Coach Tip Tuesday: Give, and More Importantly, SAY Thanks

Bonjour et bienvenue à Coach Tip Tuesday!

This week is a major holiday week for Americans - it’s Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving Week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I love everything that the holiday stands for - family, friends, gratitude, and pie.

As I’ve moved through my life, I’ve often heard people express regret that they didn’t tell someone what they meant to them or regret over not expressing their gratitude for something.

Feeling grateful and having that attitude of gratitude is a great thing.  But feeling it is one thing, and expressing it is another.

I’ve learned that most people do not realize that they are as valued and loved as they truly are.  The only way we can help them realize how important they are to us is to do the hard - but brave - thing, and tell them.

Yes, it might feel awkward.  Yes, it might feel corny.  Yes, you might fear someone cracking a joke because you’re actually expressing your feelings.

But despite all this, I’ve learned that it is best to outwardly and authentically express your gratitude for the people and things in your life that help make you who you are.  The people who mean so much to us deserve to know that they mean that much.  And if someone has specifically done something that you are thankful for, be sure to specifically express your gratitude for that specific act.

I’ve never regretted telling someone what they mean to me and that I’m thankful that they’re in my life.  We never know how many days we actually have here ourselves or with those we care about.  So, sometimes we lose the opportunity to express that gratitude, and we are left with feelings of regret for not saying what we felt.

So this week, I challenge all of you out there to outwardly express your gratitude to someone in your life who you have not thanked recently.  It could be your training partner, your life partner, your mentor, your friend, the employee who scoops your post-ride ice cream.  You get the idea.  All of you have SOMEONE who has done something for you, who has made your days a bit brighter, who has supported you along your journey.

Go out there, be brave, and tell those who have made an impact on your life just how grateful you are that they are in it.  You’ll likely make their day, and honestly, you might make your own day as well.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, my friends.