#ThankfulThursday

It's easy to thank the people in our lives who have made a difference that we perceive as positive.

For example, my sophomore history teacher made a huge difference in my life - through his stellar teaching I grew to love history and develop an interest in it - a lifelong love of it.

Or Ellen DeGeneres. She, without knowing me and I not truly knowing her, has made a difference in my life with her examples of kindness, grace, and generosity.

It's easy to thank those people. But what about the people who have been a negative participant in our lives?

What about thanking the people who have been sandpaper in our lives or like the stone in a shoe that we can't shake loose? I've been thinking about this the past couple of years as I've had to interact with some really unpleasant people who have, by their words and actions, reminded me how NOT to be. Really I owe them some gratitude. Of course, due to their behaviors if I send them a thank you note they would think they made a difference to me in a way that was complementary to them. I'm trying to decide if that matters or not. I've really considered writing notes to a few people thanking them for making a difference in my life without specifics. Do *you* have any thoughts on this?

Well, regardless of whether I actually thank those unpleasant people in my life or not, I'm taking time today to be thankful for the things I did learn from them - the reminders they were to me about respecting others, selfishness, grace, etc. And I will, of course, make sure I reach out to the positive impacts in my life and thank them - that's a must!

Comments

April 5, 2015

The Feast of Firstfruits & Easter Go for Broke Day If it scares you this is the day to go for it no matter what. One Day Without Shoes Day Today is to raise global awareness for children’s health and education. Why shoes? Because shoes help protect from bacteria in the dirt, rusty nails, dirty needles and shoes enable feet to withstand the long distances most children in developing countries need to walk to get to school. Join TOMS One for One There is plenty of criticism out there for TOMS and its short term solutions. Critics don't even buy the "at least they are doing something" statement. However, you have to start somewhere. And every bit of awareness helps something go from short term to long term. We all have a part to play. Read a Road Map Day One of the many reasons I would stink at The Amazing Race is because I never did learn how to read a road map well. I remember doing worksheets and class lessons on maps and I was able to skate by ...

Butter someone up

There are two probable origins for this idiom and I think both are equally plausible. The first one is that when you spread butter on bread you are buttering it up like one would do when trying to flatter someone. The second is in ancient India there was a practice of throwing balls of butter at statues to ask for favor, i.e. buttering them up. ( source ) When we use the phrase today we generally mean that extreme flattery is used to gain information or favor. It's not always necessarily a compliment.

A dime a dozen

"It's said that in the year 1796, the first U.S. dimes were produced for circulation. Hence, it would make sense for this phrase to originate sometime after." Read more here . Today the phrase carries the meaning that something is cheap or without value if it can be lumped in with other similar or exactly-like things. It's more of an insult than anything.

Search This Blog