Has our society forgotten how to be appreciative? Many people are too busy running the rat race to say, “Thank you.” I remember sitting in a Sunday school class of young students during my college experience at Southern University. One student was saying how ungrateful he had been toward his parents. I also felt guilty. My parents bought me my first car while I was in high school; most students did not have cars. I had envisioned receiving a brand new car. Well, I did not.
I got an old 1973 Dodge Charger. I was disappointed. But, I ended up falling in love with that old car which I later called “The New Wave Cruisemobile.” My car was far more dependable than most automobiles. I remember never having said “Thank you” for my car – I had also taken my parents for granted. Our society does not teach us that being appreciative is a virtue. We will examines the importance of developing a spirit of gratitude as a competitive advantage toward employability.
Developing a spirit of gratitude separates an individual from the rest of the pack. This attribute is all about character. Gratitude can be defined as the quality of being thankful; it is a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. In the fast pace of industrial living, people are not saying “Thank you” to anyone. Most people feel they deserve any kind act done for them. In fact, a selfish society creates a generation of ungrateful children.
Consequently, our children grow up with this huge expectation of social pampering. Why else would a) waiters expect tips without good service, b) students expect good grades without putting in the effort, and c) couples want great relationships without any communication. All of these unrealistic expectations make “Thank you” less important.
It is easy to see how people such as recent college graduates, can be discouraged with the current economic recession. According to the U.S. Labor Department, only 47.6% of people aged 16 to 24 had jobs last August. In the current economic climate, individuals need a spirit of gratitude for a competitive advantage. Some young people may call this strategy too old-fashioned. Yet, fools shun wise counsel.
Thus, when you show someone some gratitude after they assist you, that individual will likely continue to help or do more for you. However, if you are ungrateful, many times people will not do any more for you. Here are some things you can do to help produce this act of kindness:
- Count your blessings one by one. Give God thanks.
- Tell your parents “Thank you” for their support.
- Give back financially to your university.
- Visit past teachers who have contributed to your good character.
- Support high school and college alumni organizations.
- Send your church Sunday school teacher a greeting card.
- Thank the person in your community who serves as your role model.
- Thank the public servants in your area (such as garbage collectors, police officers, postal workers, fire fighters, etc.).
- Recognize and praise past coaches who have helped you.
- Say something positive to your minister who contributes to your spiritual growth.
Finally, we live in a world of takers. The holiday season is the perfect time to add some gratitude into the character-building process. If a person is honest, he or she can probably think of at least one person who has helped him or her in some way. It is easy to get into a trap of only looking at the negative side of life. Showcasing a spirit of gratitude can be very rewarding and can transform an individual’s situation.
© 2015 by Daryl D. Green
