The Baftas and Your Personal Awards
By Susanne on Jun 9, 2010 in Happiness
The Bafta Awards for Film and Television were on the other night and as usual I wrestled with the question of how does one decide who is ‘best’.
People’s contributions are different – is one contribution worth more than another? And while I’m happy for the winner, I always feel sorry for the ’loser’ – though how can you be a loser when you have been nominated?
The Bafta’s also remind me of the process of thanking people and offering credit where it’s due not only for our big successes – but even for the smallest things outside of work and industry.
No one ever ‘makes it’ on their own. There are people all around us who support us but which we so often take for granted.
In my own life, the postman, the milkman, the rubbish man, my cleaner, the company that washes my car, my car mechanic – all allow me to get on with my life. In my business people that support me include my book keeper, my accountant, my techie people – but how often do I thank them?
Yet, when I hold a door for somebody in a store, I tend to expect a little thank-you. I don’t go crazy if I don’t receive one, but if I do get a ‘thank you’, I appreciate the other party’s appreciation. It’s a show of mutual respect and it makes the world a better place.
I’m sure, like me, you also hold doors open for people, thank strangers and act perfectly politely out there in the wider world. But I also know that I don’t thank friends and family anywhere near enough for the little things they do for me. Things that they themselves possibly don’t even notice!
What kind of thing am I talking about? Well, remember the last time you were stressed out. Steaming with anger about an incident at work, or over the timing of a bill when you least expected it. Remember who you called to let off that steam? It was probably a colleague, or a friend, your sister, brother or your mother. They probably listened to you rage, offered the standard words of calm and understanding, then let you leave the line, feeling slightly less miffed than when you first spoke.
Did you thank them at the time? Maybe in passing, but only as a courtesy or do you really mean it?
Maybe it’s high time to thank them for all the little things they do for you. And nothing pleases people more than a thank-you that comes out of the blue. You could send them a short message on facebook to thank them for their continued advice. Offer them a tribute in Twitter. Email them your praise and best wishes for all the times they’ve lifted you from the mire.
The funny thing is – It’s not only the person you’re thanking who’ll benefit from the good vibes. You’ll also receive a rush of endorphins, simply for being the kind of person who is open enough to give credit where it’s due. It doesn’t cost a dime and it really is a win-win.
