Thank those who touched your life

Mitch Albom's book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" is about the seemingly minor characters who touch our lives and alter their courses forever.

[BeckyKnapp]

I totally second Heather's thoughts here. One additional comment I would like to make has to do with teachers who have, maybe unknowingly, had an impact on our lives. If you ever had such a teacher -- please write them a letter, and thank them for their influence on you, as a student. Teaching is such a thankless job, most of the time. Teachers stand up before a classroom and teach roomfuls of students, unaware of the one spark they've ignited or the impact they've had that in the scheme of things will change a student's life.
I had such a teacher -- he taught 10th grade English. We did a lot of writing in that class, and this teacher saw a gift in me and encouraged me and nurtured me to keep on writing.
Years later, when I had made journalism my profession, it occurred to me that I should go back and thank that teacher for instilling in me a love of writing and believing in me to the point that I was able to believe in myself, that maybe I WAS blessed with talent.
So almost 20 years after I sat in his classroom, I wrote him a letter and thanked him for his encouragement and support that eventually put me on the path to a career in journalism. I told him it must sometimes seem pointless, fruitless, standing before three dozen students in six or eight classes everyday -- but that I was a living testament to the effect he had on students' lives, and I just wanted to let him know he had touched my life in a very positive way.
I heard that he cried when he read my letter. I also was told that he framed it, and hung it in his classroom.
So many times there are teachers who bring out the best in us, encourage our gifts and talents, and nudge us higher on the ladder of life -- and we should go back and thank them.
A teacher's salary is mediocre in today's society -- the real pay for them comes in the form of a "thank you" for a job well done, and a life forever changed by theiir influence.
If you haven't thanked a teacher ... do it now!

[citi]

Happy Thanksgiving Becky.

:) citi

[BeckyKnapp]

citi wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving Becky.
:) citi

Same back atcha. It's a day to count blessings ... which it seems we are both doing.

[citi]

BeckyKnapp wrote:

<quoted text>
Same back atcha. It's a day to count blessings ... which it seems we are both doing.

Indeed. Even the two of us should be able to put aside our differences (but only for today or it will get boring) and remember that we each have much to be thankful for. Family, friends, people who are far from us in distance, but close to our hearts nonetheless.
It's been a long year, and we're still here, so we can be thankful and focus today on all of our blessings.

:) citi

[BeckyKnapp]

citi wrote:

<quoted text>
Indeed. Even the two of us should be able to put aside our differences (but only for today or it will get boring) and remember that we each have much to be thankful for. Family, friends, people who are far from us in distance, but close to our hearts nonetheless.
It's been a long year, and we're still here, so we can be thankful and focus today on all of our blessings.
:) citi

I agree (but as you said, only for today, or it will get boring). Much like the first Thanksgiving, this is a day for the "haves" to share with the "have nots," and for everyone to consciously count their blessings. I hope everybody makes an effort today to do or say ONE THING that will make someone else's day brighter, happier, better. You've done that here ... and I appreciate it.

[Omniscient1]

There's a lot of love in the forum today! LOL. Sweet.

[citi]

BeckyKnapp wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree (but as you said, only for today, or it will get boring). Much like the first Thanksgiving, this is a day for the "haves" to share with the "have nots," and for everyone to consciously count their blessings. I hope everybody makes an effort today to do or say ONE THING that will make someone else's day brighter, happier, better. You've done that here ... and I appreciate it.

As do I Becky. Have a good day...
:) citi

[MeatyMcCheeze]

I am truly thankful that there are still a few moms&grandmas out there who REALLY know how to sling some turkey&stuffing in a time when so much of the food we eat comes from a box or by drive-thru. Remember to kiss the cook,and tell her how good it was to have her around. Wow I sure am feelin the love today!

[BeckyKnapp]

MeatyMcCheeze wrote:

I am truly thankful that there are still a few moms&grandmas out there who REALLY know how to sling some turkey&stuffing in a time when so much of the food we eat comes from a box or by drive-thru. Remember to kiss the cook,and tell her how good it was to have her around. Wow I sure am feelin the love today!

That's another thing -- many of us will gather today with family members we don't see all the time, people coming in from out of town, in-laws, etc. Don't forget to speak "I love you" to the people you share dinner with today. So often, we don't say the words, just assuming people know how we feel, but it's important, sometimes, to say it. Today would be a good day to do that.

[TWTL]

BeckyKnapp wrote:

I totally second Heather's thoughts here. One additional comment I would like to make has to do with teachers who have, maybe unknowingly, had an impact on our lives. If you ever had such a teacher -- please write them a letter, and thank them for their influence on you, as a student. Teaching is such a thankless job, most of the time. Teachers stand up before a classroom and teach roomfuls of students, unaware of the one spark they've ignited or the impact they've had that in the scheme of things will change a student's life.
I had such a teacher -- he taught 10th grade English. We did a lot of writing in that class, and this teacher saw a gift in me and encouraged me and nurtured me to keep on writing.
Years later, when I had made journalism my profession, it occurred to me that I should go back and thank that teacher for instilling in me a love of writing and believing in me to the point that I was able to believe in myself, that maybe I WAS blessed with talent.
So almost 20 years after I sat in his classroom, I wrote him a letter and thanked him for his encouragement and support that eventually put me on the path to a career in journalism. I told him it must sometimes seem pointless, fruitless, standing before three dozen students in six or eight classes everyday -- but that I was a living testament to the effect he had on students' lives, and I just wanted to let him know he had touched my life in a very positive way.
I heard that he cried when he read my letter. I also was told that he framed it, and hung it in his classroom.
So many times there are teachers who bring out the best in us, encourage our gifts and talents, and nudge us higher on the ladder of life -- and we should go back and thank them.
A teacher's salary is mediocre in today's society -- the real pay for them comes in the form of a "thank you" for a job well done, and a life forever changed by theiir influence.
If you haven't thanked a teacher ... do it now!

Becky, that's one of the nicest things I've ever read on these forums. It's clear to see why people paid you to write.

I've sent letters to teachers, too, and I taught my kids to do it, too. Every year when the school year ends, I buy a couple of cards and have them write to the teachers that had the biggest impact on them and tell them what what they appreciated about them. Of course, I have to bribe them to do it, but still, I know they're learning something valuable by taking the time to write a thank you and to let another person know they are appreciated.