Two words that carry incredible meaning, especially for someone that is not expecting to hear them, are: thank you. Gratitude is one of the simplest ways to show appreciation. It doesn\u2019t cost much, a coffee, a cookie a simple thank you will go a long way when you are able to offer a sincere gesture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After volunteering for three years in the Guest Relations department of a hospital, I\u2019ve witnessed the lack of gratitude within society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m not expecting a thank you for everything I do, but it\u2019s nice to know that my work is being acknowledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a volunteer I gained several experiences, but one that I can\u2019t really shake off is the time I encountered a \u201cKAREN.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A middle-aged woman cleared the room as she made her way down to the receptionist\u2019s desk. Eyeing me with a cold eye she yells \u201cWhere\u2019s my mother?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I greet her with a smile and ask \u201cCan I have the patient\u2019s name and date of birth?\u201d She rolls her eyes, as if I should know exactly who she is talking about or as if I was asking the dumbest questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After checking our system twice, calling the Emergency Room and a couple of other departments I find out her mother had been discharged earlier that morning. The words \u201cI\u2019m sorry ma\u2019am, your mother was discharg\u2026\u201d slip out of my mouth and immediately get met by \u201cYou don\u2019t know anything, you are just a volunteer… I need a manager.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I may have just been a volunteer, but I had a clear understanding of the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of my role.\u00a0I knew I had done my part and even gone out of my way to help her. Most of the volunteers wouldn\u2019t have called different departments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not na\u00efve. I understand she wasn\u2019t having a good day, but it\u2019s still not an excuse to take it out on me.\u00a0It would seem that the older we get, the less we realize what other people do for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As children we learn to say thank you, make colorful drawings or cereal bracelets to show we appreciate someone. \u00a0As adults we seem to lose grasp of the importance of appreciation and occasionally give out a greeting card for the sake of courtesy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wasn\u2019t asking for much; I just wanted a thank you for trying to help. Appreciation makes a difference; it lets people know you value them or their work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be thankful for the little things people do, you may not notice them until it\u2019s too late.
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