How do I move towards starting each day feeling grateful for the day and eager to get out and embrace the day (instead of wanting to burrow further under the covers and hope the day just passes me by, day after fucking day)? I know that on my death bed, be it tomorrow or 50 years from now, I will *profoundly* regret a life wasted feeling sorry for myself. I know that, and yet I can't stop feeling sorry for myself.
[more inside]
posted by segatakai
on Feb 17, 2013 -
25 answers
I am looking for a copy of a 1938 pamphlet called "Gratitude" written by Dr. Harry L. James of Chicago. There was a copy
on Ebay, but it's sold now. Any chance I could find another copy (or PDF) of this thing?
[more inside]
posted by mattbucher
on Jan 7, 2013 -
4 answers
Is there anything I can get for a security guard who did me a favor when I messed up and might have lost my job due to negligence?
[more inside]
posted by kellybird
on Dec 12, 2012 -
27 answers
How to repay/show gratitude to amazing friends that have let me crash at their place for the last 5 months while I disentangled myself from LTR with co-owned condo?
[more inside]
posted by CaptApollo
on Nov 15, 2012 -
7 answers
I've got a thank-you note to write to a friend of my parents'-- already quite late, since the gift was given early last month. Difficulty: since then, the recipient's house was damaged fairly badly by Hurricane Sandy, and she's been struggling with the aftermath. I feel like her current rough situation warrants some sort of extra gesture or comment beyond the usual thank-you boilerplate, but what might that be?
[more inside]
posted by Bardolph
on Nov 9, 2012 -
8 answers
Apart from a well-considered thank you note what might be an appropriate way to thank a pilot who is flying myself and another patient to a hospital for treatment? He's serving as part of a charity and I plan to write him there as well as thank the charity for organizing it. Weight is an issue, so a nice jar filled with goodies is out. I'd love to find/do something that would personal and memorable.
posted by Mertonian
on Nov 5, 2012 -
6 answers
Can you help us find the transcript of a blessing or poem from Praire Home Companion? Either that, or some other suitable grace for a Catholic/atheist/multifaith wedding blessing before dinner.
[more inside]
posted by teragram
on May 17, 2012 -
6 answers
Are their any numbers on individuals who have failed to commit suicide, and are subsequently grateful that they did not succeed? I've always heard that suicidal ideation is often a temporary thing, and was curious if there were any numbers behind it. (note: not having any myself, just curious)
posted by leotrotsky
on Dec 8, 2011 -
23 answers
I have warm fuzzy feelings and inclinations to do nice things for people. Does this make me unprofessional? How do I talk myself out of it, if so? I'm in academia.
[more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur
on Oct 31, 2011 -
39 answers
How do I cultivate gratitude for my wife, without feeling like I'm sucking up to her or giving-in to her?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jul 15, 2011 -
22 answers
A medical condition that should have killed me didn't. I'm just understanding (three years later) just how lucky I was. What are some ways that I can keep this feeling of being lucky and grateful to be alive in happy, life-affirming (i.e., not morbid or overly emo) ways?
[more inside]
posted by devotion+doubt
on Apr 29, 2011 -
20 answers
My father-in-law may have pocketed part of a gift intended for my husband and his brother. But then again, maybe not! How can I navigate this situation with maximum tact and minimal drama? And more concretely, how does one write a thank-you note that gracefully specifies the exact amount of the gift?
[more inside]
posted by yersinia
on Dec 28, 2010 -
42 answers
Thank-you present for a friend who's always miserably cold in a state that's already been clobbered by winter?
[more inside]
posted by pittsburgher
on Dec 4, 2010 -
41 answers
How should I show my appreciation to my HR department for a job well done in extending my work visa? What is appropriate?
[more inside]
posted by Conductor71
on Nov 5, 2010 -
12 answers
A friend made a really sweet, but kind of awkwardly generous, gesture. How to respond gracefully, while still giving her an out?
[more inside]
posted by Bardolph
on May 26, 2009 -
23 answers
How should I thank a stranger who got me out of a small but embarrassing money jam?
[more inside]
posted by naoko
on Mar 31, 2009 -
22 answers
Etiquette-filter: sending thank-you notes late (like, ridiculously, months-to-years late)? Specific questions within.
[more inside]
posted by Bardolph
on Jan 21, 2009 -
14 answers
My wife and I have been together for 10 years and for the next few, she is giving me a gift that I fear I can never repay. I recently began medical school at the age of 32 and, as you might imagine, just getting to this point required several serious sacrifices on her part. I've just finished my first "block" and have a week of vacation before the next block begins. I'm at home all day while she's working and I want to spend my time showing her how much I love her, how much I appreciate her sacrifices, and how I realize that I couldn't do this without her.
I'm doing the normal things like making nice dinners, cleaning the house, and tackling honey-do items. But what else can I do? I'm looking to the hive to help me be creative.
[more inside]
posted by stuboo
on Sep 29, 2008 -
15 answers
Recently, I left a job. One of the responses I got to my "goodbye" email was a beautiful and touching message I received from one long-time colleague, an American-born Muslim. In his email, he said "May Allah (swt) bless you and your family. I will keep you guys in my prayers."
In this context, what does the (swt) stand for? And, what would be a culturally-appropriate response?
[more inside]
posted by deadmessenger
on Jul 18, 2008 -
10 answers
My creative coworkers aren't
famous, yet deserve some recognition for their efforts on a tough project with an impossible client. Internally, I'm singing their praises and making their successes known to management. Additionally, I'd like to get them a treat. Here's where you come in:
[more inside]
posted by cior
on Oct 19, 2006 -
9 answers
I'm looking for a word that is like "obsequious", but has more to do with gushing gratitude -- to the point of being obnoxious -- rather than compliance and approval-seeking.
[more inside]
posted by toomanyplugs
on May 16, 2006 -
31 answers
Do you have ways to put your life into perspective and force yourself to appreciate that you're really pretty privileged? Or do you allow yourself to get bored and solipsistic and desirous of more (material or otherwise) stuff?
[more inside]
posted by catesbie
on Jun 10, 2005 -
37 answers
My family would really like to send a thank you gift to the heart surgeon who operated on my father. First, this is okay to do, right? And second, if yes, what would a married doctor with kids like to get? I've spent 2 hours looking at
gift baskets, but many are for sweet foods and (1) I think he practices Lent; and (2) he just lost a bunch of weight. I may go with a
healthy (
sort of)
food basket, but can anyone recommend something else, maybe unrelated to food, that I'm overlooking? Other than a
heart gelatin mold? Like a
Netflix membership, except I'm not sure he doesn't already have one.
posted by onlyconnect
on Mar 1, 2004 -
12 answers
