All the performers at a recent holiday music recital shared a surprising act in common. At the conclusion of their performance, they sought out someone to thank. It might have been a bandmate or a family member in the audience that urged them to get up on stage. Whoever the gratitude recipient happened to be, each musician used the moment when the crowd was appreciating them to give credit to someone else.
It was a way of saying, “I was able to be me only because of you.’ Beyond expressing thanks for the general presence of connection, beauty, and good luck, gratitude is specific. Fill in the blanks: “I am grateful for ____________ because ___________.”
At the recital, the specific motivation for my expression of thanks was the amount of time and effort a friend had contributed to preparing for our performance. Far beyond the handful of minutes on stage, there were uncounted hours of homework required to execute the song. At the conclusion of the piece while the audience applauded, all I could think about was all those hours of preparation.
As you sit around the Thanksgiving table with friends and family this week, take the time to share the specifics of your gratitude. The way you express your appreciation is the actual transfer of your warm sentiments to the person who caused them to be warm. What better gift than to return the warmth.
