A Token of Gratitude: Little Ways To Thank The People You Love

Written By: Taylor Rao

You know what never goes out of style? Being kind. And while there are certain times of year or specific holidays where you feel a little extra thankful for the people you care about, it’s just as important to share the love all year round -- like a random Tuesday. Maybe you have a reason to thank someone who has helped you out, but you don’t really need an occasion. It’s ok just to thank someone for being who they are and for being in your life.

Plus, showing gratitude to someone you care about is mutually beneficial. By expressing your feelings of thankfulness for someone, you can improve your own mental and spiritual health, boost your mood and, more importantly, make someone else’s day. You may never know how much one small gesture can mean to someone who needs it.

By definition, a token is something that is a symbol of a feeling or event. And when it comes to showing appreciation or just trying to make someone happy a token of gratitude can be more than enough. Here are a few little ways you can thank the people you love on the regular.

Start their day with coffee on you

There’s a pretty good chance the person you’re thankful for starts their morning off with a fresh cup of coffee or tea. One of the simplest ways to let someone know you’re thinking of them is to send a sweet surprise to their inbox by gifting them a cup of their favorite morning beverage.

The Starbucks and Dunkin’ mobile apps make it easy to send a virtual gift card with a short note from you, and listen --you don’t need to go all out and supply a month’s worth of coffee for $25. You can simply send as little as $5 and say something like, “today, coffee’s on me.” If the chain brands aren’t their style, using Venmo or CashApp will make them smile all the same.

Trade traditional flowers for a houseplant

Sending someone flowers will forever be a staple way to say thank-you. But it can also be an expensive way to show someone you care about them. A bouquet is beautiful, sure, but it doesn’t last forever, which is why it’s growing (pun intended!) increasingly popular to send plants instead of flowers.

Try finding a house plant that fits the person’s vibe and lifestyle --say, a succulent for your friend that’s always on the go, something that will flower for the person who could use a little extra color in their life or something safe for pets for your friend with fur babies.. There’s really no occasion where a potted plant wouldn’t make someone smile, and plants have different meanings behind them and reasons why you’d choose something specific for the person in mind.

Keep blank notes on hand

 In today’s world of instant messaging --from texts, to direct messages on social media to email, it’s a rare moment to receive a handwritten note or card --and that’s what makes it even more special to get one. (Especially in the mail!) If you want to step up your thoughtfulness game, having blank notes on hand gives you a reason to spend a few minutes really thinking through what you want to say and how you want to express yourself.

 Whether you leave the note on a colleague’s desk at work or send one in the mail to your BFF seeing your kind words on paper, in your own handwriting, can go a long way to making the recipient feel truly appreciated.

Be a good listener

We all drop hints when we’re talking with a friend, partner or family member that’s close to us --even if we don’t realize we are doing it. Remember that one time your sister told you about her favorite brand of local honey, or how your mom mentioned that she wants to read her favorite author’s new book? By being a good listener and picking up on a few cues, you can go the extra mile and surprise someone with something that really means something to them yet feels totally unexpected (despite the subtle hints).

 And again, it doesn’t always have to be something lavish or expensive like concert tickets or a weekend getaway; a gesture like this says more about how you care for them and how you pay attention to things that are said in passing, but actually reveal something important. So, buy the jar of honey or the latest novel on your mom’s list and watch the look on their face when they realize you care because you listen.

Customize a photo gift

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is a timeless adage because it’s so true. That’s why a special photo for the person you want to thank can have such an impact. There are tons of ways to make a picture gift-worthy. A framed image is nice, but for a comparable cost you can customize your own canvas print online for a unique gift that can’t be replicated.

 Designing your own canvas print somewhere like Easy Canvas allows you to select a photo, choose the specific sizing you want and have it shipped right to your door for easy gifting. Plus, canvas prints don’t have to be framed, so the recipient just needs to prop or hang it up to be able to enjoy this token of gratitude with almost no effort on their end.

Schedule time to catch up

It’s great to have friends who you click with immediately, no matter how much time has passed in between your last hang sesh. But also, why let time go by in the first place? Now more than ever, we have all found ways to connect virtually and make an extra effort to check in frequently with people we care about. There really is no excuse for letting months go by without touching base.

So, one little way you can show someone you’re thinking about them is to not only reach out but schedule some time for some real face time -- in-person or over a Zoom chat or Google Hangout. It could even become a recurring meeting so you can hold each other accountable. If you’re typically a text-based communicator, surprise someone by picking up the phone for a real conversation every once and a while. Hearing someone’s voice and being able to say how you’re feeling instead of just typing it out can make a person feel way more in touch and connected to you.

There are hundreds of ways to simply say thanks --some are free, some are super creative, and some are just a new spin on classic tokens of appreciation. But whichever one you choose, the person you’re treating is sure to feel loved, appreciated and just as grateful for you as you are for them.

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