Not only does someone's gift need to be personal; something that truly reflects who they are/what they like, but so does the way it's wrapped. If the gift occasion arrives and the factors above are not on target, I apologize and tell them I'm not yet satisfied with their gift and they'll receive it shortly. When this happens the recipient feels extra special for the time and thought invested, even if the gift itself simple and/or inexpensive.

Always have 'little' gifts available to say thank you. And be ready with the simple words 'I appreciate your help'.

I send an old-fashioned greeting card, just because.

Being a nurse is rewarding and difficult simultaneously. I work to help the patient be comfortable in new settings, watch or the patient's changing status and learn when to be able to intervene in time before matters get worse.
I know being in the hospital for some is disappointing and causes feelings of anger. It's okay to express that anger, but not in a rude manner to the person who is providing care.
As a nurse I don't ask much of my patient's. Except to let me know a cluster of needs at a time. To allow for time management between patients and devote time for documentation purposes.
Nurses are very under appreciated by the public, but yet we are the #1 trusted people in the world.
But i show my appreciation to my patients by first introducing myself and 2nd learning one thing about them to remember them by.

I have a fabulous sister-in-law.
Every year I send a note to her mother,
thanking her for sharing her daughter with our family.

We live in a rural area so the mail boxes for the five families along our lane are placed at the end of the lane. Due to the heavy snow plows in the winter, the boxes not on heavy stands were pushed all around. Last summer my husband took it upon himself to build a sturdy stand on which to place all the mailboxes in a row. Our mailman aided in the height of the stand for him to place the mail in the boxes. He really appreciated the work my husband did to make his delivery easier.
I read the article "Make Someone's Day". My husband and I operate a janitorial service and could really relate to the section about workplace cleaners. We have cleaned in a bank where a customer service representative would deliberately throw her trash on the floor and tell us "That is what we pay you for". I would love to place this article in all the places we clean because the four items you mention are things we see on a daily basis. Rarely does someone thank us.

I am a fan of the good old fashioned thank you note. It is a little surprize amoungst the bills to let a person know you appreciate them.

Showing a little kindness. Doing something unexpected for a friend or even a complete stranger.
My postal server loves to find a fresh bottle of water and some home-made cookies in the box!
Coupons are also good to be used when they want, babysitting, or a home-cooked meal.

i was disappointed that you left out housecleaners in your article Make Someone's Day.I'll tell you what would make my day,,clear dirty dishes from the sink and discard spoiled food left in a pot on top of the stove,pick up dirty socks and underwear from the floor,ditto for old newspapers,bills,and hardened pet food,pick up after your kids toys and please flush the toilet. We are a twice monthly cleaning service,not a live in maid.If you want extras done,be prepared to pay for the extra service.Most cleaning service's come in for maintenance cleaning,we will dust and vaccuum,scrub the bathrooms and kitchens and mop the floors at a set price.Our time is valueable and the work can be back-breaking.A Christmas bonus is nice,but respect and consideration makes all the difference in the world.

I write a handwritten letter and tell them how much I appreciate them or what they have done...

A few years ago, I had to dispose of several large pieces of broken glass after replacing a window. I wrapped and sealed it in cardboard, but still did not feel comfortable about putting it out with my regular trash, so I wrote a large sign warning the garbage men of the danger and attached it to the wrapped glass. Later that morning I happened to be leaving the house as they arrived. They thanked me profusely saying that many trash handlers are severly injured by broken glass hiding in trash bags. Bottom line - they aren't mind readers. Just make sure you aren't leaving them a nasty surprise.

How could you miss the most obvious means of thanking the largest population of service providers in our world?
The who: Technicians, Techies, Customer Support Agents.
The where: Via telephone most often and many times at our door.
The why: Our computers, phones, televisions, cable lines, drains, etc., etc. don't work.

I managed hi tech technicians and customer support for years. These people are the "designated hitters" of our (non-baseball) worlds, coming in to drive in a run, hit a grand slam and/or save the inning for us. Too often we don't even say thank you and mean it.

What you should do ... and I do ... each and everytime I get decent or better service is ask to speak to their supervisor and tell them exactly what they did for me, how they did it and how much it means to me.

A software company help line must have me on file for doing that so often and for all the right reasons. I know that company believes in solid customer support, but when I call I always always always get a smile-brightened hello and how are you. I know I deserve it and they certainly have earned it.

So what more can I say? Get out there and ask for the supervisor and don't let anything stop you. That's how these people get great reviews, promotions and raises. Which means that they become role models to everyone else around them. And many of them are at the beginning of their careers. They deserve to discover that people do appreciate what they are great at!
Charlotte Cook

I wanted to show my thanks to the folks serving overseas.
I made a simple sign that says "Thank You" w/ a Sharpie Pen and piece of printer paper.
I carried the sign and a point and shoot camera with me as I travelled through my day.
I asked folks to pose with the sign.
Each week I mail a "Thank You" photo to a service person to remind them that I and other everyday folks are thinkinng of them.

At Christmas time, we leave our 2-3 different mailmen Burt Bees Hand Salve and Lip Balm. During the year, we will leave home-made chocolate chip cookies in the mailbox.

At Christmas time, we leave our 2-3 different mailmen Burt Bees Hand Salve and Lip Balm. During the year, we will leave home-made chocolate chip cookies in the mailbox.

I tend to like to pamper people whether through massage a facial or makeup.I like to make people feel great about themselves.LOVE to see the smile on their face after they see the way they look after a facial or after I put makeup on them.It brings a smile to my heart!

I tend to like to pamper people whether through massage a facial or makeup.I like to make people feel great about themselves.LOVE to see the smile on their face after they see the way they look after a facial or after I put makeup on them.It brings a smile to my heart!

I bake goodies all the time, and I give them out to people who you run into everyday, such as the ladies at my son's daycare center, the security guards at my office building and the cleaning lady. It's not expected, yet nice to get a little pick me up for no reason too!

Since I was a child, I've always said thank you for everything and continue it today: thankyou when I receive the water in a restaurant, when I happen to meet the mail or newspaper carrier at the door;when someone opens the door for me. I've also been in the habit of making greeting cards and always keeping enough stamps to send them. I think one of the easiest and meaningful ways of thanking someone (even if they live next door) is to send a card of thanks for something said or done especially when it is not a holiday or special celebration time.

I thoroughly enjoy browing the aisles at Hallmark, searching for just the right card to express how I feel toward someone. And who doesn't love the surprise of getting an old-fashioned greeting card in the mail.. just because.

My cleaning lady is a jewel. She does a great job but she is also an inspiration to me. She has four young children, works very hard and is remarkably cheerful. I give her a hug every time I see her and remind her how much I appreciate all she does for me. I always have a fresh pot of coffee ready, in case she didn't get a chance to grab a cup on the way out the door. I also try to give her things I know her children or she will like...hand me downs from my son; small gifts for her; inspirational books or books I've read and think she'd also enjoy. I also save her parenting articles I think she'd enjoy and inform her of classes and resources that I see.

A hand written note of thanks and sometimes a picture is a great way to appreciate someone.