Tuesday Thoughts

Five Can Make a Difference

Have you noticed how companies will advertise on most anything possible? I got a nice little surprise the other night with a little advertising on of all things a book of matches. Rather than some brand of smokes or liquor, the cover was very simple. It was all white with two big words in black caps: THANK YOU. There were probably 100 or so books of THANK YOU in the bowl. As I sat looking at the bowl, I thought wouldn’t it be nice if someone actually said THANK YOU every time they picked up a book of the matches? As I looked a little more at the books of THANK YOU, I started thinking about what simple words or combinations have the power to totally change people and situations. I narrowed it down to five.

1. Hello
2. Thank You
3. You’re Welcome
4. I Love You
5. I’m Sorry

Hello acknowledges someone else and typically generates a smile. Saying thank you typically get a “you’re welcome” response and a little smile. Saying I love you with sincerity will create wonderful feelings in both the giver and receiver and gets some hugs and smiles. I’m sorry acknowledges you made a mistake and can help smooth out a stressful situation.

I’m wondering what it would be like to only be able to communicate with body language and those five items listed above. If I’m smiling, hugging, saying Hello, Thank You, and I Love You all the time, that would not leave much time or need for I’m sorry;. However, I would keep it around because after all, I am a silly boy and do make mistakes. Seriously though, just think about how much better our communication would be if we just smiled, hugged, and used those simple words and phrases. The world would be a little different and better place.