By day three,I was on a tear,thanking every grocery bagger and parent on the playground like Id just won an Oscar and hanging Post-it notes to remind myself of the next days thank-you targets: the mailman,my sons math teacher. But soon,the full-on approach started to bum me out. Researchers call it the Pledge of Allegiance effect. If you overdo gratitude,it loses its meaning or,worse,becomes a chore, professor Emmons told me when I mentioned my slump. Be selective,he advised,and focus on thanking the unsung heroes in your life.
Then professor Emmons suggested a gratitude visit. Think of a person who has made a major difference in your life and whom youve never properly thanked. Compose a detailed letter to him or her that expresses your appreciation in concrete terms,then read it aloud,face-to-face.
I immediately flashed on Miss Riggi,my eighth-grade English teacher. She was the first one to open my eyes to Hemingway,Faulkner,and other literary giants. To this day,I am guided by her advice . I booked plane tickets to my hometown,Scranton,Pennsylvania.
Miss Riggi was shorter than I remember,though unmistakable with her still long,black hair and bright,intelligent eyes. After a slightly awkward hug and small talk,we settled in. I took a deep breath and read.
I want to thank you in person for the impact youve had on my life, I began. Nearly 30 years ago,you introduced my eighth-grade class to the wonders of the written word. Your passion for stories and characters and your enthusiasm for words made me realize there was a world out there that made sense to me. And whether it was Miss Riggis enormous smile when I finished the letter,or the way she held it close as we said goodbye,my feeling of peace and joy remained long after I returned home.
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