Showing your gratitude when you’re not an expressive person
Not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve. Not everyone finds it easy to express their thoughts and feelings.
But surely most of us have something to be grateful for?
So that got me thinking – if you’re not an overly-sentimental or expressive person, how can you show your gratitude. Here are some ideas:
Send a card
If you do find it difficult to say things out loud (no matter how much you rehearsed them in the mirror beforehand), you might find it easier to write your thoughts down in a card.
A personalised card is the ideal choice, as it shows that you’ve put a lot of care and thought into the card. Then, all you need to do is choose your words carefully…
Choose the right words
Whether you’re writing your words of gratitude down in a card, or you’re saying them to someone’s face, it’s important to choose your words carefully. How can you really express your feelings?
A simple ‘thank you’ may suffice (or you may think it will), but how could you express this better and with more emotion? Even adding the words ‘I really appreciate it’ to your thank you, can make it mean so much more. Or express your thank you differently by saying, ‘What would I do without you?’ or ‘I can’t thank you enough’.
Alternatively, you may want to pull out all of the stops by finding a great quote that sums up your feelings. From a quote from your favourite film, to a poem you’ve found online, there are so many ways you can sum up your feelings without having to write your own Shakespeare-inspired sonnet.
Give a gift
If words are definitely not your thing, or you want to do something extra-special for the person you feel grateful for, why not buy them a gift instead?
Bunches of flowers, boxes of chocolates, gift vouchers for their favourite shop… the possibilities are endless.
Or, if you really want to go out of your way to say thank you, a day out together may be just the ticket. That way, it’s something you can do together, and it also gives you the opportunity to say thank you in person – without it being as awkward.
Show your gratitude
Showing your gratitude is a lot different to simply saying it. And as we’ve seen, there are so many ways you can show your gratitude rather than just saying ‘thank you’ – even if you do struggle to let people know how you’re feeling.
Plus, the more you get used to expressing your gratitude, the easier and more natural it’ll become.
*Colloborative post*