'Spreading Attitude With Gratitude'

Watching glamorous awards ceremonies like The Oscars and The Grammys always has me feeling a combination of resentment and jealousy. Call me bitter but there's just something about watching a whole room full of self-important millionaires parading around in posh designer gowns that puts a damper on my reality of Sunday night sweat pants and low fat popcorn. 

Still, I have to admit that when the stars step up to the podium for their big thank you speeches, I can't help but get a little choked up and misty eyed. The sense of gratitude sometimes is so evident that it's overwhelming, and long after the show is over I find myself thinking about the extensive list of names that were mentioned as wonderful contributions to great success.

Then, of course, I think of what my list would be like. We've all imagined this scenario, right? Our official celebrity thank you speech up on stage at the Kodak Theatre for something like "best new artist" or "best supporting actress". Who would we grateful for?

Gratitude is something we think about from time to time in light of holiday reflection or close call emergency situations. Many of us are fortunate enough to be surrounded by loving support by family and friends, and when we think on past relationships we're thankful for people who have entered and exited our lives briefly but with great significance. 

In January 2010 a project called "52 Thank Yous" was started in dedication to the concept of gratitude, encouraging people to commit to a whole year of sending thank you letters - one per week, with a total of 52 by the end. The idea was inspired by a failed New Years resolution of the same goal that was never attained, thus a website was created to spur motivation and invite anyone willing to join. Some ideas of people to thank are family members, friends, teachers, famous people who have inspired you, and a category called "third party thanks" for those brief encounters we have with strangers who give us great customer service or pick up loose change we've dropped on the ground. 

The gesture is encouraged to be accompanied by genuine sentiment and less concern for the aesthetic of its delivery. Spelling and grammar are not as important as the thought behind the words, and even though notes crafted with handwriting or a decorative touch can be considered more personal, sending your thank you via e-mail or private Facebook messages can be just as touching with the right expression.

This project, I think, is an amazing idea for anyone who is searching for some meaning in their life that stretches beyond the daily 9 to 5 work grind. So often we're caught up in our busy schedules and our drive to pursue successful careers that we forget we owe much of our lives to the people who have helped shape them. Imagine the joy of receiving such a letter yourself and think of the positive impact you are capable of with a few simple but honest words from the heart.

The project is being advertised and joined by blogging sites all over the web, such as Open Diary. Bloggers are invited to use their public space on the Internet to write their thank you notes and share them.

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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