Thank You

The leader of my Bible Study said on the first day that in order to remember names, she had to repeat them three times consecutively. For instance, if she were to meet me, she'd say "Nice to meet you Teri. So Teri, can you tell me about where you grew up? That's awesome, Teri."

Recently I started a new job creating a training presentation for Sales Representatives. I have been teaching them how to handle clients and how to "sell" their best. Something I've had to tackle was how to effectively train the reps so that they'd remember all the information the 157-slide presentation had to offer. The most effective tool, like my Bible Study leader has found, is repetition.

Yesterday I was in line at Subway to buy a sandwhich. I was in a pretty low mood because I've been relatively stressed lately. I decided to try to say "Thank you" three times in my encounter with the Subway employee to see what would happen, thinking that if repetition is kind of like brainwashing, maybe I could "brainwash" myself into a better mood. Boy, was I right. With every utterance, my mood was lifted. I was teaching myself to be grateful in a situation I otherwise wouldn't've thought to be.

So now I challenge myself, and you, to teach yourself to be grateful. To find little aspects of your day-to-day life that could be improved by repeating "Thank you" to someone who really needs to hear it. Try, once a day at least, to say "Thank you" three times in a conversation with someone. You'll be amazed at how God shows you how far a simple two-word phrase can carry you.