“When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” –Dalai Lama

When someone does something nice for you, the natural response is to want to thank them. But what if a plain old “thank you” just isn’t enough for you? Push the envelope of the standard Thank You note response and try these creative, unique ways to say thanks:

1. Bring them a homecooked meal – Homecooking is increasingly rarer in this fast food nation. Make their night special and delicious by whipping up something for them to eat.

2. Wash their car – Many of us neglect this due to time constraints and lack of prioritizing it. Thank someone for all they do by taking their car to get a wash.

3. Give them a spa certificate – Most people don’t take the time to pamper themselves. Give them an excuse to do it by handing them a spa or massage gift certificate.

4. Watch their children – Help mom and dad take a load off by coming over for an evening to watch the kiddos while they have a date night.

5. Offer your services – Show your appreciation by offering your own special skills and talents to them, such as scrapbooking, photography, dogsitting, mechanic services, doing taxes, or tutoring. Whatever you’re good at turn it into a token of thanks!

6. Help around the house – Assist your friend or loved one with a project they are doing, like redecorating, painting, or moving furniture. It’s a very helpful way to show you’re thankful.

7. Get photos printed – Many big-name stores, like Target and Walgreens, offer self-service printing. Getting some physical photos for the person you appreciate (maybe of the two of you together or of the pictures you took of her kids) is a great way to express your gratitude.

8. A night on the town – We often don’t make it a priority to go out and enjoy ourselves. Our free time and extra money is usually spent in other ways. Treat your friend to a night of dinner and something fun, like going to the movies or a show.

9. Buy them something practical – You don’t have to buy extravagant gifts or spend a lot of money for it to be meaningful or thoughtful. Since we often slack on purchasing even those things that are useful and necessary, consider a practical, but equally thoughtful gift. A pair of socks, a new hat, or a nice pair of gloves are simple gifts, but extremely useful.

10. Help out with the cleaning – This is a good one to do while you watch the kids, since most people won’t feel comfortable with you coming over to clean while they watch. Just a few little chores around the house is a good way to show how thankful you are: loading the dishwasher, doing some vacuuming, or helping the kids fold the clothes.

About Alex Blackwell

Alex Blackwell is the author of Letting Go: 25 True Stories of Peace, Hope and Surrender, which includes 10 free Peace and Balance tools.
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