“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Every day we see more and more people standing up for children’s right to play, and as a result, Playworks has been growing steadily for the past 16 years. There’s still a lot of work to do, but mostly I feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the larger movement to promote play and its importance. We’ve made huge strides because of the work and support of a lot of people and I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. To celebrate this amazing assistance, on Wednesday, November 14, Playworks will be celebrating our own newly-declared Gratitude Day.
One thing is very clear: we couldn’t do this without you. Playworks has been successful because of the delivery people, local cafe owners, teachers and principals, student leaders, volunteers, other non-profits in the field, networkers and donors, parents, spouses and significant others of our staff, just to name a few. We think it’s important for all of us to share our gratitude with those who help us each and every day. That’s why we’re encouraging every Playworks employee to take two hours on November 14 to reflect on those who’ve helped us out over the years. They will be making phone calls, sending notes and emails, giving high fives, sharing photos online, breaking into song and dance–however the sentiment is most authentically expressed. We will do our best to convey thanks to all of you who make our work possible and help us in all sorts of way.
To be completely honest, I also wanted us to experiment with Gratitude Day for what it would do for us. I’m interested in the idea of practicing gratitude as a way of compelling us to look around and really recognize how lucky we are to be the beneficiaries of so much kindness every day. To get ready for Gratitude Day, I’ve asked our staff to be making notes of people they might not otherwise notice — people who really help us out, but in ways that are so everyday that the craziness of life allows us to overlook. My hope is that by taking some time to acknowledge and express this gratitude, we will get a little closer to becoming the organization we want to be.
If this inspires you to look around and take note of the all the amazing people who contribute to your work, your day, your family, all the better. Make it a game. Embrace your generous impulses. And if you haven’t heard it yet today, let me be the first to say it, “Thanks!”
Would you like to join us for Gratitude Day? Make a phone call, write a note, give a hug, tweet a contact today and begin making gratitude a part of your daily life. #GratitudeDay
