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Gratitude Letter
Submitted by Jeanne K. on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 12:43pm.
Gratitude letter
After much consideration, I decided to write my gratitude letter to my boyfriend of two years, John. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to write to him, because we live together and I assumed that he knew how much I appreciated him and why but it turns out I was mistaken. Writing the letter was difficult and I procrastinated because I knew that it would make me emotional to compose my thoughts and then to read them out loud (and i thought this exercise wasn’t due until the next time that the class met!). I did get a bit teary when I realized how much I’ve depended on John and how he’s been my number one supporter since I decided to return to school full time.
He’s been a bit unhappy himself the last few months because we have moved away form North Seattle to the South where there is not as much to do. I realized through this exercise why I have felt guilty in regards to his current emotional state. John and I had planned to move in together but because I was so unhappy in Olympia last year and wanted to move back to the city he sacrificed a great living situation to move in with me in South Seattle. While I am much happier than I was in Olympia, it seems we have reversed roles. I thanked him for being so selfless in making this move on my behalf .
The actual reading of the letter was very emotional. I cried the whole time I was reading. I think I have a tendency to take it for granted that I think John knows how I feel about him and why. I do tell him how I feel but not as often as I should. I don’t think he realized that I looked up to him in so many ways and attribute much of my personal growth in the last few years to his stable and logical influence. I’m not sure where I would be today if we hadn’t met. He was actually a bit surprised by the whole exercise and told me that he never knew that I felt so grateful towards him. I think he really appreciated it and then started talking about writing some letters of gratitude of his own. I feel that writing this letter has brought us closer together and helped me to express my feelings in a way that I never would have done independently because it focused on the strength of gratitude alone.
After much consideration, I decided to write my gratitude letter to my boyfriend of two years, John. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to write to him, because we live together and I assumed that he knew how much I appreciated him and why but it turns out I was mistaken. Writing the letter was difficult and I procrastinated because I knew that it would make me emotional to compose my thoughts and then to read them out loud (and i thought this exercise wasn’t due until the next time that the class met!). I did get a bit teary when I realized how much I’ve depended on John and how he’s been my number one supporter since I decided to return to school full time.
He’s been a bit unhappy himself the last few months because we have moved away form North Seattle to the South where there is not as much to do. I realized through this exercise why I have felt guilty in regards to his current emotional state. John and I had planned to move in together but because I was so unhappy in Olympia last year and wanted to move back to the city he sacrificed a great living situation to move in with me in South Seattle. While I am much happier than I was in Olympia, it seems we have reversed roles. I thanked him for being so selfless in making this move on my behalf .
The actual reading of the letter was very emotional. I cried the whole time I was reading. I think I have a tendency to take it for granted that I think John knows how I feel about him and why. I do tell him how I feel but not as often as I should. I don’t think he realized that I looked up to him in so many ways and attribute much of my personal growth in the last few years to his stable and logical influence. I’m not sure where I would be today if we hadn’t met. He was actually a bit surprised by the whole exercise and told me that he never knew that I felt so grateful towards him. I think he really appreciated it and then started talking about writing some letters of gratitude of his own. I feel that writing this letter has brought us closer together and helped me to express my feelings in a way that I never would have done independently because it focused on the strength of gratitude alone.
Isn't it interesting how most of us were so sure that our loved ones know how much they mean to us? Turns out most of them don't. It is nice to step out of the everyday hub-bub and take the time to let someone know how you feel in such a meaningful way like a letter. That is great that it has brought the two of you closer and that is really great that it inspired him to write one/some of his own!! What a great activity.
I wrote my letter to my girlfriend of five years and I also realized while writing how much she had helped me over the years and how much of my growth came from her support and care. It is so strange that people can go through a whole relationship without ever thinking about let alone thanking their partner for what they have done for them.
Jeanne - I hope this gratitude letter does bring the two of you closer together. It's funny how we take the ones we love for granted, meaning, we think they should already know how we feel since we are with them. I think it is a true act of love to actually express how we feel towards those that we love.
Jeanne,
I love the fact that you cried the whole time you were reading your letter. I think it probably made the whole experience that much more meaningful for both of you. It sounds like you have a great boyfriend who was really deserving of the things you said to him. Any guy who gets inspired to write their own gratitude letters has to be wonderful. How lucky you are!
~Chelsea