Write Gratitude Letters to The People Who Impacted Your Life
Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou’s words resonate so much for me because I think of all the people who have impacted my life, and their imprint reflects how they made me feel.
About five years, I decided to write down a list of names of people who have impacted my life through the years. The list was long, and I could remember exactly what that person did to change my life. With gratitude, I began to write them letters. I wanted them to know their influence had been imprinted in my heart.
Letters to the People Who Impacted Me
The following are excerpts from a few letters:
My Sixth-Grade Teacher
I was a shy preteen in sixth grade who wanted to be accepted.
I had a teacher who saw me for me. He didn’t see the scared and quiet 12-year-old. He saw a vibrant, caring young lady. I felt like I was seen for the first time in most of my years in school.
I was a quiet and timid young girl. It took a lot to open up and share who I was with others. I lacked a lot of self-confidence. You always made me feel like I mattered and was important. I tried out for the cheer team that year, as did several other girls in your class. I had been a Pop Warner Cheerleader all my years in elementary school, and when I started middle school, all I wanted was to be a cheerleader. You knew which girls in your class were trying out. After tryouts, when they announced, over the school intercom, all the girls who made it to the next round, my name was not announced. But all the other girls in our class made it. The person over the intercom, said Congratulations to all who made it and YOU said, “And Congratulations to Bridget for trying her best at tryouts.”
WOW! I remember that to this day! You made me feel valued in my little world filled with disappointment and devastation. You made me feel like I still was good enough. Thank You for taking the time to get to know me and acknowledge who I was. What you did was such a pivotal moment in my life. It always warms my heart when I think of you and what you did that day. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to make me feel special and valued.
Real Estate Agent
Years ago, when I was going through my divorce, I had a Real Estate agent who took me under his wing.
You truly impacted my life. At that time, I felt like my life was falling apart. I was going through a divorce with a three-year-old daughter and a two-month-old son. I remember when you first came to our house to talk about selling it. I could see in your face (and you told me later) how heartbroken you were for me. At that time, I was completely broken. I did not know how life would go without my marriage. I had just suffered a year of separation and now had to sell my home.
It was not a coincidence that you were the one to help us do that. God brought you into my life. You were such a comfort to me. You took me under your care and ensured everything was done fairly and with compassion. You told me that you were in a men’s prayer group and you guys were praying for me. That meant the world to me. It wasn’t just about selling my home and getting your commission, you cared about my kids and me. You saw us through it.
My First Principal
When I started teaching and I walked into my school for the first time, I saw a woman gardening in front of the school. Little did I know that she was my principal and that she would become one of the most influential people in my life. She saw me and something in me that I did not see in myself.
I just want you to know that YOU have impacted my life. 25 years ago, when I walked onto the school campus—that was not by coincidence. I was meant to be there at that time with you as my leader. I learned so much from you about being a caring and loving educator. Thank you!
Thank you for taking me under your wing!
Thank you for believing in me!
Thank you for seeing what others did not see!
Thank you for making me feel important!
Thank you for making me feel valuable!!
I am grateful to you!
These are just a few examples of the letters that I have written. These people did not see the insecure one, the quiet one, the invisible one, or the broken one. They saw me. They saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. The way that they made me feel was so unique and so special. They are feelings that I hold dear. These indescribable feelings fill my heart with gratitude and joy.
The gratitude I feel for these people and those who have entered my life at certain stages is immeasurable. The impact someone makes on your life can last a lifetime. You may forget their words, but how they make you feel is not forgotten.
So, my friend, please make sure that you let those people in your life know the impact they have made and the gratitude that exists in your heart. It really will change your life and bring an immense amount of joy.
Meet Bridget Gengler
Bridget is an Elementary Educator. Although she loves teaching young children, her true passion lies in inspiring and encouraging others with her writing. Bridget enjoys peaceful mornings with her journal and a cup of coffee while watching her dog run around the yard. She lives in California with her husband and four children.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
