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Post by avax on Nov 24, 2007 6:56:51 GMT -5
Wondering if others haven't forgotten the important stuff like thanking specific people who have helped them along the way - in achieving certain things or getting to certain places. I don't mean prayers, or god, or silent-thank-yous-oh-yeah-I-heard-you're-a-mindreader. I mean real people and taking the time to backtrack a little and acknowledge their significance, actively.
So... what are your usual thank you gifts? Taking someone out to lunch, buying em a few drinks, bottle of wine, some unfortunate cut flowers wrapped like belgian fries, box of chocolates, tickets, card, simple email or follow up? Punch in the face? Lick under the armpit?
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Mr Brad Pitt
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Post by Mr Brad Pitt on Nov 24, 2007 9:41:34 GMT -5
ROFL My usual thank you gift is... saying "thank you". Sincerely. By e-mail or in front of a drink, if the person is in my country. Then, if I know this person is passionate about this or that, has just been married... I'll offer a matching gift.
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Post by avax on Nov 25, 2007 11:10:53 GMT -5
What do you mean matching gift? Like matching spatulas "For Him" and "For Her" in the kitchen? Oh they could be in an odd shape (like a lighting zigzag, and then when placed together, fit like a puzzle piece. HOW SWEET !! I can't wait till Valentine's day.
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Mr Brad Pitt
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Post by Mr Brad Pitt on Nov 25, 2007 12:31:59 GMT -5
Oh girls... actually I didn't think about that ;D My sentence was confusing. I thought about offering stamps to someone who I know is fond of stamps, marriage gift to a bride/groombride, etc.
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tbw
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Post by tbw on Nov 25, 2007 15:43:50 GMT -5
For friends just taking them out and treating them is great way to say thank-you. But thinking about it now, haven't said any big thanks to my parents, anybody else have this problem? Never thought about a punch in the face or lick under the armpit, will consider them next time and see their reaction
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Post by avax on Nov 26, 2007 11:22:56 GMT -5
Hm. No. How do you mean problem regarding thanks to parents?
I recommend a lick and then poke.
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Post by Freecia on Nov 26, 2007 15:43:27 GMT -5
I'd treat them lunch. Let's face it, everyone has to eat, and it'd be nice to have a free lunch.
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tbw
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Post by tbw on Nov 26, 2007 16:16:28 GMT -5
Hm. No. How do you mean problem regarding thanks to parents? Just wondering how you say 'thanks' to your parents. I don't think one dinner would cover all the thanks to them. I guess just be a good kid to them is thanks enough?
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Post by SecretAsianMan on Nov 26, 2007 16:52:47 GMT -5
What's important here? Isn't it all about maintaining the relationship? A dinner, a bottle o'vino, a box of fine cigars (right-on!), or even a heartfelt "thank-you" are nice signals, but my goal would be to remain a part of that person's life and offer my assistance and continued friendship over the long haul. This, of course, means adding that person to my Friendster/MySpace/Facebook/etc. contacts list and sending periodic greetings (easier than preparing a ton of holiday cards, etc.)...
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Post by avax on Nov 26, 2007 23:43:22 GMT -5
Re: parents. Yeah, it's hard. But there are ways. Don't stop though or feel discouraged. Personally, my mother is kind of unpredictable, and my father is too self-sufficient. I can give her something I know she will like but she won't interpret it in quite the same way - I have this creeping suspicion we have radically different concepts of the world. It was kind of hurtful to be honest growing up with that but she's just being her, and my gifts tend to make more sense to her too as time passes. Don't worry.. never given any dead crickets. I must be getting warmer. Haha. Actually I did not think of 'maintaining relationships' when creating this thread. That is an excellent point. I was thinking more of expressing gratitude cause.. well, you're grateful. No cigars here. Hookah? All. Night. Long.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 19, 2007 7:59:43 GMT -5
Besides the verbal thank-yous I like to give notes or send emails so that they know why I'm thankful. I don't know, having someone write nice things about you always seems a little more special than even a gift because it requires a little more thought. I've passed on coffee vouchers that were given to me at work by my bosses to other co-workers that I thought were also deserving (I never use them anyway). Recently I gave a Christmas card and an iTunes gift card to someone at work for always doing an excellent job and just for being an all round great person. I like to keep my eye out for people who quietly do more than they're asked without expecting recognition for it. Those are the type of people I like to reserve my biggest thank-yous for.
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Post by sass in a glass on Dec 19, 2007 11:33:36 GMT -5
I think my sister did a great job when she got married. She decided she wanted to honour them at rehearshal dinner, her hubby for his parents too of course... gave my parents the recognition they deserved because really they are the ones who give us love, support, applauded us through our accomplishments, were there to care for us when we were sick, put us all through school, took us to great holiday destinations etc! So a toast or speech at dinner would suffice. It's always well worth seeing the smiles on their faces when you acknowledge them! Of coure gifts are also a bonus!
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Post by hapalicious on Dec 20, 2007 12:10:12 GMT -5
i m often at a loss to thank people. i don t think a thousandth of the people i m thankful for are even aware of it or even know the extent to which i am. if some of these people are EAN posters, or were...i wish they could read this because i rarely find the right way or wording to thank someone to the extent that i want to thank them. and it so happens that some of these people are/were EAN posters i either met or at least communicated with or both. i know this is off topic Cel and that you asked for something of substance...matter...not the slushy mush i m gonna give you here but i actually rarely thank people i m REALLY thankful for with something material anyways. when i do, it s mostly because i m away from them but even then...i rarely do...because i feel it s wrong to repay someone who brought something priceless in your life with something on which you can put a price on. though i resort to it, to show my appreciation, i feel like cheating them if i don t add something more personal. and sometimes, it s like these people have done so much that you can t even think of words to write to say a mere thank you. it s hard to explain but sometimes i m so thankful it s almost like i m giving up already on ways to thank these people because i know nothing i ll say or do will ever live up to how much a role they played in my life and often times, i wait for the occasion where i can be of help the most to these people to arise so i can repay them. sometimes happens, sometimes not...in most cases anyways, i can t say thank you or express it the way i want. be it through pictures or words. this is mushy so don t quote me on this the next time i ll swear to pull the rug from under my grandma s feet but i wish some of the people i m most thankful for feel/be in my heart and realize how much what they did or said or didn t say actually meant to me. if heaven exists, i know it s a place where those i m thankful for would be able to experience some of the warmth they ve brought to me. and a couple of these people....i actually met on here. some to a larger extent than others of course and they know who they are, and right now i really wish i could pin my post on googlenet/news/.com so they could read it ! wrong thread i know... anyways, i remembered we had a thank you thread, i won t name any members (embarassing wouldn t it be ) but right now i m just thinking about these friends i made here who actually called me from Korea upon learning i wouldn t go home for the holidays... it must be expensive but they still called. i thought that was really sweet of them. now let us all wipe our boogers ! i got pancakes to make...or not...that kid s borderline anorexic and likes throwing food away cause Paris Hilton does it and it s "cool" if reincarnation were true i m sure she d be a kid in Etiopia. actually...changed my mind...i m not making pancakes. i m sick of cooking to watch her poke her food and then have to throw it away thinking of the kids in Hanoi that i saw when i was her age. i m thankful. i won t be throwing away pancakes today
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Post by avax on Dec 21, 2007 23:41:33 GMT -5
Hi. Virus, yeah I end up giving away things from work but usually not as gifts unless they don't really know me or what I do. Those things are just bonuses for being a friend. I'm pretty wary about that too. Maybe a couple I do that with.
Marie, it's not offtopic. Maybe saying thank you is about saying it in a language they understand, not really about the person saying the thanks. I hope that makes sense. It is thoughtful of you.
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Post by viruslabrat on Dec 23, 2007 11:30:26 GMT -5
My favourite thank you from people I don't know is some chocolate. From other people a note and/or a hug!
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