Obviously, gratitude is a core value of The Smile Project. In case you’re new here, we are a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading Happiness through intentional acts of kindness, youth service clubs, and daily gratitude practices. Liz here, founder of The Smile Project. Appreciation is a huge personal value for me and in thinking about writing a timely gratitude post this month, I thought it might be the most engaging to write a few open thank you notes. We encourage you to share these notes or your own personalized notes of appreciation with the people you love this week… and always.
Thank you to the person who has never given up on me. Thank you for being patient with me when I make the same mistake over and over again. I appreciate the way you don’t judge me or make me feel bad. Thank you for making me feel like a good investment. I love the kindness you share when you help me course correct to get back on a positive track. My life is so much healthier because of you.
Thank you to the person who brings me peace. Thank you for being a safe place to land. I appreciate the way you hold space for me to come as I am. Thank you for making me feel like my feelings and experiences matter. I love the calm you instill in me. My life is more balanced because of you.
Thank you to the person I share goals with. Thank you for keeping me accountable. I appreciate the ways you’ve learned how to encourage me in achieving all my dreams from the daily to-do lists to the slow burn plans. Thank you for helping me cut out the noise when I get distracted by the wrong things. I love the way we make each other better. My life is more resilient because of you.
Thank you to the person who asks questions about my projects or art or hobbies. Thank you for not just asking, but for caring about what the answer is. I appreciate the way you let me talk through problems, brainstorm ideas, and troubleshoot solutions together. Thank you for making me feel like it matters. I love the way you listen when I talk and the way you give me space to ramble. My life is more inspired because of you.
Thank you to the person who pushes me outside my comfort zone. Thank you for encouraging me to take the leap and knowing what I need to make that leap feel both daring and safe. I appreciate the way you know how to push and pull and the way you back off when necessary. Thank you for making me feel like I can do anything. I love the energy you share so freely. My life is an adventure because of you.
Thank you to the person who plays a respectful devil’s advocate. Thank you for forcing me to think about things from multiple angles instead of jumping to conclusions. I appreciate the way you fairly address my concerns while also being open to my own critiques of you. Thank you for always being respectful even when we disagree. I love the way I leave every conversation with you feeling a little bit smarter and more well-rounded. My life is more interesting because of you.
Thank you to the person who grounds me. Thank you for making sure I don’t fly too close to the sun. I appreciate the way you trust me to make decisions you might think of as reckless and the way I know you’ll have my back if it all goes south. Thank you for being a steady foundation to return to. I love the way you help me fly. My life is more sustainable because of you.
Thank you to the person who makes me laugh. Thank you for knowing when those laughs are most needed. I appreciate, also, the way you don’t try to gloss over real struggles and the way you can read the room to know when it really isn’t a good time. Thank you for making me feel lighthearted. I love the zest you bring into every situation. My life is more vibrant because of you.
Thank you to the person I love. Thank you for making me feel things I didn’t know were possible. I appreciate the way you came into my life and flipped everything upside down, leaving it better than I knew it could be. Thank you for living love every day. I love the way we shine together. My life is unfathomably better because of you.
Comments