The definition of gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Also similar is thankfulness, appreciation, recognition, acknowledgement, credit, respect, sense of obligation and even indebtedness. Have you ever thought about the different levels of gratitude? Gratitude can be an emotion that one might feel upon receiving a gift or favor. Some even say that gratitude is a mood that comes and goes. One source defines gratitude as an affective trait or tendency to have a grateful disposition. Here at The Thompson Group, we fall into the third category as gratitude is more than a feeling or a mood, it’s a way of life.
Last month I wrote about the Rotary “Four Way Test” and The Thompson Group values. If you haven’t read that article, it may be good to go back and read it or read it again. (it’s on our web site at EstesParkHome.com) Our gratitude doesn’t just extend to people we help buy or sell homes, but to life in general as reflected in every aspect of our value statement.
We recently distributed over 160 Apple and Pumpkin pies to our friends as a sign of our gratitude to them for enriching our lives. When we called our clients to see what type of pie they wanted we would often hear “that is so nice” or “we appreciate the pie”. A few others would appreciate receiving a pie from us, but declined because they may have felt the gift was too much or that they didn’t deserve a pie. Let’s look at it from the giver’s perspective. Some people are wired to like numbers, like an accountant, as I was for over 30 years before embarking on my real estate career almost 16 years ago. I enjoyed building spreadsheets that help put the numbers in a meaningful order. Whenever I had the opportunity to build a spreadsheet to analyze numbers, I gladly embraced the task as that was what I loved (and still love) doing. I would jump at the chance if someone came to me with a problem that I could solve by building a spreadsheet. Imagine how I would feel if I could not use my propensity for numbers and spreadsheets to solve the problem. I would be devastated as working with numbers is something that I like doing and I would be super frustrated to not be able to do something that I was built to do. That same feeling is what a giver feels when their gift is refused. Giving is our joy. We look forward to “Pie Day” every year as that gives a huge dose of happiness. That excitement can easily be squelched by anyone who would refuse our gift of a pie. It’s who we are, it’s built into our DNA, it makes us what we are today. Your Trusted Real Estate Advisors. Being a Giver is a joy to everyone at The Thompson Group. We truly believe that it is better to give than to receive. The next time a giver offers you something, just say thank you and accept it. Do not rob them of their joy.
This is the time of year when we express our gratitude fully. We love Thanksgiving and the gratitude that that brings. Sharing with family and friends is a blessing to us. Christmas is the pinnacle of the Christian Celebration as we received the gift of His only Son from the ultimate Giver and we are grateful. As you receive gifts this holiday season accept the gift in the spirit that it was given and give gratitude back. This is the best gift a giver can receive.
We are grateful for you, your friendship, and your business. I am especially grateful for our team and how it has grown and matured into a fully committed group that operates with the unified purpose of providing value to all we encounter. And I am truly grateful for my life partner and wife Karen who supports us in our business and who has a heart the size of Texas.