marathon/sprint” journey of this kind: Respiratory stuff, GI inconvenience, occasional stitches, sprains, etc. Lastly, the expedition leader, who always had ten or twenty items on her plate, probably eighteen hours a day, yet maintained equanimity and good cheer throughout. So, I wrote them. One at a time, different themes and concepts, professing my deep gratitude for their respective (and disparate) efforts.

Odds are I won’t be in contact with them anytime in the future. But the compulsion to share these feelings were once again overwhelming. So, I did.

And if I can write three Letters of Gratitude in five hours, anyone can write three Letters of Gratitude in a lifetime. We all have a solid handful of people who’ve helped us through life’s journey. Let them know you appreciate them. In writing.