The Genuine Thank You

Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” —Alice Walker

Before I understood the power of positive thinking and law of attraction I would have attributed things to chance or coincidence. However, I know better and so I make it a practice to see the glass as half full rather than half empty.

I share this today as I always make it a point to start my days on a positive note expecting good things to happen to me throughout the day and this past week was no exception. I  was traveling back home for a couple of weeks and it was going to be a long day so I had psyched myself for it and especially said a prayer that everything would go very well.

My Uber ride to the train station was what started the succession of good experiences the ride was very pleasant and even at such an early hour the driver was in a good mood not too chatty but cared enough to ask how I was to break the silence. I got to the train station and he got out to get my bags and wish me a pleasant trip, thank you I said. The barriers the tracks were closed but then the guy at the barrier smiled and ushered me through as I tried to manoeuvre balancing my bags and scanning my pass, I said thanks with. A smile and passed through.

Then as I got to my first transit station my connecting train had been cancelled and this could have thrown me off but I said to myself it’s ok we are still in good time to get to the airport. A station warden saw my distress and asked if he could help. I explained that my connecting train was the cancelled one but needed to get to the airport, he assisted me in finding a different train that would get me there. As I made my way to the other train with my luggage an elderly lady coming towards me smiled and said “dear it will be better if you took the lift as it’s just stairs ahead.” I said thank you and turned around towards the lift to get to the tracks. I got to the airport, checked in my luggage and got through security like a breeze. Not stressed, delayed or flustered. I smiled and whispered to myself - thank You Lord.

Then when we arrived at my destination I had an hour before my pre-booked train to my city but the queue at the boarder control was longer than I’ve ever experienced so you can imagine my joy when one of the CS reps at airport motioned for Scandinavians to join a very short queue. I quickly joined and in less than 10 minutes it was my turn, the officer took my passport smiled and said “welcome home”

Thank you I replied smiling and with those welcoming words I was through the checks and heading over to collect my luggage. Yes I am home, I sighed in relief and whispered thank you. I picked my luggage up in the next 15 minutes and made it in time for my train back home I was so grateful that everything had just gone more than expected. I couldn’t wait to get home and get some rest but I was also hungry and so the 1 hour 40 minute train ride was occupied with me thinking of what I could quickly prep when I got to my mum’s. I knew she’d have some rye bread and toppings so I settled on a sandwich. When I got home my mum was at work but had left a note telling me about the grilled chicken and jollof she had made so I could have something to eat the I got back. I smiled and whispered another thank you, truly I couldn’t say that enough.

I put my bags down, washed my hands and sent her a message thanking her for the sweet gesture before I decided to settle in. When I sat after unpacking and freshening up I reflected on my day and couldn’t believe how a mindset to start my day positive just sends a ripple of good one after the other. I took a deep content breath with thanks and remembered one of my all time favourite quotes from Meister Erkchart Tolle - if thank you is the only prayer you say that will suffice. I knew my genuine thank yous had been all the prayer I needed to receive more to be thankful for and so as I share this today I would like to encourage that we genuinely start our days expecting the good and when we receive the first sign of this to genuinely be thankful for however little the sign is for what you appreciate does increase.So I end this week with much appreciation to you for reading my work.

Affirmation: I will genuinely give thanks for both the unexpected and expected.

Images: Howie R, Alora Griffiths, Jon Tyson.