By Danielle Smith

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Most of the people we meet will be nothing more than a person we once sat by in class or a nameless face we’ve passed in the hallway a few times. Most of the time, they are forgotten within a day. But there are always a few who we will never forget. These are the ones we hold closest to our hearts and the ones we can barely imagine a life without. They are the ones who have helped shape us into who we are today. These are the people we should be thanking.

More often than not, we take for granted the things that many other people have done for us throughout our lives. Whether it was helping us during tough times or simply holding the door open, we rarely ever stop to really appreciate what people have done for us. As the year ends in less than a month, we must take the time to stop for just a moment and reflect, whether it be on the people that have come and gone in our lives or the ones who continue to walk alongside us.

It’s always important to remember that when people do things for us, it’s not because they were forced to. A lot of the time, they do it out of their own kindness. And these days, kindness isn’t as appreciated as it once was. We assume that it is the job of our friends and family to help us and be there when we need them. With demands to get a glass of water or to borrow an item, we expect the other person to let us have what we are asking for. In the times that they do not give it up, we view them as selfish. Maybe we don’t intentionally think that way, but it has become a part of our subconscious thinking. Most of us question why someone would suddenly do something for us without needing to be asked. It’s become harder to thoughtlessly accept an unwarranted favor from someone, and even harder to give a simple ‘thank you’ in return. It’s time we start thanking those who deserve it.

Looking back on this past year, we may start to remember all the struggles that we may have gone through. With these memories, the people who helped us through them should also come to mind. Whether it was your parents, a friend or a teacher, each of them should be given the gratitude they deserve. They are the ones who have taken time off their own hands to help someone who needed them. They should not go unthanked.

However, the givers of small courtesies are also deserving of gratitude. These are the ones that we encounter everyday but barely give a fleeting thought to. For every borrowed pencil, for every door held open and for every dropped object picked up, these people aren’t given the full credit they deserve. Despite how small the favor may seem, it’s an act of generosity nonetheless. And it’s always said that generosity should never go without gratitude.

So as the holiday season begins, we should be be spending some time reflecting on the people we’ve encountered this year and giving thanks to each and every one of them for what they’ve done, no matter how insignificant it may seem.