A Curated Playlist Expresses Gratitude
The holidays are a hectic time that can be frustrating and exhausting. However, it's also a time to slow down and reflect on all the great things in your life. It comes down to acknowledging the wonderful people around you and expressing gratitude for how much they mean to you. Here are 20 ways to express gratitude this holiday season.
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1. Write Handwritten Thank-You Cards
A handwritten card is a personal and intentional way to show gratitude, especially in the digital age. Take a few minutes to write why you appreciate someone and what they mean to you. This creates a keepsake that will feel very different than a generic email.
2. Give a Personalized Gift
A gift with true meaning doesn't have to be pricy. A personalized gift can show someone how much you care. It can be something that reflects the recipient's hobbies, a memory you share, or something to make their life easier.
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3. Cook a Homemade Meal
Food expresses effort, warmth, and care. Making a meal or a treat for a neighbor, co-worker, or friend shows love and gratitude. Furthermore, sharing a meal with someone is a great way to connect or deepen your bond.
4. Deliver a Genuine Compliment
A sincere compliment can make someone's day. Instead of a generic compliment, like "nice work", you can compliment them on something you truly appreciate. It can be their kindness, thoughtfulness, humor, or reliability.
5. Make a Donation in Someone's Honor
To show someone you care, you can donate to a cause that's meaningful to them. This reflects your appreciation and acknowledges their values. It also turns gratitude into an act of real-world kindness.
6. Give the Gift of Time
Time might be the most precious gift of all, so consider expressing gratitude by spending quality time with someone. You can help them with a task or errand, or simply be present over a cup of coffee. It conveys that they are important enough to pause your schedule.
7. Write a Heartfelt Holiday Letter
Writing a holiday letter is a fun exercise that lets you reflect on the year and tell someone how much they've added to your life. Include memories you shared with them, challenges they've helped you overcome, and express appreciation for their presence in your life.
8. Offer to Help
Acts of service can help relieve some of the stress of the holiday and show someone how much you care. You can help a friend or family member clean their home, decorate, shop, or run some errands.
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9. Use a Gratitude Jar
A gratitude jar lets you jot down moments, people, or memories that are meaningful to you and keep them in one place. Read the notes at the end of the holidays to gain even more gratitude for all you experienced.
10. Praise Someone
Whether via an Instagram post, a message in a group chat, or acknowledging someone in a meeting, public recognition shows appreciation. Shine a light on someone's actions or character to make them feel good and strengthen your relationship.
11. Create a Holiday Video Message
Making a personalized holiday video for someone shows warmth and emotion. You can talk about a shared memory, thank them for their help and support, or simply express your love for them.
12. Support a Local Small Business
Buying a holiday gift from a local small business expresses gratitude to the gift's recipient and also to your community. Choose something the person will appreciate and enjoy while also helping a small business. This act can spread a lot of goodwill.
13. Leave Surprise Notes
Leaving surprise notes in someone's desk, bag, or lunchbox can brighten their day. It can be a simple sentence or two, and you can even tape it to a bathroom mirror to make sure they see it.
14. Create a Photo Album
Compile photos, memories, and keepsakes in a photo album to create a meaningful gift that screams effort. It shows that you're emotionally invested in the other person and that you want to preserve their shared memories.
15. Give a Warm Hug
This one should only be used when appropriate, but a warm hug can speak volumes. It conveys comfort, appreciation, and closeness.
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16. Give a Positive Review or Testimonial
If you want to express gratitude to someone who owns a business, a kind review can be the perfect gift. Share your experience publicly to help them grow and thrive. Trust us, they'll appreciate it.
17. Gift Them a Meaningful Book
A thoughtfully chosen book can express gratitude and inspire the recipient. Select one that aligns with their interests or taste, and try to link it to thankfulness, personal growth, or connection. Include a note as to why you chose it for them.
18. Host a Gathering
It can be a small dinner or a simple get-together, but hosting a gathering to celebrate loved ones is a great way to express your gratitude. Create a welcoming environment and acknowledge their importance to you and the connection you feel to them.
19. Share a Playlist
Music is deeply personal and emotional. Curate a playlist on your favorite music streaming service and include songs that connect to shared experiences or contain uplifting messages.
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20. Express Gratitude Consistently
While gestures over the holidays are meaningful, consistent gratitude has even more impact. You can send small messages throughout the year to continuously show how much you appreciate them. Gratitude is most effective when practiced regularly and without the holidays as a catalyst.
