Ways to Show Gratitude This Holiday Season

Here at the Village, we love the holiday season! It’s a fantastic opportunity to serve people in your local community and express the love you have for your friends, family, and neighbors. Here are 5 ways to show gratitude this holiday season.

Compliment Your Loved Ones

Looking for a way you tell someone that they’re important to you? Compliment that person on a talent, skill, or strength you admire. Everybody loves a good pick-me-up, especially during the stressful holiday season. Here are some ideas for what to tell someone special next time you see them:

• I love that you’ve been working so hard on XYZ. You should be proud of yourself!

• Thank you for speaking up about XYZ. Because of you, people are learning about important issues in our community.

• Our inside jokes are my favorite. I feel like I can really be myself when I’m around you.

• I think it’s so cool how you [play instrument, play sport, speak language, etc] so well. It must have taken years of dedication to get where you are.

• Thank you for everything you do for others. Your selflessness inspires me to become a better person.

Boost Your Office Environment

Be that person at the office who brightens people’s day. Taking special care to make your office environment more friendly will show the gratitude you have for your work space, even if you don’t say it in words. Here are some ways to show gratitude in the workforce:

• Take out the trash and replace the liners when they’re full.

• Add snacks to the break room, and invite coworkers to grab some if they’d like. How about making them a homemade treat, like this pumpkin spice roll?

• Tell a coworker or supervisor that you notice and appreciate how hard they’re working.

• Invite people in the office to have lunch with you.

• Ask your coworkers how their weekend was. Listen to them without thinking of your own response. Ask them engaging questions about their answers to make them feel appreciated.

Serve Others, Wherever You Can

There are many opportunities to serve this holiday season! Invite someone over for dinner. Offer to watch your friend’s baby so they can grab a much needed nap. Pay for someone’s groceries at the store – they probably need it!

• Invite someone over for dinner and board games.

• Offer to watch your friend’s baby so they can grab a much needed nap, catch up on homework, or head to the store. You can also just hang out with them – they would probably love to have another adult to chat with!

• Pay it forward – whether that’s offering to cover someone’s groceries at the store, or paying for the person behind you at the drive-thru, your act of kindness will make them feel taken care of

• Volunteer in your community. Check out this website for some ideas on how to serve in Rexburg.

• Start someone’s (i.e. your spouse, parent, roommate) car for them while they get ready in the morning, so it’ll be nice and toasty by the time they hop in!

Give Extra to Those Who Serve You

• Show gratitude to those in service industries – they make your life better! Here are some ideas for how to give a little extra to them this holiday season.

• Tip your waiter / waitress a little extra.

• Write a stellar review for a small business. Did your family photographer handle those wild kids of yours like a true professional when you got your holiday photos taken? Give them 5 starts and tell everyone you know!

• Let a customer service representative know you appreciate their help. These service workers have to remain calm while people yell at them for problems outside their control. Being especially kind with the representative you’re working with could make all the difference in their day.

• Tell their superior the person serving you is doing a fantastic job.

• Keep their workspace clean – for example, if you’re at a restaurant, pile your trash or stack your cups before you leave.

Thank Those Who Challenge You

This one’s a little different. Naturally, humans are creatures of habit, and we can get defensive when others challenge us out of our comfort zones. Here are a couple of ways to show gratitude towards people you might not normally think to include in your holiday best wishes.

• If someone disagrees with you about a passionate topic, thank them for showing you a new perspective, even if it doesn’t change your personal opinion.

• Be vocal in your communities about your love for groups of people you may disagree with. Encourage others to think critically about why they have the biases they have.

• Remain courteous and respectful if someone this holiday season engages in a controversial topic. Listen without thinking of your own rebuttal. Who knows? Your kindness might change them as well!

Final Thoughts

How do you show your gratitude this time of year? Tell us on our Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you. If you’d like a visual reminder, use this graphic below to stick on your fridge or share online!