I worked the snack shack for my son’s little league team a few weeks back and let’s just say, I completely underestimated the number of Icee’s that can be sold during a long 4-hour shift on a very hot summer afternoon.

I was also completely blown away by all of the kids coming up to the order window that used their please's and thank you’s.

Like seriously almost every child verbally said thank you after each transaction.

Moms and Dads of the world…. you’re rocking it!!!

The fact that I heard “thank you” from almost every single small human that I interacted with on that hot day, made my heart absolutely leap for joy.

Because if these kids are telling a relative stranger “thank you” for their cherry coke Icee on a 97-degree day… can you imagine the sort of gratitude they’re going to share with others around them?

Well, I can and it makes me so excited.

Because….

Silent gratitude is not the same as shouting it from the rooftops.

And man did all these kids sure shout it from the rooftops. Yes, I could tell they appreciated their melty bag of M&M’s or processed cheese nachos… just by the grin on their faces.

But the fact that each one of them also said “thank you” made my 4-hour shift breeze by.

I think we should take a little bit of inspiration from these kids.

What if you took every opportunity to say “thank you” from the rooftops? What if you slowed down and noticed all the opportunities for gratitude in your own household… and expressed it?

What if you showed appreciation to your mate simply because you see them working hard at doing life together?

I hope that you embrace every opportunity for gratitude… just like a sweaty 9-year-old holding an Icee on a scorching summer afternoon.

Yours,

-A

P.S. If you’re struggling to express and not quite sure how to re-open the lines of communication in love… I hope you reach out. I’m here to support and encourage you as the two of you get back on track.