Thanks and Goodbye...

Well there's a title that will encourage people to read!

Just thinking and working through the whole #40acts task for today and yesterday and it felt that those two expressions sum up well what I need to be doing. 

So quite apart from those people who I needs to say thank you to yesterday because they made a meal or coffee or some other provision made - and I hope I thanked them well and sincerely, I was certainly mindful of trying to - I wanted to look back and thank through this medium those who have made me who I am. Some have influenced my mental development or physical progress, many have helped me grow spiritually. Each of these people have my admiration, my love and most importantly my heartfelt thanks:

David and Margaret Wyles 

Joyce Smith 

Catherine Wyles

Linda Hasking

Kath and Derek Dolling

Alan Bateman

Steve Pallant

Estelle Blake

John and Freda Larsson

George Pilkington 

Wendy and Melvyn Knott

Jack Tutton

Peter and Brenda Ward

Mike and Joan Parker

I am sure there are others but these spring immediately to mind and I am grateful from the depth of my heart and thank God for these people.

Now what about the 'Goodbye '?

I like nice things - I have some very nice things - but they are only things. Over the next few days I am going to identify some things to move on - maybe as gifts to those who may appreciate them, maybe into a charity shop - sharing what is valued by me is a good way of letting others know that they are more precious than all the stuff in the world.

Read this... Please.

This shouldn't be too difficult for me: be polite to everyone.

I am genuinely and generally a friendly person, I talk to people in queues, I start conversations with strangers, I say 'thank you' and 'please' and 'have a good day' etc (honestly sometimes to the point it embarrasses my family!), so to be polite to everyone if frankly a cinch.

Or is it?

For today's #40acts to mean something I have to think deliberately about my interaction with others, it's not just words or passing the time of day, it's treating people well because of their worth as people. They are all valuable, they are all worth caring for and interacting with in a positive way. So here's the real challenge for me today: really thinking about what would be best for the person I'm interacting with? Maybe they don't want to talk, or maybe they are so busy they would like to go ahead of me in the queue, or just maybe they would love someone to say hello to them, or hold a door open.

So, for me, today is about being extra aware of those around me and showing them some consideration to make their day better.

Thank you, no, thank you ...

"Thank you". 

Because I was brought up well I use these two words many times every day. I thank my secretary for the cup of coffee as I arrive in the office. In thank the person I chat with on the phone for their time. I thank the shop assistant, the bank clerk and the call centre worker. I thank my wife for brilliant ideas, i thank my children when they fulfil tasks.

"Thank you".

But do I really mean it? I say it so often perhaps it loses it's power. Maybe if I stopped and thought for a moment I would say more than "thank you" - or possibly less. Perhaps I have made it just a convenient way of ending a conversation...

Today is about gratitude with #40acts .

I have already, at the start of today written a thank you note (well, email) and very sincere it was too. I should have many opportunities to say "Thank you" today so I am going to go a step further. I am setting myself the challenge to add something. Whenever I say those two words I will add "...for..." . That will ensure that I really think about my reason for thanking.

Thank you for reading!