Gratitude

This quarter, our focus is Gratitude. Last quarter, we talked about the intention we bring to our conversations. Gratitude gives us a place to begin.

Think of someone whose advice you still use.

Maybe they took a few minutes to help you work through a decision, then went back to their day. Years later, something they said still comes to mind when you need it. From their side, it may have been an ordinary conversation. They may have no idea what happened because of it.

Stay with that memory for a moment. Remember where you were in your life and why their help mattered. Or think about someone you depend on today, whose effort has become so familiar that you sometimes overlook it. Give yourself a little time to appreciate having that person in your life.

Gratitude can do us some good, too. Research on gratitude practices points to a modest lift in well-being. And if you’ve hesitated to put your thanks into words, experiments by Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley offer a reason to reconsider. People receiving gratitude letters felt happier and less awkward than the writers expected. The note you’re second-guessing may be something they’ll be glad you sent.

Tell them what you remember. Mention the patience it took to help you through that decision, or how their advice has stayed with you. A few honest sentences give them something they couldn’t otherwise know about the difference they made.

As you think about the other people who matter to you, look at the calendar. Halloween is ahead, followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas, then New Year’s. Over the coming months, choose the occasions that fit the people you’ve been meaning to contact. A holiday greeting can reopen a conversation and give you a chance to say something you’ve wanted them to know.

Those conversations are part of the work that will shape your Q1 2027 results. Make time for them in Q4 2026. HG makes it easier to reach out to everyone who matters, with messages you can personalize and schedule for the people you want to reach.

Start with the person who came to mind while you were reading. Give your thank-you room to stand on its own. They get to learn that something they did mattered enough for you to remember.

Who would you like to tell?

Dan