Thank You Notes

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William A. Ward

We believe, as many of you do, in the power of gratitude. A sincere and hearty “thanks” is good for those giving it and for those receiving it. At LeaderShape, we encourage this practice in different ways, one of which is during the national sessions of The LeaderShape Institute. We ask each participant to write a note of appreciation that also shares a bit about his or her experience at the Institute to a program donor.

This summer something different happened.

Each LeaderShape staff member received a note of gratitude from a participant from Florida State University’s session of the Institute. Beautiful, thoughtful, handwritten notes from LeaderShape graduates. Talk about a good mail day! These letters were a terrific reminder of the power of the program and of the work that we and the rest of our community is committed to. It is the people and their work that helps make it possible for participants like the ones who wrote to us from FSU, to engage and be challenged and learn and teach and grow during the six days of The LeaderShape Institute.

In the US it is the season of Thanksgiving. We so appreciate the kind words that were shared by Tatiana, Edwin, Marie-Claire, Caylin, and Kristin from FSU. We are also unbelievably thankful for the opportunity to do the work that we do with such wonderful and talented people.

We hope that you take a moment to share a bit of appreciation with someone who has helped you in some way, whether it has been through participation in a LeaderShape program, with your academic or professional endeavors, or in a matter that is personal in nature. Give thanks. Be generous with gratitude. And not just when there is a holiday focusing on it, but all year long.