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Showing Gratitude
“No Man is an Island” is very true. None of us have ever achieved anything without having someone there to help us.
Research shows that one of the key characteristics of Happy people is that they show gratitude. To make it even better, the more gratitude they show, the Happier they get.
I know this is true, because I am a very Happy person, but on Saturday, September 8, 2018, I had an extremely Happy day. On that day, I showed gratitude to a very important person.
Freddy Jennings grew up in Fries, Virginia.
He was a soldier, serving in Korea. But he wasn’t just a soldier, he was a hero, and was awarded the Silver Star Medal for valor.
He was a VA Tech Hokie, graduating in 1962. But he wasn’t just a Hokie, he was an Ut Prosim Hokie.
He was a JV football coach. But he wasn’t just a JV Coach. He took a 98 pound freshman and gave him the confidence to play Varsity football.
He was a teacher. But he wasn’t just a teacher. He took a poor kid from Brush Creek, whose parents never finished the 8th grade, and gave him the confidence that he could attend VA Tech and get a Civil Engineering degree. He did this by making sure I had enough math, by teaching an advanced Math class to only one other student and me. He did this by taking me to my first VA Tech basketball game, and several afterwards. He took me to see the campus. He made sure I was hooked on the Hokies.
He did this for me, and he did this for dozens of other students from Fries.
Freddy L. Jennings died on April 10th of this year. I prayed for a way to show how thankful I am to this man.
So on September 8, 2018, in his honor, there were a dozen kids from Fries who were brought to their first VA Tech Football game. They were happy to be there. I was elated they were there.
There are many ways to show gratitude. I suggest you make it more personal than an email. Send a card, or actually write a letter. Send a small gift that would bring back memories of a special occasion you and the person experienced. If you really want to make them feel special, go for a visit and give them a small token of your love and appreciation.
I challenge you to go back into your deepest memories. Back as far as you can remember. Write down 20 people that went out of their way to help you. Send each of them a note telling them how you still think of them, and how thankful you are for what they did for you.
It will make them happy, and you even happier.
I’d love to hear some of the special ways you show gratitude.
I hope you’ll read my other blogs at www.BringingHopeAndHappiness.com
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