Most of my career as a doctor has been in private practice, but I did spend a few years working in an urgent care clinic. It was fun and different. And I really enjoyed the people I worked with. They were smart and funny and very good at what they did. There was a real sense of family there (complete with the occasional “we don’t always get along” part 😊).
It takes a lot of people to cover the hours for a walk-in clinic, which means as a provider you’re always working with a different nurse or medical assistant. That can be a little frustrating, because they aren’t used to how you work, or anticipate what you might need. If things were busy, and I was working with someone new, I often found myself getting annoyed, and short-tempered. Which was no fun for anyone.
Then I hit upon something that changed all that. I started writing a thank you note to each nurse/MA assigned to help me that day, and giving it to them at the end of the shift. I noticed a difference in myself immediately. Since I was catching folks doing things right, instead of getting annoyed with what they were doing wrong, it completely changed my outlook. And that made work, no matter who I worked with, more enjoyable.
The staff got pretty used to this habit of mine, but they always seemed appreciative. But I didn’t realize how much it meant to them until years later, when I attended a farewell dinner for one of the nurses. She’d been promoted, and was being transferred to a different department. We sat around the restaurant table reminiscing and exchanging funny stories. During the conversation she mentioned that when she cleaned out her locker she came across a huge stack of cards. She had kept all my thank you notes. Every single one. It blew me away.
Saying “thank you” is powerful. And when we make saying “thank you” a habit, it not only changes our attitude, but repeatedly blesses those who cross our path. Sometimes long afterwards.
Click to shop the Belovedlove Thank You Cards
Don’t miss the other posts in this series:
Part One: The Impact of a Life – You Never Know
Part Two: The Impact of an Attitude
Part Four: The Power of Being There
Part Five: The Power of Acceptance
Whether it be a thank you note or the simple words thank you, I agree that a thank you can go a long way. It always puts a smile on someone’s face and warms His/her heart. Thanks for sharing your life example! Blessings!
There’s nothing like it, is there?