by : Rey Andres
PROUDLY FILIPINO: Members of a Filipino American Christian church proudly display the Philippine barong Tagalog and dresses in one of the recent conferences of Orange County churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in Huntington Beach recently. Other ethnic churches also joined the day-long event with some of the participants displaying their own costumes and sampling the attendees with their cuisines at display booths erected for the purpose.
Danke, grazie, merci, gracias, salamat po are some of the ways to say “thank you” an expression probably second only to be learned by a child after “Daddy” or “Mommy”. No matter how that feeling is expressed, a simple “thank you” can turn somebody’s day around.
And what a more perfect time to say thank you than at the beginning of the year to celebrate the beginning month of the year with a declaration of January a “Thank You Month”.
Most of the 196 countries have the expression for “thank you” that sometimes gets lost as people age and are affected by the hustle and bustle of life. They forget about being polite and acknowledge people for the kind tasks they do on a daily basis.
Being thankful researchers have found out give recipients of the gesture “a kind of dopamine rush – an experience linked with pleasurable experience” that will make them want to feel the experience again.
January as a national thank you month is considered by some as an “impressive observance that encourages people to be thankful and show gratitude to others who have been most helpful”. That feeling of gratitude is an overwhelming feeling expressed in thankfulness.
January is a good start to say “thank you” or show gratitude because it is not only a good start that allows opening up oneself because he accepts and appreciates.
A Chicago-based research had suggested that grateful individuals who manifest gratefulness on a daily basis had reported to have fewer stress-related health issues that include headaches, gastrointestinal problems, chest pains, muscle aches and appetite problems.
Life is never perfect and there are always mountains to climb.
Remember, taking the initiative in showing gratitude and acknowledging others even when not expected makes the initiator stand out from the crown distinguishing him from others, appears friendly and approachable, exudes good impression and are remembered.
The expression of thanks is its own reward itself with the recipient of a favor being turned later into a giver of favor. Everybody benefit with this wholesome cycle of thanking and being acknowledged.