I'm sure we can all think of a number of people in our pasts that we should have thanked but failed to do so.
Most, I would imagine, date back to our school days. We spend years at school being taught all that we need to know for when we leave, then fail to thank those who taught us. I can think of many of my teachers who I would liked to have thanked, but didn't. I can also think of a few that I would like to have presented with a custard pie.
Strangely, I did bump into my old Art Teacher who had a great influence on me. I met him totally by chance whilst walking through a small Sussex village. He was with his wife/girlfriend, and didn't look in good health, either physically or mentally. I tried to explain that I'd ended up with a 1st Class Hons Degree in Fine Art, but I don't think he either remembered me or knew what I was talking about. What a shame. I expect he was suffering from extreme dementia.
In my teaching days I did forget to thank the two 'Heads' that I worked under. I really should have made a point of visiting them to thank them and say 'goodbye'. One sadly committed suicide just after I left.
I suppose most importantly I should have thanked my people for all they did for me. A comfortable home, a good education, and their constant support, was all that any son could have wished for.
And I shouldn't forget the senior lecturers at college who saw fit to offer me that good degree. What degree I would eventually end-up with had never crossed my mind, so it came as a big surprise.
20 comments:
Lucky you to have had teachers who supported and encouraged. I'd like throw more than a custard pie at most of mine. I can't think of one that might have been described as 'encouraging'.
I would thank my parents though who put up with me through terrible teenage years and cheered me on whatever I did.
One reason I like the candle lighting in church here. I always light one for them and say 'thank you'.
Our own parents are our most influential 'teachers', and I am always sorry for those who are unfortunate enough to have bad, or absent, ones. Being a parent is a very important job.
I wish that I had thanked my Dad for trying his best in his own way to look after us, even though he didn't really know how.
I've recently been more conscious of trying to remember to thank people, also be thankful for what I have.
My own father was a good 'provider' but I think he lacked certain fatherly skills. Very 'old school'.
Good for you, we should all follow your example.
If we loved and respected our parents that shows all we need to give them and I am sure that thanks were taken in that way. Although I loved school I didn't feel the need to be overly thankful and feel a little like Linda about some of my teachers. The singing teacher I worked with this week, on the other hand, I bestowed great thanks to when I left at the end of the session and I know I will never see him again so thanking him was important to me.
I think it's important for both the student and the teacher to receive the thanks that are merited (if indeed it is).
I guess he was "of his time".
I was fostered as a child by wonderful foster parents who gave me and my sister a loving home after a bad start in life, we owe them everything and I think we showed and told them our thanks when they were alive. I had two teachers who were so encouraging to me and I would like to have thanked them but sadly didn't. Regards Sue H
I admire those who foster; they are often wonderful, caring, and dedicated people.
Exactly that.
A great post loved it
Thank you John.
Thank you for being a thought provoking part of my mornings.
I do my best.
I was only thinking about this this morning. About a teacher that I should have thanked for giving me a reference that got me the job I wanted. Don't know why I didn't thank him, I really should have and feel terribly guilty about it after all these years... he was a bit scary though so maybe that's why. He's probably long gone by now too.
That's exactly what I was thinking about. Too late now in most cases sadly!
Saying thank you and acknowledging others for doing good is important. We all need to do more of it.
I agree, or we live to regret not having done so.
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