Letters

Saying 'thank you' will never make you poor

LETTERS: Words affect people's hearts. It will leave an impact on the other person, be it positive or negative.

That is why we must watch what we say. Words of gratitude and appreciation are the easiest to spark someone's hearts.

When we receive a gift, help, attention, love, give way, praise or money, we say "thank you" to show our appreciation.

We have been taught since young that "thank you" is a magic word, and should be said when the situation calls for it.

However, this magic word has lost its magic. I remember getting my first Covid-19 vaccination dose in Selangor.

People were so worried and tried to keep their distance from each other. Some looked sceptical and avoided talking to people, even volunteers.

It was disheartening to see how the volunteers were treated by some visitors. Many could not even say "thank you" and did not show any gratitude when the volunteers helped them.

However, even when they were treated badly, the volunteers were still helpful.

The word "thank you" can be expressed verbally or by using gestures. In some cultures, both are used simultaneously, showing how appreciative people are in giving gratitude to others.

For example, Spaniards are known to be expressive. When they greet each other, they will show it by word and gesture.

When they want to say thanks, they hold the other person's hand and sometimes they give a peck on both sides of the cheek.

In Malaysia, there are many ways of how we show our gratitude using gestures. For instance, we nod our head, put our right hand across our chest, raise the hand, raise the tip of our hat and give a thumbs-up signal.

Now that we are familiarising ourselves with the new normal, gestures such as above are more than welcome.

These days, the younger generation seems to lack courtesy. What will happen in 10 or 20 years? Will the word "thank you" vanish?

The possibility of having a future generation that lacks empathy is not something to be proud of.

For me, saying "thank you" might lift someone's burden or change someone's day for the better.

Saying thank you also shows that you appreciate others, that you care. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, saying "thank you" will never make you poor.

NURUL SABRINA ZAN

Language teacher (Spanish), Department of International Languages, Centre for Language Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times

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