7 Creative Ways to Express Gratitude
Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to think about what we’re thankful for and ways we can share our gratitude to people who have helped improve our lives in any impactful way, whether small or big!
Expressing gratitude has several benefits and has been shown to improve your mood, boost your immune system, improve sleep, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Not to mention strengthening your relationships.
To start, I’ll share a few things I’m thankful for: first, that I’m alive and healthy and surrounded by people I love.
Second, this WONDERFUL CleanFoodCrush community, our fantastic team, and all you incredible CRUSHers.
Last but certainly not least, I’m grateful for every opportunity that has allowed me to learn, grow, and overcome challenges and the people who have encouraged me and helped me grow.
We can approach thankfulness in several ways, so for some examples, here are 7 creative ways to express gratitude!
Cook or Bake
One of my favorite ways to say thank you, make someone smile, or share my appreciation for their friendship is to cook for them or bake them a sweet treat!
Pick out your favorite meal, be it soup, tacos, or pizza, and invite them over for dinner. Alternatively, make them your favorite dessert to say thank you.
Check out these recipe roundups for some ideas:
Give a Personal Gift
Think about smaller things that have impacted your life or that you love that would make a simple yet personal and thoughtful gift. A vinyl of your favorite album, an annotated copy of a book that changed your life, or a ticket to the best show you’ve seen.
You can also gift something that you know means a lot to your friend. Order a mug with pictures of their dog on it, get a blanket with quotes from their favorite song, or a Christmas ornament of the skyline of their hometown. Be creative and think outside the box!
Do a Random Act of Kindness
A random act of kindness isn’t necessarily a way to thank a specific person, but it can be nice to pay it forward! It’s inexpensive, easy, and and benefits your mental health! Here are some fun ideas for random acts of kindness you can do this week:
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Compliment a stranger
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Give a hug to your colleague who seems to be having a bad day
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Buy a coffee for the first responder behind you in line
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Pay for the groceries of a tired mom
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Make a playlist for a friend of songs that make you think of them
There are so many small ways to tell someone else you’re thinking about them, and making someone else smile really will make you smile, too.
Specify Your Words
When thanking someone, be it in person, a letter, or a message, choose your words carefully.
Show enthusiasm and use significant phrases! Don’t be afraid of your emotions, and go deep with your words to say what you truly mean.
Vary your words so it doesn’t sound like a Google Pasted generic thank you.
Sharing gratitude is simple but powerful. Make it worthy of such power!
Write a Letter
When choosing those words, consider putting them in writing.
In today’s world of instant digital communication, handwriting a letter means even more! It takes more time and has a personal touch to it.
Plus, people can save physical letters for future reminders.
Also, if the person you’re thanking lives farther away, send them a care package! Include your favorite book, a handwritten letter, a seasonally appropriate candle, a healthy treat, and some nail polish. Look up what to put in a care package, and you’ll find hundreds of ideas!
Gift an Experience
This one is similar to number 2 but can be more universal!
Take someone to the local watering hole to see a new band, go to a cooking class together, buy tickets to the zoo for them to take their kids to, propose a trip to a performance together, gift them a ticket to a musical, or any fun experience that they can go to with someone of their choice, or you can go to with them!
Making memories is one of the best ways to tell someone you love them and are thankful for them.
Volunteer or Serve
I’m building off number three here by suggesting that you volunteer some time to others. This isn’t for thanking a specific friend but to give back.
ALSO, you can find a way to serve your friend, family member, colleague, or whoever you’re thanking.
If you live with them, pick up their load of chores for the week. If they have kids, offer to babysit for free to give them a night off. If they’re older, busy, or don’t love cooking, make them a casserole that will provide dinner and leftovers!
Speaking of leftovers! Now that Thanksgiving has passed, you likely have a ton of several leftovers that you don’t know what to do with and a bloated body.
Don’t worry, though; we have tips for both of these issues! Check out this Post-Thanksgiving Survival Guide and this list of recipes that use Thanksgiving leftovers.
If there’s anything worthy of time, effort, money, or creativity, it’s expressing gratitude and giving back to others. Life is often exhausting and lonely, so being kind can make all the difference.
What better time to experiment with loving others well than the holidays?
Now I want to hear what you’re thankful for, CRUSHers! Leave a comment below about what you’re grateful for today.
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