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Many of you know that my daughter, Sarah, works as a physical therapist in Minnesota. Last weekend she came home for a visit, and we talked about some challenges we experience as healthcare professionals.
Then Sarah showed me a note she received in the mail from one of her former patients. Besides expressing thanks for the excellent care Sarah provided, he also noted that much of his rapid recovery resulted from Sarah’s kindness and encouragement.
The note meant so much to my daughter. As Sarah described it, “This is the reason I decided to become a physical therapist.”
As I read Sarah’s note, it reminded me of a note I received many years ago. At the time, I was working as a nurse in the memory care unit of a nursing home.
Without going into detail, let me simply say that one of our residents required significantly more attention than our other residents. Because of the effects of her dementia, this lady presented many unique challenges for our staff. I’m sure many of you can relate, and I’ll let you fill in the blanks with memories of residents you’ve cared for in the past.
After this dear woman passed away, her daughter sent me a lovely card. She expressed thanks for the care I provided for her mom, and she mentioned specific things I had done that meant a lot to her.
This daughter’s kind words deeply touched my heart. I tucked the note into the pocket of the planner I carried with me at work. Many times over my years at the nursing home, I pulled out the note and read it again. It became a source of encouragement and self-affirmation during strenuous days at my job.
Seven years after this experience, I arrived at the memory care unit one afternoon, and there sat the woman’s daughter. One of her neighbors had just been admitted to the nursing home, and she stopped by for a visit.
I hurried down to my office and grabbed the thank-you note out of my planner. Showing the note to the daughter, I explained how much her words meant to me.
She was surprised and pleased to know that I kept her note over all those years. We had an enjoyable visit, and I was grateful for the opportunity to thank her for the thanks she had given me so many years ago.
As I think about these two stories, I realize how much more I can do to express thanks. When something goes wrong or I receive poor service, I’m quick to complain. But, how often do I express my appreciation when something goes well? Often, I’ll think something positive in my head, but I don’t say it out loud or put it on paper.
Will you join me in a special challenge this week? Over the next 7 days, I plan to write a note of thanks to one person each day. This might mean mailing a thank-you note to someone from my past. Or perhaps I’ll send a quick e-mail or text of thanks to a co-worker. Maybe I’ll even send a note to the supervisor of someone I see going the extra mile.
I’m eager to spend this week looking for positive things people do rather than focussing on the negatives. Are you with me? Feel free to print this checklist as a reminder of your commitment to writing a daily thank-you note.
“Appreciation can make a day—even a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary,” (Margaret Cousins)
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