“Silent gratitude 
isn’t very much
use to anyone.” 
Gertrude Stein

I often stand at the checkout counter at the local grocery store watching the courtesy clerk bagging my groceries, a part-time job I had for a while during my high school years. When everything is packed into the brown paper bags and loaded into the shopping cart, I usually say, “Thanks for all you do.” More often than not, those words bring a smile to the courtesy clerk’s face.

One afternoon in April, I was walking through Saratoga Creek Park in San José. I noticed a crew of young men and women watering the bases of newly-planted trees along the side of the pedestrian pathway. When I approached them, I asked, “Hey, does anyone ever thank you guys for doing this?” They responded with a look of surprise. One of them responded, “Uh,… no.” So I said, “Thanks for all you do,” and went on my way. I hope my comment brightened their day.

I recently had to file some paperwork at the Santa Clara County Clerk’s Office in downtown San José. It’s one of those places where people who need to file documents have to take a ticket and wait for their number to be called. It’s a slow process, so I was grateful that I was in no hurry. While I was there, I noticed that I didn’t see anyone smiling in the office — not the workers and definitely not those waiting to file their documents. When my number was called, I approached the window and was greeted professionally by a young woman. I asked if her day was going well. She looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, “Nobody ever asks me that.” Her response was a warm smile and a positive comment. When my documents had been successfully filed, I said, “Thanks for all you do.” The smile on the clerk’s face said everything. I’m sure she doesn’t hear that very often.

It’s that easy! Five simple words — words which can transform a person’s day from one of boredom, frustration, or apathy to one of hope and a restored faith in humanity. People appreciate being appreciated. Expressions of gratitude are, sadly, not spoken as often as they could be. Simple spoken words of gratefulness are one way each one of us can contribute to making our world a better place.

Popular author and speaker, Brené Brown, reminds us that we don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness. Opportunities for happiness are right in front of us throughout the day if we’re paying attention and practicing gratitude.

Margaret Cousins, a specialist in the theory, principles, and methods of teaching and learning, wrote, “Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”

Give it a try!