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Make Someone Smile Today

What do you lose by failing to thank an employee for going the extra mile, expressing love to your spouse, sharing a genuine smile with someone, or telling your mentor how they impact your life? You miss the opportunity to strengthen relationships, offer well-deserved recognition, and encourage continued excellence. You also fail to show that you value their goodwill and miss out on how good it could make you feel. Consider the time, attention, and care these people demonstrate. Yet, you don’t make the effort to show your appreciation.

A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way

You have a lot on your plate. The last thing you need is another task on your list — especially since showing gratitude, though important, can feel optional. It’s true, that skipping it won’t set off alarm bells and the world won’t come to an end. But that small gesture can mean a lot.

If you keep your thoughts to yourself, they’re worthless.

It’s not enough to think about how much you love someone or how well they’re doing. Take a moment to tell them — people can’t hear what you don’t say. A genuine smile and a few heartfelt words can brighten someone’s day, strengthen your connection, and remind them that their efforts truly matter.

Good intentions are meaningless without action.

23 Ways to Show Your Gratitude

Make someone smile today. Here are 23 opportunities to recognize excellence, express your thanks, and demonstrate that you care:

Affection. “I love you.”

Achievement. “Great job. You knocked it out of the park.”

Growth. “You’ve shown incredible growth this past year.”

Effort. “We appreciate how hard you tried.”

Hard work. “Thanks for the effort.”

Cooperation. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Impact. “We’ll never forget what you did for us.”

Tough love. “Thanks for pushing me to do my best.”

Mentoring. “Thanks for showing me the ropes.”

Parenting. “Thanks for passing on your values.”

Sacrifice. “You gave up so much for me.”

Friendship. “Thanks for being there when I needed you most.”

Career support. “Without your support, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Motivation. “Thanks for lifting me up when I was down.”

Role model. “I’ve always looked up to you.”

Personal growth. “I learned so much from you.”

Recommendation. “They were fantastic. I highly recommend them.”

Apology. “I’m so sorry that…”

Reliability. “I can always count on you.”

Advice. “Your advice really paid off.”

Success. “I’m so proud of you.”

Opportunity. “You took a chance on me when no one else did.”

Recognition. “You’re going to be a star.” A smile is one of the simplest gifts you can offer — and one of the hardest to forget.

Will You Make Someone Smile Today?

Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.

This is an excerpt from Values to Live By: Know What Matters Most and Let It Be Your Guide 

Additional Reading:
Why Didn’t You Tell Me?
Ways to Say You Care
I’m Not a Mind Reader. Are You?
Words Matter — Communication Affects Every Area of Your Life
The Lost Art of a Handwritten Note
One Day Isn’t Enough to Express Your Gratitude
Meaningful Conversations Don’t Happen By Chance

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