Is your Gratitude Going Unnoticed?

Have you ever expressed gratitude to someone that went unnoticed?

We all have unique ways of giving and receiving love—also known as our love languages. (If you haven’t heard of these, I highly recommend checking out Dr. Gary Chapman’s work.)

For instance, quality time is my primary love language. When people are willing to spend quality time with me, that’s when I feel the most loved.

Well, the same principle applies to gratitude.

Gratitude given isn’t necessarily gratitude heard. We have to show people that we’re grateful for them in a way that they’ll hear it best.

Years ago, I was in Italy producing a Broadway play, and I asked my best friend Scott to come along.

Scott’s one of the most frugal people I know, and at the time, he had only ever left the country once. Buying a ticket halfway around the world wasn’t something Scott would do for most people—not even himself.

But knowing what was meaningful to me, Scott came to Italy without question when I asked.

When I think of how to express my gratitude to others—whether for friends, colleagues, or family—I remember what Scott did.

You don’t have to buy a plane ticket to demonstrate your gratitude for someone, but it helps to know how the person on the other end will receive your “gift.”

How do you express gratitude for the people you love?