Postcard from Bishkek

I wonder how many people have finished writing their Thank You letters for their Christmas and New Year’s gifts.  This chore, suffered by children over the centuries, was always one of the downsides to the holiday season …

Well, it’s not too late!  Today’s a good dayfor saying Danke, Dyakuyu, Gracias, Grazie, Merci, Rahkmat, Spasibo, Thank you, Thanks! … as it’s International Thank You Day! and its supposed to be all about appreciating what we have and the people in our lives.

ITYD is another one of those commemorative days, but this one isn’t sanctioned by the United Nations, nor was it created by the Greetings Card industry   … it’s not exactly a Hallmark Day, although I can see them, maybe, “hijacking it”.

This particular day was created by an Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith,  (who is also known as ASK see her blog here), from Illinois back in 1994 … and it has been commemorated on January 11th every year since then – so, this will be the twentieth ITYD.

Whilst most of us often mouth the words “thank you” (often mechanically and subconsciously) more or less every day, in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, we often take things for granted and … until, that is,  we end up facing some sort of crisis and risk losing what we have.  The idea behind ITYD is to get us to think actively and deliberately about the act of giving heartfelt thanks to those around us that especially deserve our appreciation.  To thank those around us for those little things that at other times we might easily overlook.

Obviously we should thank those nearest and dearest … family and friends, not colleagues and people we regularly meet, (all of whom are likely to be overlooked or taken for granted), but also those strangers who may do us some kindness.

Who knows – a “Thank You” might even make someone else’s day.  It is a cliche in Personnel Management, for example, that although salaries are important and the reason that most people actually have jobs, one of the greatest motivating factors is feeling a sense of being valued … and what better way of showing this than to simply say, “Thank You“.

One of the things that has surprised is how the idea of this day has taken off in Russia, where it is known as “one of the most polite days of the year”.  Mind you, the pundits say that although we can make a special effort on this day, we shouldn’t limit ourselves to saying Thank You just on this one day … it should just be a reminder to focus our attention on the importance of showing gratitude.

They point to a old proverb which says that, “a polite word can crush stone”, and go on to point out how a smile and a Thank You can be an oral “pat on the back”, “work magic and lift spirits” … bringing people happiness and helping them to be attentive to one another.

 

When I used to travel a lot, I would always try to learn a few words in the local language: Yes, No, Please and Thank You, (and the all important: Two Beers!).  Even today, I can often be heard to say: “Spasibo, Rahkmat!”  They are little words but they help to make things go smoothly, and make people feel appreciated.

 

Of course, it all depends how you say it … “Thank you very much!” can be loaded with sarcasm as much as it can be a sincere expression of appreciation.

What is more, “ingratitude”, (however it is expressed or perceived) has a negative impact.  Failing to recognize kindnesses shown to us not only makes people feel unappreciated, it often rankles: “Why should I go the “extra mile” for someone who doesn’t appreciate it?”

To make matters worse, some “ungrateful people” add injury to insult by, by not only failing to appreciate kindnesses shown to them, but by repaying them with malevolence, spite and offence.

As one writer on the subject put it: “A wise person appreciates the good things that occur in their life; recognizes their benefactors and are grateful to them.  … We should actively express our appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness,” and what is simpler than a basic “Thank you!“.

Having such an attitude certainly makes the world a better place.

As Aesop puts it: “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls”

 

Last year, the international T-Shirt printing company  Spreadshirt  decided to commemorate the day by creating this clip:

 

Back in 1964, (when I was just a slip of a boy, about to transfer from Primary to Secondary school), the singer Petula Clark released a single that never really hit the charts: Thank You!  The song made another appearance the same year on the EP record, Downtown … which was to become one of her “signature” pieces.  Although Thank You never really made it big, it proved to be popular getting a fair amount of air time on the radio, presumably as a result of the sentimentality of its lyrics:

Thank you for waking me this morning;
Thank you for giving me today;
Thank you, for every new day dawning
I’ll be thanking you.

Thank you for every tree and flower,
Thank you for every sky of blue.
Thank you! I should be every hour
Truly thanking you.

Thank you for every note of music -
Thank you for every song I sing -
Thank you for giving me sweet music -
Thanks for everything.

Thank you for everything you give me -
Thank you for everything we share -
Thank you for simply being with me -
Thanks for being here.

Thank you for cheering me with laughter -
Thank you for every smile you bring -
Thank you for now and ever after -
Thanks for everything.

Thank you for waking me this morning;
Thank you for giving me today;
Thank you! For every new day dawning
I’ll be thanking you.

For every new day dawning,
I’ll be thanking you.

For the record: The lyrics were by Jack Fishman set to music by Martin Gotthard Schneider, who had originally written a version in German.

Anyway, Here’s a clip from youtube of Petula singing the song … accompanied by a variety of photographs of the singer:

Finally: Let me say Thank You to all my readers for spending some time with me!

Tags: Calendar, Expat, Reminiscences