The Art of Saying Thank You

May 31, 2021

Good morning! I don’t think the correct expression is Happy Memorial Day, so how should we greet each other on this most holy and also sad day? How about, It’s good to be alive — because of the millions who sacrificed to make life itself — and the pursuit of happiness — possible? Down through the ages war has been both glorified and profaned; the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The young make possible the goals of a society.

Don’t Give Up

• It is not the mountain ahead that wears you down, but the grain of sand in your shoe.
• On yesterday’s hike I encountered two women, double mocha triple cream fudge lattes in-hand, fishing from a high bridge.
  • Twenty feet below the bridge a swift current time and again quickly carried their lines and lures one hundred or more feet downstream as they angled for the wily walleye.
  • Their optimism was impressive, never mind the fact a walleye was probably nowhere to be found — then or ever — in that swift and shallow stream.
  • Not to mention, how to get a pescadero’s trophy from the surface of the water to the bridge once caught?
  • “Don’t give up,” I said, “Don’t give up.”  And I meant it — genuinely… they were having a great time.
• What did I miss?
  • On Saturday’s one day earlier hike I had a sudden craving for thinly-sliced turkey breast, the salty and succulent kind you’d find at a delicatessen.
  • I often get cravings and not seldom for things that are beyond my budget.
  • Since I was within a mile of a delicatessen I decided to adjust my route so as to make a purchase and then to snack on said purchase as I hiked.
  • Maybe I’d even sit for a spell in the cold sunshine and watch the river go by.
  • I was not prepared for $10 per pound delicatessen meat; when did this happen?  My old price point was always $4.99 and then begrudgingly readjusted to $5.99/ pound.

The Art of Saying Thank You

• The art, skill, practice, and etiquette of the Thank You card is almost extinct — and with it one of the great joys of life.
  • I’m not talking about the perfunctory and obligatory one-liner from the high school graduate, nor even the months-tardy attempts from brides and grooms.
  • A few days ago I received a Thank You from a faithful (and much appreciated) reader.
  • The subject was a small favour I had performed, nothing spectacular; an oral expression of gratitude had been offered at the time and was more than sufficient.
  • The writer’s message was so perfectly composed, sensitively personal, undoubtedly genuine, and made the best use of Webster’s words.
  • It has been set aside to be read and enjoyed again and again as if it were a gift of delicate chocolate morsels.
    • Thank you!

Purpose at Work

• “Employees expect their jobs to bring a significant sense of purpose to their lives.” (This and what follows is by:  Schaninger, Schrimper, Samo, Dhingra – 2021)
  • “Employers need to help meet this need, or be prepared to lose talent to companies (work places) that will.”
  • “Despite these challenges, our research found that seventy percent (70%) of employees said that their sense of purpose is defined by their work.
  • “So, like it or not, as a company leader, you play an important part in helping your employees find their purpose and live it.”
  • “And you have your work cut out.  Our survey also found disparities in how frontline employees and other groups feel supported — or thwarted — in living their purpose at work.”
    • Start with the organization’s purpose (hint:  the only thing YOU control directly)
      • Is your purpose (mission) written and communicated in such a way so as to result in a feeling of pride and co-ownership of that mission?
      • How about your vision — your aspirations?  Does your vision produce a positive emotional reaction because it is audacious and inspirational yet realistic?  (YT added this one)
    • Reflect.  Connect.  Repeat.
      • When employees have a chance to reflect on their own sense of purpose, and how it connects to the company’s purpose, good things happen.
      • Those who have had such opportunities are nearly three times more likely than others to feel their purpose is fulfilled at work.
      • Keep in mind the underlying problem you’re trying to solve might be in your leadership environment…
      • Do your employees feel psychologically safe at work?  If not, there is little chance they will feel happy.
    • Help people live their purpose at work
      • Sixty-three percent (63%) of people we surveyed said they want their employer to provide more opportunities for purpose in their day-to-day work.
• On the return to IRL/ In-Office/ Virtual/ Hybrid:
  • “If we move to partial remote-work situations where some people are in the room and others are not, how do we make sure that does not create a two-tier culture?” (Lund, 2021)

Memorial Day

Sixty years ago the pain, loneliness,

sadness, and sorrow connected with those

killed in the Great War (how can any war be great?!)

were still fresh and raw

and real in the memories

of friends and family.

The parade wasn’t a celebration

but a somber re-funeral procession.

Even the small children who clutched hand-picked

bouquets of wilting lilacs and lilies of the valley

wrapped in wet paper towels knew that.

The march to the cemetery was not about a picnic

or a day off.

It was a reverent pause to pay tribute.

The whole town came – farmers from their fields, too.

Someone intoned Lincoln’s eloquent words,

the speech to end all speeches.

A prayer or two, stoic townspeople ramrod-straight.

Veterans who survived with no visible wounds

dressed in too-tight uniforms shouldering weapons

once carried in battle — a twenty-one guns salute,

taps echoing in the distance blown by an

imperfect bugler from the high school band.

Day is done, gone the sun.

©2017 Michael A. Mullin