And we love to celebrate many Days that contributed to red color on our calendar. We even celebrate few of them without having any day off from our school, office, or any other place of activities. To name a few would include Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day and AIDS day. But have you heard about “the International Thank You Day”?
There is indeed such Day. For this year, it falls on the 11th of January, 2011 which is TODAY!!
When I heard about this Day for the first time, it is difficult not to think whether this is another strategy by the promoters to sell more cards, flowers or even chocolates. But knowing that I have full control of whether I would buy those things, my curiosity continues to grow to learn what this Day is all about.
Choosing 11 January as the Day is an awesome move. Don’t you get it? This year’s Thank You Day falls on 11 January 2011. What do we get?
1.11.11
The number “One” can be interpreted as ourselves. After all, we compete to be number one. We join a team that wants to be the best. Our company wants to be a market leader. To be the best, the fastest and the strongest among equal is what a mind stream-mindset is all about, and that is “One”.
But hold on, when we see “one” more than once, wow..., that could remind ourselves that we are not alone. There are others, just like us. We are not by ourselves. We never did, and we never will.
Thank You that Make Others Smile
Surely, as part of humanity, we must humbly realize that we are not alone, and we cannot do every single thing by ourselves.
Every product that we use, ever since we open our eyes, was made by other people. (Yes, including the money that we used to purchase them).
Every service that we enjoy, ever since we were born, was provided by others. (We can’t even get our own food in the restaurant)
And you know what? Our health, safety and success were also the result of others.
We cannot live by ourselves. We need others. While we help other, they are helping us as well. One of good saying that I heard, “The worst moment is when we are thankful but there is nobody to thank.”
So, have you thanked other people enough? How often do you do that? And how do you do that?
We should never underestimate the power of “thank you”.
It’s just two simple words, but they are golden. They could actually put smiles in many faces, and mine is not an exception.
I still remember very vividly when I was just a boy, and I received a gift from someone, and my mother asked me to say “Thank you”.
At that age, I thought, why should I? I didn’t ask to be given a gift, so the gesture of giving me something that I didn’t ask should not bear me the responsibility to thank, right?
But fortunately, my mother was quite persistence to teach me the power of “Thank you” and, as a child, I obeyed her.
“Thank you so much” came from my mouth, and I can see her big smile appeared.
The thing that I learned from that day is that my gesture came back to me nicely. Seeing that smile made me felt better as well.
What a powerful words they are!
Thank You Culture
These golden words can manifest in different language, such as “xie xie”,” thanks”, “merci”, and of course, “terima kasih.”
One thing for sure, what ever the manifestation could be, the meaning is still the same.
And this small gesture should grow to be a culture!
When you are sitting in a restaurant and the waiter brings you the food you ordered, say “Thank you” even though they are delivering their service and products that you actually pay.
Waiting for an elevator and someone holds the door so you can get in, say “Thank you.”
Even, get up from your seat, and go to someone who has helped you all these times, greet him, call her, or even pad their backs with smile. It will speak louder than your “golden” words.
This culture of appreciation by saying thank you should be thought to the next generation. When we think we have said enough “thank you” to the people surround us, then share this valuable principle to your kids, your friends, and even your bosses.
Make this a culture. And make yourself to be part of it. That is why we have International Thank You Day in the first place. Not only to create short-term awareness that may fade as time goes, but we are creating culture that last even for generations of human race.
We can see how our ways of saying thank you have evolved from just saying those two words to cards, hands-shaking, pictures, or even multiple forms of gifts that would cross their minds as the manifestation of how grateful they are.
Moreover, for the digital generation right now, we exchange our gratitude electronically by e-greeting, e-cards, e-gift, etc. Everything is digital but it serves the geographical difference among us. We can now say thank you to our friends in the other part of the world in just a second.
Whether it is a “Thank You” or an e-“Thank You”, it still carries deep meaning. It makes you smile, feel appreciated, and grateful. You feel grateful when somebody expresses his gratefulness to you. Beautiful? Absolutely!
Regardless of how we say “Thank You”, we must never underestimate the power of these two words. In fact, we must never worry to flood others with these two words.
“Thank You” is a gesture that can never be too much, but can be too little.
So, that’s what the International Day is all about. A reminder to each and every one of us, to thank everyone that has contributed in our lives; to build a strong thank-you culture in which we are part of it, and, this is the most important, to make our world a better place to live.
Say Thank You. Say it abundantly. Say it today.
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"Thank you" udah nulis artikel bagus ini... memang ucapan ini harus dijadikan sebagai kebiasaan dan budaya. Karena terima kasih adalah ucapan universal yang walaupun memiliki beragam bahasa penyampaian namun jika itu berasal dari hati maka akan kembali kehati.
Saya pernah membaca kalau di negara barat sudah menjadi kebiasaan mengatakan thank you tetapi kalau diterapkan di Indonesia barangkali malah dianggap aneh kalau sedikit-sedikit bilang terima kasih. Benar nggak sih?
Kalau hati pahit, akan sulit utk bisa bersyukur dan akan sulit untuk bisa santun. Yg ada bawaannya sedikit2 maunya marah dan maunya sirik saja............./// Inti artikel ini bagus sekali.///Terima kasih.
Posted by: SU | Rabu, 12 Januari 2011 | 16:14 WIB
hahahah..pak De kalah cepet nih..walpon di sambi goreng pisang
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