Life's Lessons: What I've Learned from Writing Thank You Notes

(This and the next 2 posts go hand in hand, so this is "Part 1". For full enjoyment, slowly consume all 3 in prescribed order.)

I have learned (and it’s good Christian doctrine--see "Part 3") that nothing makes you happier than serving. Ok, I’m loving the giddy “life is great!” endorphin high you get after a good run. But I’m talking the deep-down, soul-nourishing, spirit-enriching “feel good” feeling you get after giving of your time, energy, and love to make someone else’s day and/or life better. (Thomas S. Monson might call this a “warm fuzzy” feeling.) It’s an even deeper satisfaction when you have to sacrifice something of your own to lend that service. Maybe that’s why I love my career choice.

But this post isn’t about service. You can read that one below (Life’s Lessons: Jonah vs. Charity). This post is about the next best thing to service: Gratitude.

My mom and dad taught me when I was little to always, always, always write thank you notes for gifts I got from far-away relatives. I did it begrudgingly, figuring they wouldn’t let me play with the toy if I didn’t write the thank you note. Now I’m “older and wiser”, and am fairly faithful about writing thank you notes (although they are usually embarrassingly belated!). I just spent the past 45 minutes writing some long-overdue thank you notes. When I was done, I sat back and felt so good. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I realized how blessed I am. Maybe because I realized how many good people the Lord has placed in my life. Maybe because I know how much a thoughtful note can mean to me, bringing a smile to my face, tears to my eyes, or just warming my heart. (Whoa, I just sounded like Tommy Monson there!) Or perhaps I saw all those people and their goodness in my life as a manifestation of God’s love for me. But I just felt happy. Gratitude feels good.

I can only imagine the difference this would make if I transferred these principles to my prayers, asking less and thanking more.

You know, gratitude and service kind of go hand in hand. In serving, you are filled with humility, joy, and love. The person you serve is blessed by your service, and thanks you. In that expression of gratitude, the served is filled with humility, joy, and love. And in that thanking, you are blessed by the servee’s thoughtfulness. Maybe gratitude is another way to serve—just inside out—and that’s why it feels so good.

I don’t know—what do you think?