For those of you who have been reading my blogs for a while, you know that I always start them with a quote and I tend to lean towards quotes that make me think. This one certainly fits that bill.

Since the next topic in my blog series from the Virtues Project is about “Courtesy”, this quote really struck a chord with me. I believe gratitude is one of the most important actions a person can take but how it relates to our topic of courtesy had me puzzled. That is until I examined both words a little more carefully.

To me, gratitude is a gracious state of giving thanks for people and things we value. It is joyous, loving and polite. Courtesy is a gracious state of showing respect for people and things we value. It is also joyous, loving and polite. So therefore the two activities are truly related in a graceful way.

Most of us were taught as children to have good manners – to say please and thank you. Excuse me and you’re welcome. But too often these terms are just sentence fillers and not expressed with genuine sentiment.

So I say, let’s get back to some basics. Let’s try harder to use these terms of love and respect more consciously in our everyday conversations with others and self. Let’s smile when we greet someone and say thank you like we mean it. Then the convergence of gratitude and courtesy will form in a truly exquisite way - in a way that has meaning for both you and the other person.

Until next time, I say thank you my lovely blyssbeing for reading today’s blog and to please come to visit me at the Market soon if you can. It’s always good to see my friends, family and good customers more often. It’s what I’m most grateful for!

Love from your blyssmama! 

P.S. Here’s another good quote on courtesy to end today’s blyss. Hope you enjoy. Have a blyssful week! “He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” – St. Basil