The Giving of Thanks, LJ Idol 3

[ellenmillion]

I'm not feeling very thankful right at the moment.

I'm looking at the fourth or fifth printer replacement song and dance in six weeks with one of my major workhorse printers. I can't even print invoices or shipping labels right now. It's the day before thanksgiving, and I'm completely dead in the water in terms of getting orders out. Fiddling with the darn thing made me run late, so instead of a nice lunch watching StarGate, I get a crappy microwaved lasagna cup at my desk at work (is that some mystery meat gristle I just ate, or melted plastic lid parts? Either way, I don't think this thing is very good for me...). And the hotel I just booked for Comic Con ended up being like $500 more than I'd budgeted. Plus, I'm still in kick-myself mode for sending my new favorite DVD back with my returned laptop.

So, yeah, not feeling thankful. More grumpy than anything.

But even near tears on the phone with the Xerox technician, I remembered how important it is to say thank you.

I think a lot of people underestimate the value of those words: thank you.

I don't mean that you have to gush, or send a card every time someone holds open a door for you, but would it kill you to nod and mutter 'thanks' while you went through?

It is amazing how worthwhile and rewarded someone will feel just to receive a heart-felt 'thank you' in return for some effort. It is amazing that, after hours of frustration, getting a very simple 'thanks for your help' in exchange for some minor direction makes me smile, and I feel better.

I don't think it has to be fancy, or formal, to give thanks. I am awful about sending thank-you cards (but then, I didn't even send out wedding announcements...). But a brief email, a quick phone call, just a smile and a thrown 'thanks!' to a stranger - it makes all the difference.

And remembering that it is your printer that you want to throw out the window, not the poor technician on the phone, and saying 'thank you so much for your help' can make the difference between an endless run-around and a friendly 'we'll ship you a new one.'

Even if dropping the %$#*& screw into the paper feed while installing replacement parts could be considered your own damn fault.

Maybe I'm feeling more thankful today than I thought... and that guy totally deserves a card. Thank you, Mr. Xerox Guy.

Comments

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[jaenanda.livejournal.com]

Working in customer service, I've learned that this attitude can work both ways. And I've come to see my job as part of being the deciding actor, sometimes, between a "good day" and a "bad day" for someone. One little "Thank you" or smile really can make the difference between the two.

Thank you, Ellen, for sharing this.

[fidget]

That's why it's always important to be able to play "Nervous Breakdown" by Black Flag at any given time.

Hopeful

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I hope your day is better today. Yes, a simple "thank you" can make all the difference. I work in a job where I assist people with lots of things, getting benefits, finding housing, etc. And all I ask is a "thank you" and not an attitude of entitlement. So when the rare person says those two simple words, it makes everything worthwhile. Happy Thanksgiving.

[jenelycam.livejournal.com]

Thank YOU for being you Ellen!! *HUGS*

[jodimuse.livejournal.com]

I hope, despite the difficulties, that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Ellen. All the very best to you and your family. :)

[elva-undine.livejournal.com]

Very important to remember. I'm a chronic thanker and having once been employed at a service desk I know the value of patience and thanks.

[lilmissmagic71.livejournal.com]

love this take on it... the simple thank yous are really important... I am one of those 'helpful' people... I open doors, smile at folks, say the pleases, thanks yous and excuse mes... and though I don't do things like that for acknowledgment, when there is hardly ever any thank you at all... well, you begin to question why you bother... great entry!

[angstzeit.livejournal.com]

I am thankful that my parents raised me to be polite. I often think these days, that much of what is wrong with the world stems from a lack of politeness. I guess it is the "me" generation. And even I, as a teen, thought it silly. But I came to realize that a simple, codified way to communicate pleasantries makes everything run better. Because without that, little pleasantness gets communicated at all.

[n-decisive.livejournal.com]

Grin. :)

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you need an Office Space break, even if it wasn't a copier that was the pain in the ass.

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people underestimate the value of those words: thank you.
I agree with you 100% on this and it's really sad. No one really ever says thank you anymore and they really should.

[wherdafux-d-cat.livejournal.com]

As a recovering techie and customer support slave, I can only say, 'Thank YOU for writing this.' :)

[monkeysugarmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you is so important! I try to say it often (I too am terrible about thank you cards myself though) and I am teaching my children the importance of these wors as well.