From a very young age, one of the first phrases my parents taught me was “Thank you!” Every time people came to visit and brought me a gift, as I held the gift in my hands getting ready to run off with it, my parents would hold me back reminding me, “What do you say when someone gives you a gift?” Same thing would happen when a relative that we hadn’t seen for a few months would come over and tell me, “You are growing up into a beautiful young lady.” All my parents had to do was give me that look. A look that didn’t need any words to say, “What do you say when someone gives you a compliment?”

So, from a young age, I learned the value of gratitude. Saying “thank you!” is one of the most comforting things a person can do. Through this simple phrase, we express a genuine recognition of someone else. We communicate that their gesture, attitude or action means something to us and that we value them.

In South America, I learned that in Spanish, the word “gracias” also signifies joy and happiness, as well as charity. It implies warmth in a spiritual sense. That’s the reason people say that gratitude is good for the soul, both for the person giving it as well as the person receiving it.

Because of this, I am taking this time of the year, a time of celebration, as an opportunity to say “Thank You!”

Thank you for your constant support and loyalty. for allowing me to be part of your life through my blog.

Because YOU are my greatest inspiration and motivation!

Through your comments, emails, messages, one-on-one sessions, day after day, you encourage me to improve and open doors to new ideas and opportunities.

Most importantly, I want to say “Thank You!” for your understanding when I have made mistakes. For your forgiveness and accepting my apologies when I have let you down. For believing in me and giving me the opportunity to learn from my mistakes through your support and standing by me.

You see every time you made an effort for me, encouraged me, supported me, believed in me and stood by me, you gave me strength and made me feel LOVED!

I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the LOVE you have given me and making me a part of your life!

You mean this much to me…