What's So Great About Saying "Thank You?"

Posted by Mike Foster There is a video circling around of teacher, Chris Ulmer, complementing the students in his special education class. He spends the first ten minutes of each class doing this and guess what the results are?  More happy and engaged children.  Students who turn around and compliment each other.  Kids who bond and believe in themselves.

This made me wonder, what if we paid this Thanksgiving forward?  What if we took all of the things we're thankful for and told someone about them?  I believe there would be, just like in Ulmer's classroom, a domino effect.  Where a genuine "Thank you for...." creates gratitude within someone else. Where a sincere "You are amazing at that and I'm so thankful for you" turns into a duplicated compliment.

So encourage someone during the holidays. Invest a thank you and see how it multiplies.  Start a chain reaction of positivity that could sweep across the entire world at a time when it needs some light to break through the darkness.

In the words of Charles Schwab, "The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement." Let's get out there this Thanksgiving and make each other the best we can be.

Mike Foster is the founder of People of the Second Chance and the author of Freeway: A Not So Perfect Guide To Freedom. He lives in San Diego with his family and fluffy dog.