Great Oak Gazette

Mimi Nyx

On Thanksgiving Day, my mother handed me a small box. Beautiful florals were etched across the sides, and on the top in a soft gold color, the words “12 Thank You Notes” were scrawled across it in large letters. I peeked inside the box, looking at the multicolored cards, with flowers spread across the matching envelopes. I would write how I felt about everyone, how I appreciated them all, and hand them out when I saw them next. I started thinking of the people I wanted to give them to: my friends, family, teachers, and neighbors. I took a mental note of how many I wanted to give out, but every time I thought I was done listing people, I thought of a dozen more. By the end of the night, I had at least 50 people in mind. The number on the box screamed at me: “12 Thank You Notes.”That was it. I only had 12 opportunities to tell people how much I really appreciate them, even though I don’t show it. I thought for a moment of other solutions for my limited number of cards. Maybe I could just write it them on regular paper, but that didn’t have quite the same special touch. I thought to myself, “How can I tell only 12 people how much I like them, when I have so many important people in my life?” But that’s just it. That’s the problem. I have so many opportunities to tell everyone how much I care about them. After thinking about it for a long while, I stashed the notes away in my desk drawer. Rather than write it down, I feel as though I need to say it. If I have an infinite amount of opportunities to show my care for someone, I want to take at least one of them. I shouldn’t ignore my feelings, or not express how I feel about someone just because I don’t have the opportunity. Life is precious, as it is fleeting, so I want to savor every moment with the people that come into it. Now please, humor me for a moment, and tell someone you love them, or at least write them a note. Preferably on multicolored paper with a floral envelope.