Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated by Americans next month. It is a wonderful gathering of friends and family, a chance to show appreciation to each other and for our blessings.
I am lucky to have four grandchildren, all living nearby in Helsinki. They started daycare at the age of one year, the norm in Finland. One of my greatest pleasures was picking them up at the end of their day and getting a huge hug.
Before leaving the play area their teacher would look them in the eyes, shake their hand, and say, “Tack för idag!”—Swedish for “Thank you for today.” As they grew older, the children learned to initiate this ritual, also saying, “Vi ses imorgon!” or “See you tomorrow!”
My wife and I are approaching forty years of marriage, and not a single night has passed without her saying to me, “Tack för idag!” along with our goodnight kiss. How fortunate am I.
I love this tradition because each day, not just on Thanksgiving Day, it reminds us not to take our time with teachers, partners, or even business colleagues for granted. We can choose how and when we express gratitude to people in our personal and professional lives.
Working with organizations around the world, I’ve seen some cultures begin the day with everyone shaking hands with each other when they arrive at the office, a gesture often repeated when leaving at day’s end. A wonderful way of connecting on a personal level.
If we want to foster respectful collaboration with colleagues while working in an office or even remotely; finding ways of acknowledging them in perhaps small, but meaningful ways, is well worth the effort.
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