appreciation essay template

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How to Write a Meaningful Thank You Note

Christopher Littlefield

Sample messages from common workplace scenarios.

Many of us fear expressing our thanks to others. We might worry that our efforts will be misinterpreted or make the person on the receiving end uncomfortable. Or we might struggle to find the right words to express how we feel. Here’s how to do it right.

Keep it genuine : The goal of expressing appreciation should be to let someone know how their actions have impacted you and/or others. If you have any other agenda, your message will not be authentic.
Share what you appreciate and why : Focus on the impact their actions had on you and explain both what you appreciate and why . This will help the other person understand the reason you feel the way you do.
Send it : E-mails get lost and handwritten cards get saved. Write your message on a piece of paper, post-it note, or card and give it directly to the person. If you are at work, you can also leave it on their desk or in their “mailbox.”

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

We all want to be appreciated. Whether you’ve accepted a task while your plate is already full, worked through weekends to get a project off the ground, or simply been there for a work friend when they needed your support, an acknowledgement or “thank you” can go a long way in making us feel good about the efforts we put in — and the research supports this.

Christopher Littlefield is an International/TEDx speaker specializing in employee appreciation and the founder of Beyond Thank You . He has trained thousands of leaders across six continents to create cultures where people feel valued every day. He is the author of 75+ Team Building Activities for Remote Teams—Simple Ways to Build Trust, Strengthen Communication, and Laugh Together from Afar . You can follow his work through his weekly mailing The Nudge .

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Appreciation Letter Examples and Writing Tips

Why Send an Appreciation Letter

Tips for writing appreciation letters, appreciation letter and email examples, appreciation letter template.

Appreciation Letter Sample
Appreciation Letters Listed By Type

Alison Czinkota / The Balance

There are many reasons to show appreciation for someone during your job search. You might want to say “thank you” to a former boss for a letter of reference , thank a client for a job referral, thank a networking contact for an informational interview, or thank a potential employer for an in-person interview .

You might also want to show appreciation for something unrelated to your job search. For example, you might wish to demonstrate appreciation for an employee who has made a contribution to a team, a boss who has provided you with guidance, or a supervisor who recommended you for a promotion.

Perhaps you'd like to thank a colleague or client for an introduction or a referral.

Sending someone an appreciation letter is a great way to show thanks and to maintain strong relationships with people in your network.

In an age of text messaging and “instant communications,” writing thank-you notes and business letters is becoming a lost art. Yet formal letter writing is still a very valuable skill and one that is appreciated by both business and personal recipients alike.

Saying “thank you” is also a way to forge or grow a relationship with a professional connection. This can help your career in the future, as well as on a short-term basis. If you take the time to write a sincere letter that is well-expressed, grammatical, and free of spelling errors, you will stand out favorably in comparison to peers who lack this ability.

Below are tips on how to write appreciation letters, as well as a list of appreciation letter samples to use as templates for a variety of personal and professional circumstances where you would like to show your appreciation.

Write your letter as soon as possible . Try to send the appreciation letter or email as soon as possible. For example, if you have an informational interview with a contact, send them a thank-you letter by the next day. You want the person receiving the letter to remember what you are thanking them for.

Explain why you’re writing the letter. Clearly explain what you are showing appreciation for. Especially if you dropped the ball on writing immediately and it has been a while, the person might need a reminder.

Keep the letter it short and focused. Keep your letter concise. You want to express your thanks without going on for too long. A couple of paragraphs is typically sufficient.

Be sincere. Don’t go over the top in your appreciation. Express your gratitude sincerely, but briefly. Simply state how much you value the person’s help or their achievement.

Edit, edit, edit. Be sure to proofread your letter before sending it. You want to appear professional and polished, even in an appreciation letter.

Consider the format. You might consider sending your letter in one of three formats: in a business letter format, as an email, or as a personalized thank-you letter. For more formal relationships (such as an employer or a new networking contact), consider the more professional business letter format. If you want the person to receive your letter right away, consider sending an email. A personalized letter or card would be appropriate for a close contact, friend, or family member.

This is an appreciation letter example. Download the appreciation letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Appreciation Letter Example (Text Version)

Michael Smith 300 Third Ave, Apt. 3R Brooklyn, NY 11215 555-555-5555 michael.smith@email.com

October 25, 2021

Jessica Davis Content Strategist XYZ Media Company 1400 14th Street, Ste. 14 New York, NY 10018

Dear Ms. Davis,

Thank you again for meeting with me today. I truly enjoyed our conversation and gained valuable insights into content strategy and building a career in media.

I’ve already investigated the classes you suggested, as well as the writer’s union, and will continue working on building my own personal brand using your (extremely helpful!) advice.

As you said during our chat, you really can’t learn everything you need to know about this industry in school. I’m extremely grateful that you took the time to steer me in the right direction.

Thanks again, and best regards,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Michael Smith

More Appreciation Letter Samples Listed By Type

It is a good idea to review the appreciation letter and email examples below before writing your own. Samples can help you see what kind of content you should include in your letter. Examples can also help you with the layout and format of your letter.

While examples, templates, and guidelines are a great starting point to your appreciation letter, you should always be as original as possible.

Do be sure to take the time to personalize your letter, note, or email message, so it reflects your sincere appreciation and the reason why you are writing.

Job Search Appreciation Letters : Although many people think that a job search is merely a process of submitting an application to a job announcement, the truth is that many employees get hired because of their connections – colleagues, business associates, or instructors who have recommended them for the job or otherwise helped them through networking. Here’s how to express your appreciation to those who have helped you during all phases of your career search.

Appreciation Letter for an Introduction
Appreciation Letter for Job Search Help
Appreciation Letter for Networking
Job Lead Thank You Letter (Hired)
Job Lead Thank You Letter (Not Hired)
Thank You for an Introduction
Thank You for a Reference

How to Thank an Employer or Colleague: There are many opportunities when it is politic (as well as polite) to thank an employer, beginning when they’ve taken the time to interview you for a position. After you’re hired, help to build the morale of your boss, your colleagues, or (if you are in management), your employees by taking the time to thank them in writing when they’ve gone the extra mile to support you in the workplace.

Job Interview Thank-You Letters
Letter of Appreciation To Boss
Letter of Appreciation To Colleague
Sample Appreciation Email To Employee
Sample Letter of Appreciation for Help at Work
Sample Letter of Appreciation To Team Member

Thank-you Letters for a Referral : Professional referrals can make all the difference in whether you are considered for a job or whether you successfully source and land a major client. If you are a business person who depends upon referrals to build your pipeline, these notes of appreciation will help to ensure that people who have referred your services will continue to do so.

Thank You Letter for Referral
Client Referral Thank You Letter
Referral Thank You Letter

Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude

Tips and Strategies for the 2021-22 Common App

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One major change to the Common Application in the 2021-22 admissions cycle is the addition of a new essay prompt. Option #4 now reads, "Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?"

This new prompt replaces the earlier question about solving a problem : "Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma--anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution." Keep in mind that colleges and universities still want to learn about students interested in solving significant problems, and you still have the "Topic of Your Choice" option if you feel your essay would fit well under the former option #4.

According to Common App , the new prompt serves a couple purposes. First, it replaces a prompt that wasn't very popular among college applicants. More importantly, it gives applicants the opportunity to write about something positive at a difficult time in world history. Rather than write about significant problems, challenges, and anxieties, the new prompt #4 invites you to share something heartfelt and uplifting.

The Importance of Gratitude and Kindness

During the college application process, it's easy and tempting to focus entirely on your personal accomplishments: good grades, challenging AP courses, leadership experiences, athletic ability, musical talent, and so on. Even community service can sometimes come across as focused on your self—hours spent to bolster your application credentials.

Gratitude, however, is a largely selfless feeling. It's about your appreciation for someone else. It's recognizing that your growth and success wouldn't be possible without others. When you express gratitude, you aren't saying "look at me!" Rather, you are appreciating those who have helped you become you.

The folks at Common App have expressed that the new prompt allows students to write about something positive. This is true, but the prompt serves a bigger purpose in the admissions selection process. Highly selective schools end up rejecting thousands of well-qualified applicants, and those decisions will often come down to questions of character rather than GPA and SAT scores.

Think of it this way: when a college is choosing between two students who are academically strong and impressive on the extracurricular front, they will choose the student who seems to be the most kind and generous. Admissions officers are building a campus community with their admissions decisions, and they want to create a community filled with students who appreciate others, build each other up, and recognize the contributions of peers, staff, and professors. They want to admit students who will be kind roommates, collaborative lab partners, and supportive team members.

Chris Peterson, an assistant director of admissions at MIT, wrote a blog post in which he identified three essential qualities for getting into one of the world's most selective schools: do well in school, pursue your passion, and be nice. He notes that this last quality "cannot be overstated." MIT is not a Common Application member, but the point applies perfectly to the value of prompt #4. A winning essay doesn't say "me, me, me!" It shows that you are not only an accomplished person, but also someone who knows how to say "thank you."

Breaking Down the Essay Prompt

Before crafting your essay on prompt #4, it's essential to understand everything that the prompt is asking you to do as well as what it is not asking. The prompt is just 28 words long:

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

The prompt has several important elements to consider.

"Reflect"

The very first word in the prompt is one of the most significant. "Reflect" means much more than "write about" or "describe." When you reflect on something, you look inward and reveal self-awareness. You employ critical thinking skills to explain why something is important. Reflection is an act of self-discovery as you examine what you have learned and why it was meaningful.

Here's a quick example:

Unreflective writing: Coach Strauss always taught the team the value of hard work. We practiced hours every day regardless of the weather. The coach's strategy paid off when we won the state championship. The effort we put in wasn't always enjoyable, but the team's success showed that the path to success requires sacrifices.

Reflective writing: I used to resent those miserable and seemingly endless soccer practices in the rain or even snow. Looking back, I now recognize the value of what Coach Strauss was teaching the team. To succeed, we need to work through small obstacles. We need to persevere even when motivation is hard to find. We need to recognize that we always have room for improvement, and we need to support each other as we work towards that goal. I can now see that her lessons were about much more than soccer, and thanks to her I am not just a better athlete, but a better student, peer, sister, and community member.

The first example describes the writer's soccer experience. Nothing in the passage looks inward to analyze the importance of Coach Strauss to the writer's personal awareness and development. The second passage succeeds on this front—it expresses gratitude for Coach Strauss and the way that her lessons helped the writer grow.

"Something" and "Someone"

A nice feature of the Common Application is that all of the essay prompts are designed to give you a lot of latitude in how you respond. The words "something" and "someone" in the new prompt #4 are deliberately vague. You can write about anyone and anything. Possible choices for the person you focus on include

A teacher who helped you realize your potential or see the world in a new way.
A coach who taught you valuable skills.
A family member whose support, love, or guidance helped you become the person you are today.
A peer who was always there for you in challenging times.
A student you mentored or tutored who ended up teaching you something valuable in the process.
A member of your church or community who had a meaningful and positive impact on your life.

The wording of the prompt implies that the "someone" is a living person, so you'll want to avoid writing about an author, God, a pet, or a historical figure (but feel free to use prompt #7 for these topics).

As you think about the "something" that the person did for you, make sure it is meaningful. It needs to be something that has changed you in a positive way.

"Surprising"

When the prompt states that you should write about something that has made you "happy or thankful in a surprising way," don't get too hung up on that word "surprising." This doesn't mean that you need to be shocked or overwhelmed by whatever it is that a person did for you. Don't think of the term "surprising" as something that made you speechless and caused an adrenalin rush. It does not need to be something earth-shattering or even unusual. Rather, the "surprise" can simply be something that expanded your world view, made you think about something you hadn't considered before, or caused you to appreciate something new. Some of the best essays focus on something small or subtle that changed you in a meaningful way.

"Gratitude"

The essay's focus on "gratitude" and thankfulness means that you absolutely must show appreciation for someone other than yourself. One main purpose of this essay, in fact, is to show that you recognize the contributions that others have made to your personal journey. Be generous. Be kind. Show that you value the people who have made you into the person you are.

"Affected" and "Motivated"

Here's the tricky part. Essay #4 is all about recognizing someone else and showing gratitude for the way in which that person has enriched your life. That said, every college application essay needs to be about you. The admissions folks aren't really interested in learning about someone else. They are interested in learning about the student they are considering for admission.

This means you have a careful balancing act to perform with essay option #4. You need to write about the person who contributed to your life in a meaningful and surprising way, but you also need to be introspective and present why that person was so important to you. What did you learn from the person? How did you grow? How did that person change your world view, strengthen your convictions, help you overcome an obstacle, or give you a new sense of direction?

When you answer questions like these, you are writing about yourself. The true goal of this essay is to show that you are a grateful, kind, thoughtful, introspective, and generous person. The focus isn't so much on the person you are writing about, but your ability to cherish that person.

Avoid These Mistakes

You can write about anyone who was important to you, and your gratitude can be for something large or small as long as it affected you in a meaningful way. There are, however, several mistakes you want to avoid when responding to the prompt:

Don't display ego . Prompt #4 is about acknowledging the important contributions others have made to your life, so a boastful or egotistical tone will be entirely out of place. If at its heart your essay says "Coach Strauss helped make me into the award-winning national champion I am today," you've missed the mark.

Do more than describe . Make sure you "reflect" and explore how the person "affected" and "motivated" you. A winning essay needs to be thoughtful and introspective. If you spend the entire essay describing the person who has made you grateful, the admissions folks won't get to know you better and your essay won't have done its job.

Don't be clever with the "someone." Write about a real living human being who has enriched your life in a direct way. Don't write about yourself, God, Abe Lincoln, or Harry Potter. You also don't want to write about a sports idol or musician—while they may have influenced you, they didn't actually do something specifically "for you."

Attend to the Writing

Never forget that your Common Application serves not just to help the admissions folks get to know you, but also to show that you are a capable writer. No matter what your major is, a significant part of your college GPA is going to stem from writing. Successful college students can write clear, engaging, error-free prose. You'll want to pay careful attention to your essay's style , tone, and mechanics. At a highly selective university with more qualified applicants than can be admitted, the difference between an acceptance and rejection can come down to some glaring grammatical errors in the essay.

If you aren't confident in your writing ability, seek help. Have multiple people read your essay. Get feedback from parents and peers, Even more valuable will probably be feedback from your high school counselor and English teacher, for they have more experience with personal essays.

A Final Note for Common Application Option #4

This essay prompt can be approached is so many different ways, but at its heart, the essay needs to accomplish one thing: it needs to show that you are the type of person the college wants to join their campus community. Make sure you come across as someone who is kind, generous, and thoughtful. Show that you care about good writing by crafting an engaging essay that is free of any significant errors. Finally, don't be afraid to let your personality shine. Don't hold back (within reason) if you are a quirky or humorous person. The essay needs to sound like you.

The 2021-22 Common Application Essay Prompts
Tips for Writing an Essay on an Event That Led to Personal Growth
2020-21 Common Application Essay Option 4—Solving a Problem
Common Application Essay Option 3 Tips: Challenging a Belief
Common Application Essay on a Meaningful Place
Common Application Essay Option 2 Tips: Learning from Failure
"Grandpa's Rubik's Cube"—Sample Common Application Essay, Option #4
Common Application Essay, Option 1: Share Your Story
Tips for an Admissions Essay on an Influential Person
How to Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements
Ideal College Application Essay Length
5 Tips for a College Admissions Essay on an Important Issue
Tips for the Pre-2013 Personal Essay Options on the Common Application
Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience
Addressing Diversity in a College Application Essay
The Length Requirements for the Common Application Essay in 2020-21

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Essence of Gratitude: The Power of Appreciation

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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Essay About Being Grateful: 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Looking at life in a more appreciative way is key to success and happiness. Read this guide if you want to write an essay about being grateful.

Keeping a positive outlook on life can be challenging in a world where we constantly hear bad news. However, it is important to stop focusing on the negative and become more grateful for what we have.

Being grateful is a principal practice to follow to live a healthy, productive life. Even when you feel like nothing good has happened, think of the simpler aspects of life, things as commonplace as having a meal, a bed to sleep on, and even waking up to another day. Being grateful can help you focus your energy on something more positive, lightening your load when life gets too heavy.

If you want to write an essay about being grateful, here are some essay examples for inspiration.

For help with your essay, check our round-up of best essay writing apps .

1. 7 Things That I Am Grateful For. What About You? by Steve Spring

2. how gratitude can help you through hard times by robert emmons, 3. feel and express gratitude by dr. hyder zahed, 4. the importance of being grateful by deborah jepsen, 5. choose to be grateful. it will make you happier. by arthur c. brooks, 1. what is gratitude to you, 2. what are you grateful for, 3. why should you be more grateful, 4. is gratitude still “good” even if you don’t mean it, 5. why has gratitude become such a hot topic.

“I have a lot to be grateful for. If I had been born in another time or place my life might have been very different. I might not have had been blessed with the life I have now. I have an amazing life. It is great to be focused on my goals and trying to improve my life…But, I need to make sure that I am taking some time to be grateful for everything and everyone that I have in my life. If you want to be happy you need to learn to be grateful. What are you grateful for today?”

Spring lists seven things he is grateful for and explains why he is thankful for each. These include his home, food, and, most significantly, the mistakes he has made in the past. He provides excellent insight into why he is grateful for these seemingly basic items and does an excellent job of justifying his points. Ultimately, the takeaway from this article is that while life is not perfect, we always have a lot to be grateful for. Gratitude is a choice.

“Being grateful is a choice, a prevailing attitude that endures and is relatively immune to the gains and losses that flow in and out of our lives. When disaster strikes, gratitude provides a perspective from which we can view life in its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary circumstances. Yes, this perspective is hard to achieve—but my research says it is worth the effort.”

This essay reflects on being grateful even when experiencing tough times. It is easy to be grateful when all is well in our lives.

Robert Emmons suggests performing a comparison between good times and bad times. You may then realize that your situation is better than you thought. He also says that rather than thinking about a difficult time or a particular challenge in a negative light, we can think about it in the sense that it has helped us grow, making it something to be grateful for.

Embracing gratitude can be a challenge in itself, but it is ultimately self-serving. Being grateful makes you count your blessings and makes you feel good.

“For, whatever you genuinely feel grateful for, you will have multiply in your life. Think about it, if you gave a gift to another and that person told you, ‘I am so grateful for the gift. I can’t believe how kind you were to give it to me. You have made me so very happy,’ you’d want to give that person another gift. So you could be feeling genuinely appreciated while at the same time bring a little happiness to another.”

Zahed, in his essay, reminds us to be grateful for everything that contributes to our happiness and wellbeing, no matter how small. Similar to Emmons, he also discusses turning sorrow and disaster into something to be grateful for, in a sense. Being grateful is a commitment that we must choose to enhance our lives. It’s all about how you measure your success.

“Gratitude promotes optimism and helps us to develop a more positive outlook. It lets us pause for a moment to reflect on something we have in our life right now instead of always striving for more … the next goal, the new dress, the new toy, the new car, or the house renovation …Gratitude is simply cultivating a genuine appreciation for what we already have.”

From a more scientific perspective, Jepsen discusses the health benefits of gratitude, both psychological and physical. Gratitude makes us more optimistic and helps us reflect on what we have rather than constantly wanting more. She also encourages readers to share their appreciation with others, even through something as simple as a smile.

“Be honest: When was the last time you were grateful for the spots on a trout? More seriously, think of the small, useless things you experience — the smell of fall in the air, the fragment of a song that reminds you of when you were a kid. Give thanks.”

This opinion piece by Arthur C is similar to the other works on this list. Brooks encourages readers to choose gratitude. He says that acting grateful can help you feel grateful and that being grateful can uplift the mood of those around us. Gratitude offers benefits for the individual and the collective. Finally, he says to find gratitude in everything, no matter how small it is.

Essay Prompts About Being Grateful

Essay about being grateful: What is gratitude to you?

Consider how you were introduced to the concept of gratitude as a child. Was it discussed with you, and were you encouraged to express gratitude, or is it something you have come to understand and appreciate in adulthood? How do you personally feel about being grateful? Are there any experiences in which you wish you acted more gratefully? Explore gratitude through your own experience.

As illustrated by Steve Spring, it can be beneficial to list the things you are grateful for and maybe discover a few more you had not considered along the way. Categorize aspects of your life and the parts for which you are grateful. You could then perform a comparison with someone from a different background or country and speculate on how your lists may differ. Finally, consider how quickly a person’s life can change. Should tragedy befall you, would you still be able to find things to be grateful for?

This angle allows you to showcase inspirational examples of the benefits of gratitude. Why is it important to be grateful and maintain a positive outlook on life? And what do people get out of it? The essay examples above offer excellent sources for this prompt. There are measurable benefits.

Some would say it is important to show gratitude even if you don’t mean it sincerely. Others argue that it would be worse to be insincere. What do you think? Does insincerity qualify as gratitude, even if you try to be polite or act kindly to spare someone’s feelings? Or is genuine gratitude something else altogether? If we cannot offer sincere thanks, are we actually being grateful?

In recent times people are talking more about the benefits of gratitude and researching to prove its merits. The popularity of gratitude journaling is vast; you can purchase bespoke gratitude journals to record your thoughts on the topic daily and even take a course to learn how to do it. Investigate where this trend originated and examine how it has been embraced throughout society.

If you’d like to learn more, in this guide our writer explains how to write an argumentative essay .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Letter of Appreciation...

Letter of Appreciation Samples (to Employee and Employer)

10 min read · Updated on August 07, 2023

Hearing that you've done a great job never gets tiring

Who doesn't love a pat on the back occasionally? A word from your boss that she's grateful to you for completing that project before the deadline. Or a drink bought for you after work on a Friday night for helping out at an office event after hours, when you could have easily sloped off home. All of these are great to receive.

But isn't it even more special when you get an actual letter of appreciation? It doesn't have to be old school through the post; it might be a letter of appreciation in email form, but it's there in black and white, proudly announcing your true greatness!

And it's just as satisfying to pinpoint an employee who has gone above and beyond, celebrating their achievements and sending them a letter of appreciation to show how much you value their input.

We're always so keen to get on to the next thing, or worry about things that have gone wrong, that reflecting on what's gone right can often get overlooked or missed.

In this article, we'll explore why and how to write a letter of appreciation, to both an employee and an employer, with samples for both to boot!

What is an appreciation letter to an employee?

The chances are you're going to be writing a letter of appreciation to an employee, rather than an employer, to let them know how highly you rate them. This message of gratitude shows members of staff their true worth and is designed to motivate them to carry on with their hard work, while appreciating the fact that they performed beyond your expectations.

Writing a letter of appreciation to an employee will make them feel valued, not only by you, but also by the organisation. It can be a general thank you for their work, or specific to one particular act or task that they performed exceptionally well.

This gesture of kindness will bolster their mood, actioning a more positive approach to future work. Often, especially in a big corporation, workers can feel like a small cog in a large wheel, grinding away at their job with little or no recognition. A letter of appreciation goes a long way to showing them that you, an inspirational business leader , appreciate them for what they do.

The importance of appreciation letters

Receiving an appreciation letter is never going to be a bad thing, so as an employer it's savvy to dole them out once in a while. But don't make the mistake of sending out letters of appreciation every other day. They then become meaningless. In this case, less is most certainly more. Only celebrate a member of staff's achievement with a letter when they really deserve it.

Below are some ways in which a letter of appreciation can really make a difference:

Improves job satisfaction

Sending an appreciation letter on behalf of the organisation not only shows your respect for the employee in question, but will also improve their outlook on you and the company as a whole. This, in turn, consolidates loyal relationships, which leads to an increased sense of belonging to the company.

When employees realise they've been recognised for something, they're more likely to strive to become even better. This motivation shifts from external rewards to internal job satisfaction and, if they stay loyal, this can reduce staff turnover. It means you can enjoy employing individuals who are happy at work and don't feel the need to move on.

Increases staff morale

There are always going to be times when low morale in the workplace is draining the life out of everything; whether that's throughout the office or just some of the staff. With personal support from leaders, staff can be helped to restore their confidence and get back on track.

A thank you letter for their hard work, giving positive feedback , can do just that. It's a simple, thoughtful thing to do, but can make the world of difference, showing that you care for your staff and are dedicated to maintaining the mental health of the workforce.

Boosts productivity

Expressing gratitude to the team, through gestures such as appreciation letters, encourages employees to want to continue producing the best results and outcomes that they can. It's a good form of positive reinforcement, as it sets a level for staff to strive for.

Not only will it drive them to pay more attention to detail, it could also decrease mistakes and establish independent work that resolves problems. When more employees take ownership of their work it rubs off on others, motivating them to do the same, which culminates in fewer issues and an increase in productivity.

The best way to craft an appreciation letter

Writing a letter to say thank you, whether you're sending it to an employer or employee, will give you a boost as well. Follow the guidelines below to make it perfect.

Ensure you address the right recipient

Using a letter of appreciation template is fine; just double check you're addressing the right person! Seeing their name at the top of a letter of appreciation will really make their day as it's a special document to receive. It would be disastrous if the letter was clearly for them, but had the wrong name on it. That would leave a rather nasty taste in their mouth, when you're trying to show them your appreciation of their actions.

So, tailor the letter, getting the name and reason for writing correct from the start.

Plump for the right format

Go for a format that suits the contribution that your member of staff has made. If the employee has secured valuable customers that have increased revenue for the business or completed a near-impossible project, this should be reflected in your response. Those sorts of actions will probably have a great impact on the company as a whole, so a formal letter of appreciation is required in this case. You could even show off your handwriting skills by personalising it even more with a handwritten missive.

On the other hand, if a member of the workforce is being thanked for something more casual, like performing a small favour, then an informal format such as an email message is more appropriate.

Introduce the reason for the letter

There's no point in beating about the bush on this one. Start off with the reason why you're writing to them, stating the task or activity that you want to thank them for. You should offer up an explanation of how their actions made a difference, as this will help the recipient to understand what they did right and what type of behaviour to model as they progress further in their career.

Within the main part of the letter, detail the significance of what they've achieved. It might be that their actions improved customer engagement or contributed towards a streamlining of the project management process. With this sort of detail written down, they'll be able to see exactly how they made a difference, which will encourage them to maintain, and even better, this standard for future work.

Reinforce any desirable qualities

This sort of letter can have a dual purpose, as you can use it to reinforce certain behaviours in the workforce. Linger on the skills, qualities , and strategies that the employee deployed in order to successfully perform the activity. This should have a knock-on effect, whereby the employee will continue to develop their assets while encouraging them to apply their special talents.

Most people can read between the lines of a letter and work out if the writer is being sincere or not. You can achieve this by showing an interest in their work, using their name, and signing the letter personally. All of these things will make the letter much more memorable.

As with any professional communication, make sure you carefully check the letter for any errors or spelling mistakes before sending. You're a leader and, therefore, set the tone that everyone else should follow. Whatever you produce should be of the highest quality, time and time again.

Check out an example of a formal letter of appreciation sample here:

I am writing to express my thanks and appreciation to you for your outstanding efforts during the relocation of the offices to our new site. You showed yourself to be indispensable throughout those three weeks of change and upheaval.

Your tenacity, organisational skills, and calmness throughout were remarkable. You proved yourself time and time again during those weeks, and showed how far you have come since joining us just 10 months ago.

Now that we are ensconced in our new premises, I can see how your actions made such a difference to the smoothness of the move.

On behalf of the senior management here, I want to congratulate you on your work ethic, teamwork, and motivational techniques in galvanising other team members to act swiftly.

I look forward to seeing how you progress even further within the business to achieve more successes.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Ledbetter

Office Manager

Here's an informal letter of appreciation sample:

I just wanted to reach out and offer up my thanks for your sterling work when sorting out the IT difficulties we had the other day. Your proactive nature really kicked in and saved the day! With the video link down, we would have struggled to connect with our client, so having your help made all the difference.

Thanks for putting in the time and effort to sort it out, and get it up and running before the client noticed anything was wrong.

Best wishes,

Graham

How do you write a short appreciation note to an employer?

It might feel odd to say thank you to your boss, but it can't do any harm! Maybe she gave you time off at short notice, offered you a chance to advance your career, or rewarded you with a bonus.

You don't have to write a whole essay, just a few lines to show your appreciation.

Below is the type of thank you letter you could send to your boss:

Dear Chris,

I just wanted to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of the event team attending the Yacht Fair last week. Despite my lack of experience, you put your trust in me and I'm really grateful for that.

The event proved very beneficial, both for me and the company, as we secured new clients and I improved my communication skills.

I'm keen to share our successes with the rest of the team and feel confident that we will be able to secure more business moving forward.

Thanks once again for believing in me.

Kind regards,

The takeaway

Getting some good news once in a while goes down a treat. When you show your employees how much you respect and admire their work, they're going to appreciate that and strive to do even better. So, take the time to tell them… and watch your business flourish.

If you feel underappreciated at work, it might be time to put your house in order. Start off by sending your current CV to TopCV's free review service. Here, an expert will review it and give pointers on where to improve. Then you can begin your journey of finding a new role where you'll be valued - and where you might even receive a letter of appreciation one day!

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Gratitude Journal: 66 Templates & Ideas for Daily Journaling

Gratitude Journal: 67 Templates, Ideas, and Apps for Your Diary

There are many reasons why gratitude is such a desirable quality, aside from its inherent goodness. As we recently wrote in a piece on the benefits of gratitude , performing simple daily acts of gratitude can have a big impact on your health and happiness.

These effects are particularly evident in the practice of gratitude journaling. It only takes a few minutes a day, but it can give you a lasting mood boost that can take you from feeling “okay” to feeling “great” on a more regular basis.

If you’re wondering what a gratitude journal is or how you can jump on the journaling train, read ahead to learn everything you need to know about keeping a gratitude journal!

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Gratitude Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients connect to more positive emotions and enjoy the benefits of gratitude.

This Article Contains:

What is a gratitude journal, what is the difference between a gratitude journal, planner, diary, and notebook, ideas for items in your gratitude log, the gratitude bullet journal, writing a gratitude essay, printable journal templates, 4 gratitude journal apps that can help, a take-home message.

A gratitude journal is, quite simply, a tool to keep track of the good things in life. No matter how difficult and defeating life can sometimes feel, there is always something to feel grateful for.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

Even more than that, regularly journaling about the good things in your life can help prepare and strengthen you to deal with the rough patches when they pop up.

It’s extremely simple to start: simply write down (or type) the things you are grateful for on a daily basis. You can use a journal, diary, notebook, or just a piece of paper. If you’re committed to being green or just find it easier to do things digitally, you can use one of the many gratitude apps or even a simple Word document!

If case you’re a mental health practitioner working with clients, you can use a tool like Quenza to share digital gratitude exercises with your clients.

Once you have your journal or app ready, simply start noting the things you are grateful for.

Got a promotion? Journal it!

Mastered a new yoga move? Journal it!

Received good news about a potential health problem? You guessed it—journal it!

It can that easy. In case you’re wondering “What will this practice do for me?” read on to learn about the potential benefits of this simple practice.

Benefits of a Gratitude Journal

We’ve already written about the benefits of a regular gratitude practice, but here are a few benefits people have noticed when practicing gratitude journaling in particular:

Gratitude journaling, like many gratitude practices, can lower your stress levels;
It can help you feel calmer, especially at night;
Journaling can give you a new perspective on what is important to you and what you truly appreciate in your life;
By noting what you are grateful for, you can gain clarity on what you want to have more of in your life, and what you can do without;
Gratitude journaling can help you find out and focus on what really matters to you;
Keeping a gratitude journal helps you learn more about yourself and become more self-aware;
Your gratitude journal is for your eyes only, so you can write anything you feel without worrying about judgment from others;
On days when you feel blue, you can read through your gratitude journal to readjust your attitude and remember all the good things in your life (Jessen, 2015).

A yoga enthusiast at Yoganonymous.com wrote about seven of the benefits he noticed when gratitude journaling:

It can make you more mindful, helping you to become more grounded and also making it easier to notice even more things you are grateful for;
Gratitude journaling can help you feel more balanced and less thrown off by daily stress;
You may notice that a lot more small, good things are happening—or maybe you’ll notice the small, good things that were already happening;
Your gratitude might act as a beacon to good things and good people, drawing even more positive things to be grateful for to you;
It can make you feel accomplished, even if it’s a relatively small accomplishment. We all need a win, no matter how big or small, every now and then;
Beware—it might just make you more giving and generous to others! But don’t worry, it isn’t always about money; paradoxically, there are things that actually grow and increase when we give them away, like compassion, empathy, and laughter;
Gratitude journaling can provide a sense of context or interconnectedness. It can remind us how things in life are connected to one another, and guide us to one of those rare moments in which we truly recognize that the word is so much bigger than us, yet we are grateful just to be a small part of it (Pope, 2016).

If you’re the kind of person who wants that hard evidence in addition to accounts of personal experience, there are studies that back these observations:

A brand new study of a three-month trial of gratitude journaling found that both reflective (finding things to be grateful for) and reflective-behavioral (finding things to be grateful for and expressing your gratitude ) journaling have a significant, positive impact on wellbeing, affect, and depression (O’Connell, O’Shea, & Gallagher, 2017);
Another brand new study showed that Turkish freshmen who completed a three-week gratitude journal experienced greater gratitude, better adjustment to university life, higher life satisfaction, and enhanced positive affect, compared to a control group of freshmen (Işık & Ergüner-Tekinalp, 2017);
Gratitude journaling has been shown to help divorced parents forgive their ex-spouse(s), an extremely important step towards positive co-parenting (Rye, Fleri, Moore, Worthington, Wade, Sandage, & Cook, 2012);
Finally, gratitude researchers in Australia found evidence that gratitude journaling helped school leaders foster a balanced view of the good and bad things that happen at school, use more appreciative problem solving, find value in school-based relationships, and experience more positive emotion, ultimately making them better and happier leaders (Waters & Stokes, 2015).

So, gratitude journaling seems like it has a lot of potential upsides and no noticeable downsides. But how does it differ from writing in any old diary or journal?

Gratitude journaling focuses on what you are grateful for ;
Filling out a planner focuses on what you need to do ;
A diary’s focus is on what happened in your day ;
Notebooks are for taking notes about the present, or future events, to help you remember important points .

Each item has a place and a purpose, but for the most part, they are not interchangeable.

Organizing your week ahead with a planner may incidentally give you things to look forward to and be grateful for, but chances are there will be some events or responsibilities you are NOT so grateful for in your planner.

Likewise, you will probably write down both positive and negative events from your day in a diary, meaning that the focus is not solely on what is good or helpful in your life. Finally, a notebook generally includes value-neutral notes and reminders, rather than lists of the good things in your life.

The gratitude journal is unique in this respect—it is the only item in the range of similar notebooks, planners, and journals that are solely dedicated to noticing and appreciating the positive things in your life. To get the maximum out of your gratitude journaling practice, try to keep it this way.

Download 3 Free Gratitude Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to build daily gratitude habits, express more appreciation toward others, and experience more positive emotions in everyday life.

Download Download 3 Gratitude Tools (PDF)

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Your gratitude journal or log is a personal endeavor that must be unique to you and your life.

No one can tell you what makes the cut for you and your particular circumstances, but there are some suggestions that might help if you’re struggling in the beginning.

Brianna Steinhilber of everup.com drafted a list of 20 gratitude prompts that can get you writing about all the things you have to be grateful for. If you’re stuck at the start, at least a few of these prompts should be able to kickstart your gratitude creativity:

List five small ways that you can share your gratitude today.
Write about a person in your life that you’re especially grateful for and why.
What skills or abilities are you thankful to have?
What is there about a challenge you’re experiencing right now that you can be thankful for?
How is where you are in life today different than a year ago–and what positive changes are you thankful for?
What activities and hobbies would you miss if you were unable to do them?
List five body parts that you’re grateful for and why.
What about the city you live in are you grateful for?
What are you taking for granted about your day to day that you can be thankful for?
List 5 people in your life who are hard to get along with—and write down at least one quality for each that you are grateful for.
What materialistic items are you most grateful for?
Write about the music you’re thankful to be able to listen to and why.
Who has done something this week to help you or make your life easier and how can you thank them?
What foods or meals are you most thankful for?
What elements of nature are you grateful for and why?
What part of your morning routine are you most thankful for?
Write a letter to someone who has positively impacted your life, however big or small.
What is something you’re grateful to have learned this week?
When was the last time you laughed uncontrollably—relive the memory.
What aspects of your work environment are you thankful for (Steinhilber, 2015)?

If you’re looking for some more specific examples of the items others list in their gratitude journals, check out Oprah’s five items from her personal gratitude journal on October 12, 1996:

A run around Florida’s Fisher Island with a slight breeze that kept me cool;
Eating cold melon on a bench in the sun;
A long and hilarious chat with Gayle about her blind date with Mr. Potato Head;
Sorbet in a cone, so sweet that I literally licked my finger;
Maya Angelou calling to read me a new poem (Winfrey, n.d.).

Since we can’t all be friends with fabulous and inspiring celebrities, here are a few other example items for a gratitude journal:

The sunrise this morning during your early run or while getting ready for the day;
A quick text from a loved one simply checking in on you;
The feeling of slipping into bed with freshly washed sheets;
Having enough to feed yourself and put a roof over your head;
Your stress ball, which is so good at calming you down during tense or important phone calls;
The strawberries you had for lunch today, in the sweet spot between soft and firm;
Your child’s smile as you tuck them into bed;
Your Pandora or Spotify playlist that so often plays exactly the song you needed to hear;
The groceries your significant other brought home from the store (even if they forgot something!);
The sound of rain falling on your window at night, calming and relaxing you.

While jumping right in and thinking about what you can write in your gratitude journal is an exciting part of the journey, it can get somewhat less exciting as time goes on. On those days when you no longer feel pumped to write down what you are grateful for, it’s good to be prepared.

These tips for maintaining a gratitude journal can help. Lauren Jessen of the Huffington Post blog has these suggestions:

Plan to write in your gratitude journal every night for 15 minutes before bed. Set an alarm reminder on your phone or schedule it in your calendar. I’ve found that it is easier to write at night so that I can include things that I am grateful for from that day.
Keep your gratitude journal by your nightstand so you will see it before going to sleep and remember to jot down what you are thankful for. Your journal may even become a symbol of gratitude so that when you just look at it, you will feel a sense of appreciation.
Write as many things as you want in your gratitude journal. Writing down 5-10 things that you are grateful for each day is a good number to aim for.
Your gratitude journal doesn’t have to be deep. What you are thankful for can be as simple as “family” or “the new book or movie I recently enjoyed” or “this morning’s breakfast.” What you are grateful for will differ from everyone else (find a list of gratitude books here ).
The timing of when you want to write is up to you. While I try to write in my gratitude journal every night, sometimes it becomes every other night. That’s okay. Journal when it feels right for you—the benefits really are worth it. (Jessen, 2015)

Creating a gratitude journal has even become popular enough for its own “WikiHow” page! For step-by-step directions on how to keep a gratitude journal, you can visit the page here .

Finally, I came upon a set of tips for making sure you are getting everything you can out of your gratitude journal practice. Keep these in mind when journaling, and there should be no obstacle in your way that can stop you!

Don’t just go through the motions—be conscious about your new “attitude of gratitude.”
Don’t set a minimum number of things to be grateful for every day—aiming for five things is fine, but accept that there will be some days when you need to gift yourself understanding and flexibility.
Don’t wait for the “right time.” It’s fine to write something early in the day.
Elaborate on why you are grateful for the things you write down. This can help you understand what is truly important to you and what you can cut out of your life.
Focus on people rather than things. It’s okay to be thankful for your smartphone or your car, but the joy you receive from important relationships likely dwarfs your fondness for electronics.
Don’t rush through the process—try to savor the act of journaling.
Include surprises in your list. Surprises can provoke a greater emotional response than planned activities and can be excellent to look back on when you’re feeling stuck in the rut of routine.
Keep the negative out of your journal. As we mentioned earlier, the focus on what is good sets the gratitude journal apart from other forms of journaling, note-taking, and diary-writing—try to keep it that way!
Variety is the spice of life! Try to list new things as much as possible.
Be creative—even if you don’t think you’re creative. Feel like adding a picture of your significant other instead of making them into a single line? Do it!
Give it a chance. The common wisdom is that it takes three weeks to establish a new habit, so aim for at least three weeks of daily journaling before making any judgments. The only thing you stand to lose if you don’t take to gratitude journaling is a few minutes a day—hardly a huge loss (Jensen, n.d.).

Armed with these tips, examples, and guidelines, hopefully, you will find it easy to begin and maintain a gratitude journal! Now all you need to do is find the format that works for you.

This format is referred to as the gratitude “bullet” journal since each thing you are grateful for can be represented as one bullet point in the monthly block. Many who prefer bullet journals still keep these bullets organized by day, although they tend to use the day of the month rather than the day of the week (i.e., “15” rather than “Tuesday the 15th”).

For an example of the gratitude bullet journal, see the pictures below.

Many who extoll the benefits of the gratitude bullet journal recommend listing one thing, or at least one thing, you are grateful for each day, which may make it easier to start if you are struggling to come up with five items each day.

You could even save yourself some work and purchase dedicated gratitude notebooks that have prompts and inspirational snippets. Pockitudes are pocket-sized journals that serve as a compact reminder to practice and log daily gratitude reflections and are available at many retailers in the US.

Whether you choose a more traditional log of gratitude or a gratitude bullet journal, what’s important is that you commit to feeling grateful every day and stick with it!

Decorating your journal or adding a personal touch or other stylistic flairs can help you stay motivated, so don’t be afraid to get creative. This journal is for you and only you, so do whatever works for you!

However, it can have a profound impact on your perspective and spur you to be more mindful and grateful of the good things in your life.

Respected researcher and Journal of Positive Psychology editor Robert Emmons describes his assignment of a gratitude essay as follows:

“Some years ago, I asked people with debilitating physical illnesses to compose a narrative concerning a time when they felt a deep sense of gratitude to someone or for something. I asked them to let themselves re-create that experience in their minds so that they could feel the emotions as if they had transported themselves back in time to the event itself. I also had them reflect on what they felt in that situation and how they expressed those feelings” (Emmons, 2013).

A gratitude essay is a declaration, a reflection, and an acknowledgment of what you have to be grateful for and, indirectly, who you are. The occasion that you think back to and your reaction to this reflection can reveal a lot about who you are and what you value.

For example, if you look back with deep gratitude on something your mother did for you, full to the brim with self-sacrificing love, you will likely find that you place immense value on family and close relationships with loved ones.

If you reflect back on a helping hand from a teacher, you might be the sort of person who greatly values mentoring, compassion, or the “pay it forward” mentality.

The point is that writing a gratitude essay is not just a great way to acknowledge and reflect on some of the most important or defining moments of gratitude in your life, it is also a way to learn about yourself.

With that in mind, grab a pen or a keyboard, get to thinking about something you are grateful for, and prepare yourself to learn!

To save you the time of looking through hundreds of templates, I narrowed it down to five different printable templates you can use for your own journal.

Of course, if none of these fit your personal style, there are many others just a few clicks away. As always, find what works for you!

The Grateful Journal

This template is intended for those who would like to meld their gratitude practice with their religious or spiritual beliefs. If you are not looking for mentions of a specific religious figure or deity, continue on for more templates!

Gratitude Journal

For an easy-to-use journal that incorporates a range of useful prompts, try our free gratitude journal worksheet .

The worksheet invites you to start your day by listing ten things you are grateful for. You’re then encouraged to reflect positively on the learning opportunities provided to you by the day’s challenges, as well as the people you are grateful for. Finally, before going to bed, you are invited to reflect on the day’s happiest moment for five minutes–hopefully helping to lull you into a peaceful sleep.

Gratitude Journal, Four Parts

It splits the sheet into four parts, with a part dedicated to morning gratitude (listing things you are grateful for right at the beginning of your day), one corner for writing down what you are learning from challenges in your life, one part to list the people you are most grateful for today, and the final piece dedicated to describing the best part of your day.

This is a fun and unique way to make every day a gratitude-filled one!

Gratitude Bullet Points

If you’re partial to the bullet points style, you may like this template . It includes four separate week columns with space for three things you are grateful for each day.

One nice thing about this template is that you can start your week on whichever day works for you since the days are labeled “Day 1” through “Day 7” instead of Sunday through Monday.

Gratitude Journal, Etsy

If you feel like supporting an independent business owner, there is a great template available for purchase on Etsy.

This instant download is under $10 and includes space to note what you are grateful for each day of the week as well as space to explain why you are grateful for each item. They also have other versions that you may be partial to. Head on over to support a crafty individual and begin your gratitude journey at the same time!

How to start a gratitude journal you’ll actually keep

As with most problems or tasks in life, there is now an app for that!

If you prefer the feel of a touchscreen over a pen in your hand, there are plenty of apps that support your daily gratitude practice.

Gratitude / Bliss Journal

For example, the Gratitude Journal or Bliss Journal is an old standby in the area of gratitude journal apps. It is available for Android devices and takes up only a tiny sliver of your phone’s memory. Best of all, it’s free to install!

If you’re looking for an app that will guide you through your daily gratitude practice with helpful exercises and prompts, click here to learn more about or download this app.

This Gratitude Journal app is available for download from iTunes, with versions that are compatible with the iPhone and iPad.

This app will only set you back about 45 MB of space, but it packs a powerful punch. It aims for a distraction-free and easy-to-use interface, with easy scrolling and syncing on all iOS devices.

Bonus points—it also uses little heart symbols to track what you are grateful for each day! To see the hearts for yourself or download this app, click here .

Gratitude 365 Pro

This gratitude journal app is available for iPhone and allows the user to incorporate photos, track their journaling by day, and organize with email, Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr calendar.

It’s all in the name with this app, so give it a try if you plan on adding gratitude to your daily practice, 365 days a year! You can read more about it or download it here .

Another app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, Day One helps you keep a digital diary complete with pictures, maps, and notes about your day. This app can cut across devices, presenting you with the same look and format for each platform.

While this app is intended for more of a diary or daily journal purpose, it is easy to use it for tracking your gratitude. You can find it for Mac or for iPhone and iPad in the iTunes store. Click here to learn more about this app.

17 Exercises To Nurture Gratitude & Appreciation

Empower others with more hope, satisfaction, and fulfilling relationships with these 17 Gratitude & Appreciation Exercises [PDF] that harness the powerful benefits of gratitude.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

Starting up a new hobby or practice can be difficult, especially when it’s a practice that can dig up some pretty intense feelings. Don’t be alarmed if you find it to be a difficult, overwhelming, or highly emotional experience at first. Try to lean into the discomfort and keep your commitment to daily gratitude, because greater peace and contentment lie on the other side!

Have fun with your gratitude journal, and remember to make it uniquely “you!”

Have you ever practiced regular gratitude journaling? Are you currently keeping a gratitude journal? Do you have any tips or tricks to avoid some common distractions or difficulties? Let us know in the comments!

For further reading:

Gratitude Meditation: A Simple But Powerful Happiness Intervention
The 20 Best TED Talks And Videos on The Power of Gratitude
The Neuroscience of Gratitude and How It Affects Anxiety & Grief (Incl. Exercises)
The Gratitude Tree for Kids (Incl. Activities + Drawings)

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Gratitude Exercises for free .

Emmons, R. (2013, May 13). How gratitude can help you through hard times. Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_can_help_you_through_hard_times
Işık, Ş., & Ergüner-Tekinalp, B. (2017). The effects of gratitude journaling on Turkish first year college students’ college adjustment, life satisfaction and positive affect. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling , 39 (2), 164-175.
Jensen, L. (n.d.). Turn pain to joy: 11 tips for a powerful gratitude journal. Tiny Buddha. Retrieved from http://tinybuddha.com/blog/turn-pain-to-joy-11-tips-for-a-powerful-gratitude-journal/
Jessen, L. (2015, July 8). The benefits of a gratitude journal and how to maintain one. The Huffington Post Blog. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-jessen/gratitude-journal_b_7745854.html
Marsh, J. (2011, November 17). Tips for keeping a gratitude journal. Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal
O’Connell, B. H., O’Shea, D., & Gallagher, S. (2017). Feeling thanks and saying thanks: A randomized controlled trial examining if and how socially oriented gratitude journals work. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 73 (10), 1280-1300.
Pope, E. (2016, January 12). 7 benefits of creating a gratitude journal. Yoganonymous. Retrieved from http://yoganonymous.com/7-benefits-of-creating-a-gratitude-journal
Rye, M. S., Fleri, A. M., Moore, C. D., Worthington, E. J., Wade, N. G., Sandage, S. J., & Cook, K. M. (2012). Evaluation of an intervention designed to help divorced parents forgive their ex-spouse. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage , 53 , 231-245.
Steinhilber, B. (2015, November 24). 20 prompts for gratitude journaling. Everup. Retrieved from http://www.everup.com/2015/11/24/20-prompts-for-gratitude-journaling/
Waters, L., & Stokes, H. (2015). Positive education for school leaders: Exploring the effects of emotion-gratitude and action-gratitude. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist , 32 , 1-22.
Winfrey, O. (n.d.). What Oprah knows for sure about gratitude. Retrieved from http://www.oprah.com/spirit/oprahs-gratitude-journal-oprah-on-gratitude

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I definitely perfect driven in making getting some site, that i save been unfavorable to try and conduct to add a long time around. Appreciates for that reason win over, this is certainly functional!

Just starting my journaling journey at 57, but better late than never… as they say.

As a “newbie” I felt a little out of my comfort zone expressing my feelings on paper, and actually wrote on page one/day one, “Today I am grateful for nothing, sadly!” Not exactly the best start?

However having read your article I crossed out my entry and expressed my gratitude for you taking the time to write this post and passing on your wisdom to me.

Thank you so much for this article.

Courtney! This is such a great article to signpost people to! I’m really grateful! Ha x Excellent stuff

Thank you for posting this . I am filled with negativity and finding a way to get rid of it through a gratitude journal and I thank God that I found your site. I will come back in a week to write down my progress. (God willing).

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3 Gratitude Exercises Pack

80+ Employee Appreciation and Recognition Message Examples

Published: March 2, 2020

Last Updated: February 26, 2024

15 min read

By: Michelle Cadieux

Employee Appreciation and Recognition Message Examples

Say "thank you" with these employee appreciation message examples and improve workplace culture, increase retention and boost engagement

In this Guide

How great does it feel to be on the receiving end of genuine acknowledgement and recognition?

Saying "thank you" builds trust and forms bonds between people. It's vital to show appreciation and gratitude for the people in your life.

That said, traditionally, the workplace was not an environment to give and receive gratitude and praise.

But now, times have changed. The nature of work has changed. The customs and conventions that applied to factory workers of the 1900's no longer apply in modern work environments. Saying "thank you" to employees should be an ongoing practice—and not just on Employee Appreciation Day.

Bottom line: The importance of employee recognition cannot be denied , especially when it comes to building well-rounded work cultures and environments.

A Guide to Starting an Employee Recognition Program Download PDF Now

That said, you may be unsure of the exact reasons to give employees recognition or what to say to employees when giving recognition and praise. Here are some examples of short words of praise for various scenarios that come up at work.

Whether your company already has a recognition program in place or simply a "recognition" channel in Slack (or your chat app of choice), these positive words will motivate employees.

Feel free to tweak and tailor the message to resonate better with the employee you have in mind. The most powerful and genuine words of recognition are always personalized.

Happy recognizing!

Message Examples for Employee Appreciation and Recognition

1 - top performance messages.

Creating a high-performance culture starts with acknowledging excellent performance. On the other hand, nothing makes your top talent quit faster than a lack of recognition. An OfficeTeam survey revealed that 2 in 3 employees would likely quit their position if they didn’t feel appreciated by their manager. So, when an exemplary employee delivers great work, celebrate them. Show them that their contributions are noticed and valued with one of the messages below.

"We are consistently amazed by your performance. Keep up the great work!"
"Companies dream of hiring employees like you. Thank you for all your hard work."
"It’s incredible to see you consistently pushing the bar."
"You’re an inspiration to us all! Your outstanding performance helped push up our company revenues to greater heights. Thank you!"
"We’d like to congratulate and acknowledge the tremendous success you’ve achieved!"
"The results you have achieved are impressive. We are so grateful to have someone like you on our team who is willing to go above and beyond to achieve such great success for our team."
"Thank you for being an A-player and helping us reach our Q4 targets. We are grateful for your drive, hard work and talent!"
"Thank you for your excellent performance. Our organization is lucky to have you and we appreciate all your hard work and dedication."
"We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge your hard work and let you know that we are impressed by your performance. You played a key role in [project/result] and we are thankful to have someone like you on our team."

2 - Project and goal attainment

Specificity helps make employee recognition messages even more impactful. When a person or a team attains a goal, make sure to give them a shout-out. Highlight what they did to help achieve the goal or how the achievement impacts the company.

For example, if they had to hire a team of freelancers at record speed to rescue a project, mention that. If the goal translates into higher profits for the organization, acknowledge that. The following messages are great starting points for recognizing the attainment of a specific goal.

"As a result of your hard work, our entire team move forward with our long-term mission faster than anticipated. Thank you!"
"I’d like to recognize the entire team for surpassing their goals for the quarter! Their hard work is turning into tangible profits for our team and company!"
"You’ve been working so hard towards this, and we’ve noticed! Congrats on your outstanding work."
"We are continually impressed by the results you produce! You play a crucial role in our team and the company’s success."
"It’s been a long time working towards accomplishing this, and you’ve exceeded our expectations at every step. Thank you for doing your best every day!"
"I know how much reaching this goal means to you—you’ve worked so hard towards this in the past few [period of time] . But it also means a lot to me and the team. Thank you for your contribution!"
"Congratulations on reaching [goal] . Your efforts have paid off and we are so proud to call you a colleague. Thank you for your outstanding work!"
"As a result of your strategic thinking and savvy project management [or insert other traits] , we were able to exceed our targets. Thank you for your amazing work!"

3 - Positive attitudes and soft skills acknowledgement

That said, your employee recognition efforts shouldn’t be limited to appreciating business results. Acknowledging attitudes and soft skills fosters workplace culture and boosts employee engagement. It’s a simple practice that can make your team feel special—and it’s worth it.

According to Great Place to Work , people who feel recognized at work are 2.6x more likely to think that promotions are fair, 2.2x more likely to drive innovation and bring new ideas forward, and 2.0x more likely to say people at their organization are willing to go above and beyond. Don’t be shy when it comes to acknowledging attitudes and soft skills because that personal touch goes a long way.

"Thank you for bringing a smile to everyone on the team; it always boosts our spirits when we need it most."
"Your consistent positive attitude has made a huge difference in our team. Thank you for being you."
"Thank you for always being the first to volunteer a helping hand. We couldn’t do it without you."
"We wanted to let you know that having you on our team makes all the difference. Thanks for all you do."
"Employees like you make the organization what it is today. Thank you for bringing your best to work every single day."
"Thank you for your positivity. No matter what the day brings, you deal with it with a smile and an eagerness to find solutions. We are grateful for you!"
"Your emotional intelligence and cool-headedness are such an asset to our team. Thanks for being you!"
"Thank you for being the very definition of a team-player. You inspire everyone around you."

Start Your Employee Rewards & Recognition Program with Applauz Download PDF Now

4 - Work anniversaries and milestones

Tenure is a big deal these days—and acknowledging work anniversaries and milestones sends the message that you appreciate the loyalty of an employee. The bigger the milestone, the more you should emphasize it. Consider including a gift or hosting a special team event for work anniversaries over five years, and add a card with one of the thoughtful messages below.

"I can’t believe how fast time flies by! We appreciate your loyalty to us. We couldn’t ask for anyone better."
"It’s been an incredible ride these [X] few years. One thing we know for sure, we couldn’t have made it this far without you!"
"We are so grateful for having you these past [X] years, looking forward to celebrating more years to come!"
"It feels like yesterday you came onto our team. We appreciate all the hard work and talent you’ve brought to the team."
"Congratulations on achieving this anniversary! We know you have worked hard for this accomplishment, and we truly appreciate your dedication."
"Time flies when you’re having a good time! Thank you for being such a strong team player and for everything you’ve brought to the table over these past [X] years. Cheers to many more."
"Congratulations on your [X] work anniversary! We are grateful for all your hard work and dedication and feel thankful that you’re part of our team."
"Congrats on reaching such an incredible milestone! We appreciate your loyalty and feel so lucky to work with you every day."

5 - Dedication and work ethic

When someone works hard on a consistent basis, they want to feel that their efforts are recognized. Acknowledging dedication and work ethic is something you should be doing on a regular basis to motivate people to give their best.

"Reliability is hard to come by. Thank you for being someone we can always count on! I’m so grateful for all of your hard work. The entire team thanks you for everything you do."
"It’s rare to come across people who are so dedicated and trustworthy. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed."
"Thank you for your help and support. You are really an asset to the team and the organization."
"Your work ethic and involvement are admirable, and we are fortunate to have someone as dedicated as you onboard!"
"Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. You set the bar high when it comes to work ethic and we are so thankful to have you on our team."
"Your work ethic is unmatched. Thank you for your commitment and contributions—your efforts are noticed and appreciated."
"Your commitment to doing your job well and helping our organization win is truly inspiring. Thank you for all your hard work! "

6 - Unique skills and insights

Innovation is paramount to surviving and thriving in today’s fast-paced business world—and research shows that diversity can fuel it. There are different ways to foster diversity and inclusion, including your hiring practices, but acknowledgement is also key. Recognizing team members’ unique skills and insights shows that you value different perspectives. Try one of the messages below to recognize different perspectives and skills or celebrate creative problem-solving.

"Thank you for bringing your [X] skills to the table. This has helped us advance the goals of the entire team."
"Your expertise about [X] has provided us with valuable insight, which helped grow and push our team’s objective forward. Thank you!"
"You always think of new and different ways of approaching a problem; your unique perspective is a tremendous asset to our team."
"My words can never be enough to praise your actions; the work and talent you bring to the table always exceed my expectations. Thank you!"
"You are such an asset to our team. Thank you for your unique insights and approach, which continues to fuel our growth."
"We are grateful for your valuable expertise and the unique perspective you bring to the table. We couldn’t have reached [goal] without you!"
"It’s a privilege to work with you and learn from you every day. You consistently bring valuable insights to every project and I especially appreciate the way you [insert skill] . Thank you for everything you do!"

7 - Initiative-taking and industriousness

"Thank you for always bringing new ideas to the table. You’re willing to speak up and share our ideas to help bring out the best in our team and our work to the next level!"
"I want to thank you for always being willing to go the extra mile to deliver impeccable work. You are always proactive, accountable for your work, and willing to support those around you when needed."
"Your work ethic is unsurpassed. Your passion and ambition are infectious, and your willingness to go the extra mile rubs off on the entire team and has a tangible impact on our results. Thank you!"
"Thank you for consistently going above and beyond to deliver outstanding work and bring new ideas to the table—and doing it with such a positive attitude!"
"Thank you for your hard work, passion and initiative, from [insert example of contribution] to [insert example of contribution] . Our team is lucky to have you."
"Your willingness to take the lead and come up with new ideas adds so much richness to the work we do as a team. Thank you for being so proactive!"

8 - Embodiment of company values

If you are serious about workplace culture, you’re probably investing a lot in making sure that your efforts are aligned with core company values. So, when an employee embodies an important organizational value, acknowledging them is key—it helps reinforce the things that you care about the most.

"Our company stands behind its value of [insert value] ; we couldn’t think of someone who embodies this part of our company culture more than you. Thank you!"
"The way you represent our company value of [insert value] is apparent to everyone. Thank you for being such a great example of what it means to work for [company name.] "
"We have held the company value of [insert value] since the beginning. We see you living that value every day and through your work, and we wanted to acknowledge that we see your effort and are so thankful."
"Thank you for leading by example and embodying our company value of [insert value] on a regular basis. We are so thankful to have you on board."
"At [company name] , we are serious [insert value]. Thank you for embodying it every day. It’s evident in the way you approach your work and it’s something we greatly appreciate."
"You truly embody [company value] in the way you show up at work and treat others. Thank you for being such a great example of what it means to work for [company name] ."

9 - Little things that stand out

If you want to make an employee feel truly seen, point out the little things that they do to make work better. Caring employees tend to be motivated by the fact that they care—they may not even expect to be appreciated for their gestures. So, show them that you care too—and that their actions don’t go unnoticed.

“I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your thoughtfulness. You always offer to help organize things, and you’re attentive and meticulous while doing so. Thanks for the extra care you show, it doesn’t go unnoticed!”
“Your dedication to the little things that make our office run smoothly is admirable. From refilling the coffee pot to ensuring the meeting rooms are tidy, thank you for making our shared spaces more enjoyable for everyone. It’s truly appreciated.”
“I wanted to take a moment to recognize the outstanding work that you do, even with the simplest tasks. Your attentiveness shines through in everything you do, whether it's double-checking details in reports or offering a helping hand. We’re thankful to have you on our team."
“Acts of kindness make a big difference in our work environment. Thank you for [example of gesture] the other day. Your thoughtfulness is an example to follow.”
“I just wanted to express my appreciation for the small but impactful things that you do to contribute to our team’s success. You respond promptly, you’re always up for lending a helping hand, and your positive attitude is contagious. Thank you for making our workplace a better place.”

10 - Leaving the company

Does employee appreciation matter when someone is leaving the company? Absolutely – even though the person won’t be part of the team anymore, it helps build a positive workplace culture for everyone else and shows that you value your people.

“Thank you for your dedication and contributions to our team as a [role] and colleague. Your hard work, passion and positive energy will be missed, but we're excited to see the great things you'll accomplish in the future. Wishing you all the best in your endeavors!"
“We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the time you've spent working with us. Your commitment, professionalism, and sense of humor have enriched our culture in countless ways. While we’re sad to see you leave, we're grateful for the privilege of working with you over the past [number of years] and wish you all the best. Here's to a bright and successful future ahead!"
“As you close a chapter and open a new one, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your contributions and hard work during your time with us. Your creativity, leadership, and positive attitude have left a lasting impression on our team. While we're sad to see you go, we're also excited for you. Thank you for playing a huge role in our success, and we wish you nothing but success and happiness on your journey!"
"Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our team for the past [number of years] . Your passion, creativity, and positive attitude have made a lasting impact on our organization. While we'll miss having you here, we're excited to see what lies ahead for you. Thank you for being an invaluable part of our journey, and we wish you nothing but the best in your next professional chapter!”
"As you prepare to embark on a new adventure, we want to thank you for your outstanding contributions to our team. Your professionalism, expertise, and unwavering commitment have helped us step up and take things to the next level. While we're sad to see you leave, we're also cheering you on. You will be deeply missed, and we're grateful for the time we've spent working together. Wishing you all the best!"

11- Difficult times

If your team or organization is currently going through challenging times, such as facing an uncertain future or potential layoffs, words of appreciation matter. In the face of adversity, continue to empower and uplift team members by recognizing traits like resourcefulness and resilience.

"Your ability to overcome obstacles with grace and perseverance sets a remarkable example for us all. Thank you for your perseverance and positivity amidst uncertainty!”
"Your ability to remain steadfast in the face of challenges is remarkable and appreciated while our team navigates tough times. Thank you for your determination!"
“Things haven’t been easy around here, but you continue to demonstrate resilience and resourcefulness. Your perseverance does not go unnoticed. Thank you for helping our team rise above challenges!”
"Your unwavering dedication to finding solutions is uplifting. Thank you for being such a great team player and remaining resilient and resourceful in the face of uncertainty.”
“Things have been rocky, but you’ve maintained a positive, calm attitude through it all. Your perseverance does not go unnoticed. Thank you for uplifting us all!”

12 - Appreciating managers

"Your exceptional leadership has been a guiding light for our team. We wouldn’t be where we are today without your ability to inspire, motivate, and guide us towards the completion of ambitious goals. Thank you for your dedication to our success!"
"Under your leadership, our team has achieved remarkable milestones. Your strategic vision, effective communication, and emotional intelligence have been instrumental in our success. Thank you for being an inspiring leader and a boss that people want to work for!"
"Your leadership style has fostered a positive and productive work environment. Your ability to lead by example and cultivate a culture of collaboration and excellence is truly commendable. Thank you for your integrity, empathy, and decisiveness – and for leading the team towards success.”
"Your leadership has not only guided us through turbulent times but has also helped us thrive and grow. Your commitment to transparency, fairness, and continuous improvement has not gone unnoticed. Thank you!”
"Your leadership goes beyond just managing tasks; it involves nurturing talent, fostering growth, and creating opportunities for success. Your unwavering dedication to our team's well-being and success is evident in every decision you make. Thank you for your outstanding work and support!"

Messages of Appreciation When Receiving Recognition

Receiving compliments can sometimes feel more awkward than giving them. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a message of appreciation, responding with grace and gratitude reflects well on you while fostering a positive workplace culture. The following examples will help you respond thoughtfully.

To a Boss: "Thank you so much for recognizing my efforts. Your support and guidance have been invaluable to me. I'm truly motivated to continue contributing my best to the team and the projects we're passionate about. It's an honor to work under your leadership."
To a Peer: "I really appreciate your kind words and recognition. It means a lot coming from you, given the respect I have for your work and dedication. Let's continue to achieve great things together!" After a Public Recognition:"I'm genuinely touched by the recognition today. Thank you for highlighting my contributions. It's a reflection of the great teamwork and collaboration we share here. I look forward to continuing our success together!"
For a Specific Achievement: "Thank you for acknowledging my work. I’ve loved working on this project. Your recognition not only inspires me, but also reinforces my commitment to our collective goals. I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a difference and excited for what we can accomplish next."
In a Written Note or Email: "I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks for the recognition you gave me. It's truly rewarding to know that my efforts have made a positive impact. Your support encourages me to push boundaries and innovate further. Thank you for being an incredible boss/colleague and for your ongoing encouragement."

8 Proven Quick Tips for Giving Impactful Recognition

We hope these recognition message examples serve as a strong jump-off point for giving praise to your employees or peers.

But an important thing to remember is the best recognition should always be personalized – never generic.

In that spirit, here are some proven quick tips to give better recognition at work:

Recognize frequently: Studies show that giving recognition at least 1X per month strongly impacts employee morale and engagement.
Be specific: Recognition should be tied to a specific accomplishment and include words that highlight the unique qualities of the employee.
Add some variety: Avoid overusing one type of recognition. For example, it’s ok to give quick “good jobs,” but it’s also important to give more thoughtful recognition when it’s warranted.
Personalize your delivery: Tailor your recognition to match the personality and preferences of the employee. For example, a private note might be more appreciated by an introverted team member, while public praise in a team meeting might be more motivating for an extroverted individual.
Make it timely: Aim to acknowledge an accomplishment or positive behavior as soon as possible. Delayed recognition can lessen the impact and sometimes even cause confusion about what is being recognized.
Encourage peer recognition: Peer recognition can enhance team dynamics and promote a culture of appreciation within the team. This can be facilitated through a tool like Applauz in conjunction with recognition from leaders.
Link recognition to core values and goals: Clearly articulate how an individual's actions or achievements embody the company's values or advance its goals. This not only celebrates the achievement but also strengthens the collective commitment to these guiding principles.
Offer opportunities for professional growth: Alongside traditional forms of recognition, consider offering opportunities such as attending a conference, leading a project, or participating in a professional development program. This is motivating and demonstrates an investment in the employee's future.

Other Factors to Consider When Giving Employee Appreciation

From legal considerations to cultural sensitivities, there are a few other factors to consider when giving employee recognition. They shouldn’t scare you away from sharing messages of recognition, but empower you with the knowledge you need to avoid a faux-pas and keep your messages impactful.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Non-Discrimination: Make sure that your appreciation messages and criteria for recognition do not discriminate against any group or individual based on race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
Confidentiality: Be careful not to disclose any confidential information about the employee or the company in your messages of appreciation.
Intellectual Property: If the recognition is for a specific contribution or innovation, ensure that acknowledging it publicly does not infringe on intellectual property rights or reveal proprietary information.
Sensitivity and privacy: Be mindful of the sensitivity of the achievement or contribution being recognized. Ensure that the message does not inadvertently embarrass or expose the employee to unwanted attention. Furthermore, some people are uncomfortable with being recognized in public or on company-wide platforms. If an employee tells you that they would rather not be included in public shout-outs, stick to private feedback with them.

Fairness and Consistency

Objective Criteria: Establish clear, objective criteria for recognition so that all employees feel they have an equal opportunity to be recognized for their contributions. Without a sense of fairness, your recognition efforts can backfire and create a problematic culture.
Transparent Process: Maintain transparency in how decisions for recognition are made to avoid perceptions of favoritism or bias.
Consistency: Offer recognition at regular intervals to avoid any perception of randomness or unfairness in how appreciation is shown. Leverage a platform like Applauz to incorporate recognition into your systems and culture.

Working with International Teams

Cultural Norms and Values: What is considered a high compliment in one culture may be seen as less significant or even inappropriate in another. Educate yourself on cultural norms before interacting with international team members so you can include them in your appreciation efforts. Also, learn about the forms of appreciation that are most valued for maximum impact.
Language and Translation: When working with international teams, ensure that messages of appreciation are accurately translated, maintaining the original sentiment and avoiding potential cultural misunderstandings. Google Translate isn’t your best bet here – it’s better to ask a trusted person for feedback.
Inclusive Practices: Develop inclusive employee appreciation practices. This might mean celebrating a broader range of holidays, achievements, or milestones that are significant across the cultures represented in your team.

Leverage Applauz for Employee Appreciation Messages

In closing, we would like to say that we realize that growing appreciation in the workplace can be difficult; many obstacles stand in the way . Changing your habits can be tricky! It’s worth it though, as building a culture of appreciation has a direct impact on engagement, morale and productivity.

Applauz can help you solidify the habit of sharing appreciation messages on a regular basis, allowing you to build a personalized employee recognition program with different touchpoints, which takes the guesswork out of how often and where to share appreciation. It also includes handy features like custom rewards and service awards.

Our best suggestion to get started: don't get too bogged down in the details. Just start somewhere. In the end, saying something is better than nothing. We promise that, over time, giving impactful recognition will be second nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are employee appreciation quotes.

Employee appreciation quotes are phrases or sentences designed to acknowledge, thank, and show gratitude towards employees for their hard work and dedication. These quotes can range from simple thank-you messages to more elaborate expressions of gratitude, emphasizing the employee's contributions to the team and the organization.

How can I recognize an employee's dedicated efforts?

Recognizing an employee's dedicated efforts can be done through personalized messages that highlight specific instances of hard work and dedication. Mentioning how their efforts have positively impacted the team or a project can make the appreciation feel more genuine and meaningful.

What role do interpersonal skills play in employee appreciation messages?

Interpersonal skills are crucial in crafting employee appreciation messages because they help tailor the message to fit the recipient's personality and work style. Acknowledging an employee's ability to work well with others, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively can be a significant aspect of showing appreciation.

Can I call someone the perfect employee in an appreciation message?

While the term "perfect employee" can be flattering, it's important to focus on specific attributes or achievements that make the individual stand out. This approach ensures the message feels personal and sincere, rather than generic.

What are some ways to show appreciation for employees who put in extra time?

For employees who put in extra time, it's key to recognize their commitment and sacrifice. A message that acknowledges their willingness to go above and beyond, possibly highlighting how their extra effort contributed to meeting a deadline or achieving a goal, can be very impactful.

How can I convey appreciation for an employee's commitment to excellence?

Conveying appreciation for an employee's commitment to excellence involves recognizing their persistent effort to maintain high standards. Mentioning specific examples of their work ethic, attention to detail, and dedication to quality can effectively communicate your gratitude.

What does it mean to make a meaningful contribution?

Making a meaningful contribution means an employee's work has had a significant positive impact on the team or project. Appreciation messages should highlight the importance of these contributions and how they have helped advance goals or solve problems.

How can innovative thinking and innovative solutions be recognized in appreciation messages?

Recognizing innovative thinking and solutions involves highlighting the employee's creativity and ability to think outside the box. Appreciating their initiative to develop new approaches or solutions demonstrates the value of their innovation to the organization.

What constitutes a heartfelt message of appreciation?

A heartfelt message of appreciation is one that genuinely expresses gratitude, recognizing an employee's hard work and achievements. It should be personal, reflecting on specific examples of the employee's contributions, and convey the sincere thanks of the sender. By incorporating these elements into your employee appreciation messages, you can create a culture of recognition and gratitude that motivates and inspires your team.

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Descriptive Essay on Art Appreciation

Read this essay on art to learn more about knowing, identifying, and understanding the qualities of art.

Art is an object that possesses beauty, admired and appreciated by the people, and cannot be found anywhere but in particular places where people can visit. Creating artwork, therefore, requires excellent imagination to give the piece of work the desired aesthetic value. The works of Art in the Ancient culture were of various forms which included architecture, sculpture, and graphic arts (Funch, 1999).

Architecture and sculpture are the oldest forms of art that existed and still exist in the present day. For example, the pyramids that are among the tallest structures in the world.

The primary materials used in architecture were stone, wood, and glass. The sculpture also used stone and wood. Other materials used in sculpture included bronze, marble, silver, copper, wood, and clay. The two techniques involved were carving and casting. Carving means subtracting material to get the desired figure while casting is adding material to obtain the desired figure (Carroll & Eurich, 1992).

Initially, a two-dimensional form of work was used for both architecture and sculpture, but as art advanced through the ages, the two-dimensional form of work was applied. The materials used for both architecture and sculpture included wood and stone. Sculptures also used marble, copper, bronze, silver, and clay.

Sculpture and architecture employed some techniques and processes that were similar to arrive at the final desired object. Carving and casting were mainly used in sculpture which was also practiced in some parts of architectural objects to obtain the shapes required.

The sculptures were painted using the colors of the natural things they represent, while architectural objects were painted according to their use, and the message they portrayed.

Materials were put together in a line to form the shape aimed at both architecture and sculpture. The texture is the roughness or smoothness of a surface as is seen when it is illuminated by light. Different materials have different textures so the artist can make materials of the textures he requires. Most sculptured objects have a smooth finish, while architectural objects are rough.

The value of an Art depends on the materials used to make it, its size, and the image it represents. The beauty and the natural appearance of an object are found in its symmetry(Art Through the Ages, n.d.).

This is used mainly in sculptures of animal or human images to display the true natural appearance. The artists obtained a balance by making symmetrical sculptures and some architectural objects like the pyramids in Egypt. The balance was achieved to give the art natural beauty and safety (Parker, 2003).

The work of art always carries a subject matter. Sculptures of animals by the people of the past appreciated the mysterious way that a supernatural being created the world. Architectural buildings were sacred places and symbolized the presence of God, a sign of adherence to traditional values and way of accompanying death after life.

Works of art such as sculptures represent the real natural environment and thus appreciate nature. The art’s message is to display the purity of nature and for the moral evaluation of the people. Sculptures of Gods and buildings like pyramids represented the presence of a supernatural being and a creator (Horovitz, 1995).

Functions of art are divided into personal, social and physical functions. Individual purposes include religious practices and a sense of control over the entire universe. Social functions dealt with aspects of the life of all the people not personally. It also covered the political functions of the people.

Physical functions were symbolized by architecture, crafts, and industrial design. Artists had a crucial role in ancient cultures. They served the interests of the people, appreciated nature and showed the changing times (Parker, 2003).

Art Through the Ages . Web.

Carroll, H. A., & Eurich, A. C. (1992). Abstract intelligence and art appreciation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 23(3), 214-220.

Funch, B. S. (1999). The psychology of art appreciation. London: Abm Komers.

Horovitz, B. L. (1995). Art Appreciation of Children. The Journal of Educational Research, 31(2), 17-23.

Parker, D. H. (2003). The Principles Of Aesthetics . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 28). Descriptive Essay on Art Appreciation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/art-appreciation-2/

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Gratitude messages: what to write in an appreciation card.

Most of us have written thank-you notes expressing gratitude for a gift, a meal, or a favor. These are the special-occasion gestures we’ve been trained to deem thank-you-worthy.

What we don’t tend to notice or say thank you for as often are the ongoing, faithful acts of service happening around us and for us every day. People like teachers, barbers, dog walkers and mail carriers are absolutely worthy of our gratitude for doing what they do day in and day out. And we don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving or Christmas to thank them.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark .

If you aren’t sure how to begin, keep reading for tips and inspiration about what to write in an appreciation card. Some of our ideas are general enough to work for helpers in any line of work, while others are tailored to specific professions. Use the links below to jump right to the section you need!

Simple Thanks
Compliments
Teacher/Educator
Healthcare Professional
Veterinarians, Groomers, Sitters and Walkers
Mail Carrier
Stylist, Barber or Aesthetician
Retail Worker
Restaurant or Delivery Worker
Closing Thoughts

Find tips for crafting your own gratitude message and get some real life examples from Hallmark Writer Courtney Taylor in the video below or skip straight to gratitude message ideas using the links above.

Simple Thanks

Here are some short but heartfelt messages of gratitude that could go to someone in just about any profession.

“Thanks for doing what you do!”
“You are appreciated for all you do. Thank you so much.”
“The work you do is important and so appreciated.”
“Sending a little heartfelt appreciation your way today!”
“Just wanted to express our deep gratitude for the dedicated work you do day after day.”
“For all you do—and for the kind, thoughtful way you do it—thank you.”
“We could never take for granted the hard work you do. We see it, and we appreciate you.”
“Thank you for your friendly, dependable service through every season.”
“Thank you for going the extra mile for all of us who depend on you. I simply couldn’t be more grateful.”

Pro Tip: A short-and-simple thank-you message can be especially perfect when you don’t know your recipient well and/or when you prefer to let an accompanying gift, treat, or gift card express some of your gratitude for you.

Compliments

Everybody likes to hear now and then that they’re good at what they do. A sincere compliment is a great way to take your appreciation up a notch.

“Has anyone told you lately that you’re great at what you do? Well, you are, and it’s appreciated!”
“It’s easy to see how much you care about the people you serve. I’m grateful to be one of them.”
“You go above and beyond daily. But here lately, you’ve been going above-er and beyond-er. Thank you!”
“You’re someone who makes a difference every day. So grateful.”
“Thank you. Your commitment and professionalism mean more than you know.”
“When I follow Mr. Rogers’ advice and look for the helpers in this world, I see you and the work you’re doing. Thank you.”
“Never doubt the difference you make. It’s huge—and so is the gratitude in this little note.”
“It’s a good feeling knowing there are caring, capable people like you working hard for everyone around you. Thank you for all you do!”

Pro Tip: Some helpers may balk at being called “heroic” for what they see as simply doing their jobs. It may actually mean more to them if you describe them as good, great, capable, competent, caring, committed, dedicated, devoted, expert, excellent, hardworking, kind, professional, reliable, smart, or something similarly down-to-earth.

Teacher/Educator

Anytime we get a glimpse into what teachers do on a daily basis, a couple of things become clear: 1) They really care, and 2) They should be getting paid like rock stars. Until that second thing happens, we can at least make a point of expressing our gratitude for them.

“Just sending a big thank-you to one of our favorite teachers today. Thank you for doing what you do!”
“You’re an outstanding teacher, and you’re appreciated. Just wanted you to hear that today!”
“Thank you for being a teacher. Clearly, you were meant to do it!”
“I’m so grateful my daughter has the chance to learn from a great teacher like you.”
“It’s touching to see the heart you have for each one of your kids. Thank you for teaching.”
“It’s easy to see how much you care about your students. So grateful our Colin is one of them.”
“We know teaching definitely has its challenges. Thanks for hanging in there with dedication and heart!”
From younger student: “Thank you for being a nice teacher! I like that you wear purple fingernail polish and never give homework on weekends.”
From older student: “I’ve learned so much from you. I may not remember it all forever, but I’ll remember the way you cared and the way you inspired me to keep learning.”

Pro Tip: As suggested in the examples above, get kids and teens in on thanking their teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals and other education professionals who help them along their way. It’s good for kids’ development—and it will probably lead to the most memorable and meaningful messages for the educators on the receiving end.

Want something to go with your kind words? Check out these teacher appreciation ideas .

Healthcare Professional

Nurses, doctors, and other health professionals really do put the “care” in healthcare. Expressions of gratitude can be especially encouraging as they carry out their critical and often stressful work.

“Just a friendly reminder that you’re an excellent doctor doing much-needed and much-appreciated work. Thank you!”
“The people you’re caring for are in great hands. Thanks for doing what you do.”
“Your expert caring makes lives better. I know because mine is one of them!”
“Thank you for being a nurse. You’re an amazing one.”
“It’s a good feeling knowing there are experienced, capable doctors like you out there. Thank you for being there with expertise and caring for the people who need you.”
“Sending heartfelt thanks for the dedicated work you do as a nurse.”
“Most of the time, I’m exaggerating when I call someone ‘a lifesaver,’ but in your case, it happens to be accurate. Thank you for saving and improving lives every day!”
“Being a nurse can be tough, but you’ve risen to the occasion with courage and strength. So grateful for you and the important work you’re doing.”

Pro Tip: Remember the counselors, psychiatrists, or mental health professionals you may know, too. Their health work is often lower profile but still critical and worth recognizing with a message of gratitude.

Get even more ideas for expressing gratitude to healthcare professionals here .

Veterinarians, Groomers, Sitters and Walkers

The people who take care of our pets are truly special. Without them, owning a pet—and experiencing that one-of-a-kind love—might not even be possible. Sharing a small note of thanks lets them know what a big role they play in your life.

“You treat [Bella] like she’s your own, and we’re so grateful for that.”
“Thank you so much for taking such good care of [Jack]. You make enjoying his love paws-ible!”
“I know grooming [Dexter] can be a challenge. I’m so glad I can feel confident about leaving him in your expert, caring hands.”
“With everything our family has going on, the time and attention you give [Cairo] is such a blessing.”
“We’re so grateful for the dedication you show to keeping [Sammie] a happy, healthy member of our family.”
“Every time [Charlie] comes to see you, he leaves feeling so happy. Thank you for the compassionate service you provide!”

Pro Tip: Have a little fun and add a cute PS. from your fur-kid. A note like “Sorry I squirm so much during baths” acknowledges the effort required to take care of your pet but in a way that’s likely to make them smile.

Mail Carrier

It’s customary to thank mail carriers during the holiday season, but the work they do is year-round, and our thanks can be, too.

“Just a little out-of-the-blue thank-you for my favorite mail carrier.”
“You’re appreciated! Thanks for always delivering.”
“It means a lot having a mail carrier as friendly and dependable as you. So glad we’ve got you to count on.”
“Your reliable service always means a lot. Thank you for the work you do.”
“TO: One outstanding mail carrier…FROM: One grateful mail recipient…THANK YOU!”
“Thank you for all the smiles you deliver.”
“Even bills are a little easier to take coming from a nice mail carrier like you. Thanks!”
“You probably know some weird things about us based on our mail. Thanks for not judging…and for the important work you do!”

Pro Tip: If you’ve got sidewalk or driveway near your mailbox, you could put your artistic skills to work and sidewalk-chalk your message of thanks.

Stylist, Barber or Aesthetician

Being a stylist or aesthetician can be a demanding job. So it’s always a nice idea to give your best to the people who help you look your best—and maybe throw in an extra-large tip sometimes, too.

“I always walk in here knowing that I’m going to walk out feeling so good about myself. You do that. And I’m so grateful.”
“Thanks for always helping me look like I have it all together, haha.”
“You’ve seen my hair at its worst, but you never fail to make me feel my best. Thank you so much.”
“Every compliment I get on my [hair/nails/skin] is thanks to your years of training and amazing talent.”
“Your warmth and professionalism are why I keep coming back. I hope you never leave!”
“My [hair/nails/skin] has/have never looked so good. I’m so incredibly glad I found you!”

Pro Tip: Stylists and aestheticians are on their feet a lot of the day. A nice gift idea might be a foot massage or pedicure of their own!

Retail Worker

All of us count on the dependable employees who keep grocery and hardware stores, pharmacies, and other busy retailers running smoothly. Your message of thanks to them can be a bright spot in the middle of a stressful workday.

“I hope you know just how grateful your customers are for you.”
“The work you’re doing isn’t easy, but it’s so needed and appreciated. Thank you.”
“Thank you for your cheerful service. Your friendliness makes my day every time I shop here.”
“Thanks for showing up and doing good work every day like it’s no big deal. It actually IS a big deal, and you’re appreciated for it.”
“Thank you for making a point of telling us about the Wednesday sales. It’s nice knowing you’re looking out for us. We hope you’re looking out and taking good care of yourself, too.”
“Thank you for going above and beyond to provide great customer service. All of you are truly appreciated.”
“So grateful our neighborhood grocery store is staffed by the best and friendliest employees anywhere. Y’all are the best, and we’re grateful for each one of you!”

Pro Tip: If you know your recipient’s name, address your message to them: “Hi, JoAnn—” or “Dear Mr. Jones.” If not, get creative: “To my favorite cashier:” or “Dear 95th Street Hy-Vee Team,” etc.

Restaurant or Delivery Worker

After being good and eating in for days on end, takeout can be such a treat. But that deliciousness doesn’t happen magically. It takes a dedicated team to prep, cook, package, and get it to your car window or front door—and that calls for a thank-you.

“We hope you’re staying safe out there. Thanks for taking care of us!”
“You have no idea how much happiness you’re delivering with every takeout bag. Thank you for keeping the goodness coming!”
“Original Pizza night is pretty much like Christmas Day around here. Thank you for continuing to serve up the best.”
“Just wanted to tell you what a highlight your new Friday family specials are. We look forward to them all week. Thank you!”
“Thanks for delivering the good stuff. You’re so dependable—and fast! It’s appreciated.”
“You’re serving more than food—it’s comfort and family fun. Thank you for that!”
“Thank you for the good eats and the great service. You have my loyalty forever!”

Pro Tip: Gratitude for a job well-done is always welcome, but gratitude accompanied by a generous tip is likely even more welcome.

Closing Thoughts

Who are some of the other helpers and service providers you might want to reach out to with a message of appreciation? Consider spiritual leaders (pastor, priest, rabbi and others), public safety pros (fire and police), home and yard maintenance providers or anyone else who regularly crosses your path and makes life better.

Whomever you’re writing to, you can round out your message with one of these grateful closings…or choose one of your own.

Warmest thanks,
With thanks,
With deepest thanks,
With heartfelt appreciation,
With gratitude,
Gratefully,
Beyond grateful,
Feeling thankful,

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Maurizio Pollini, Celebrated Pianist Who Defined Modernism, Dies at 82

His recordings of Beethoven and Chopin were hailed as classics, but his technical ability sometimes invited controversy.

Maurizio Pollini, a white-haired older man in a tuxedo, stands at a piano on a concert stage and acknowledge the audience’s applause.

By David Allen

Maurizio Pollini, an Italian pianist of formidable intellectual powers whose unrivaled technique and unwavering interpretive integrity made him the modernist master of the instrument, died on Saturday morning in Milan. He was 82.

His death, in a clinic, was announced by the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where he performed frequently. The announcement did not specify a cause, but Mr. Pollini had been forced to cancel a concert at the Salzburg Festival in 2022 because of heart problems and had pulled out of a number of subsequent recitals.

Mr. Pollini, who performed for more than half a century, was that rare pianist who compelled listeners to think deeply. He was an artist of rigor and reserve whose staunch assurance, uncompromising directness and steadfast dedication to his ideals were evidence of what his colleague Daniel Barenboim called “a very high ethical regard of music.”

Whether he played Beethoven , Schumann or Stockhausen , Mr. Pollini was almost unmatched in his capabilities. He took perfect command of his instrument, a prowess that came across “as neither glib facility nor tedious heroic effort,” the critic Edward Said once wrote , but instead as a technique that “allows you to forget technique entirely.”

There were, however, many listeners who could not forget that technique, and Mr. Pollini was long a subject of controversy. Detractors heard only cold objectivity, accusing him of being too distant, too efficient or too unyielding when compared with the great characters of the piano; one of his few equals in sheer ability, Sviatoslav Richter , privately complained of hearing Mr. Pollini play Chopin on the radio with “no poetry or delicacy (even if everything’s impeccably precise).”

“It was not a very imaginative performance,” Harold Schonberg of The New York Times said in his review of Mr. Pollini’s Carnegie Hall debut in 1968, eight years after the pianist had stormed to victory in the sixth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw — the first Westerner to do so, and at only 18. “With all his skill,” Mr. Schonberg continued, “Mr. Pollini failed to suggest that he was deeply involved in the music.”

Mr. Pollini typically refused to comment on his own style, or even to outline his interpretive aims beyond solving the specific problems that particular composers posed. But, he told The Wall Street Journal in 2013, “I have a completely different idea of what I am and what I do.”

“Certainly I’m not for a cool approach to music,” he said. “This would limit the power of a musical creation. Objectivity I can understand in a certain way. I want the music to speak for itself, but music played coolly is not enough. It would be wrong to be detached.”

Mr. Pollini’s many admirers, for their part, heard an artist whose intense, unadorned drive revealed the stark emotional force of whatever he chose to play. His work offered “a monument to what it is possible for two hands to achieve on one musical instrument,” the critic David Fanning wrote in Gramophone magazine about his classic 1970s recordings of 20th-century works.

If the disagreement was settled at all — and the decline of Mr. Pollini’s skills to merely human levels toward the end of his career raised it again — it was through a general acclamation of him as the definition of what it meant to be a modernist pianist, or at least what it meant to play the piano in a contemporary way.

“It is true that I look for and try to uncover what seems to me the essence of a work, its truth,” he told Gramophone in 2002. “And I suppose in that sense I am a pianist of my time.”

That was a matter of repertoire as well as manner. In Mr. Pollini’s recitals, he would mirror Chopin with Debussy , or confront Beethoven with Pierre Boulez, whose Second Sonata presented numerous colossal difficulties that Mr. Pollini simply annihilated.

“He does not say very much, but he thinks quite a lot,” Mr. Boulez said of him in 1993, an assessment that counted as extreme praise from the ordinarily truculent French composer and conductor. “He goes into depth in the music, and is not superficial, and his attitude as a musician is exactly his attitude as a man. He is as interesting as anyone could be.”

Maurizio Pollini was born in Milan on Jan. 5, 1942. His family cultivated intellectual curiosity, especially about novel trends in the arts. His father, Gino Pollini, was a violinist and a leading rationalist architect whose projects included a factory for Adriano Olivetti in the town of Ivrea , Italy. His mother, Renata Melotti, sang and played the piano, as did her brother, Fausto Melotti , who was also a pioneer of abstract sculpture.

As a boy, Mr. Pollini was as enthralled with the orchestra as he was with the piano. In later interviews, he noted the importance not just of hearing Arthur Rubinstein and Walter Gieseking but of seeing Arturo Toscanini lead Wagner and Dimitri Mitropoulos promote Schoenberg. At the Milan Conservatory, Mr. Pollini took courses in composition and conducting; he dabbled professionally as a conductor for a short time in the 1980s, recording the Rossini opera “La Donna Del Lago.” But he was always most associated with the piano, which he studied under Carlo Vidusso.

Mr. Pollini began giving concerts before his 10th birthday, performed Chopin’s Études at 14, and won prizes in several competitions before his triumph in Poland in March 1960. By the end of that April, he had made a recording of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 that was instantly hailed as a classic, its ease and elegance reminiscent of the work of Rubinstein, the honorary chairman of the jury that oversaw the Chopin competition in Warsaw and later a friend; that September, Mr. Pollini also recorded an equally shapely set of the Études .

He would later say that being considered a Chopin specialist was “a great honor, the most marvelous thing that can happen to a pianist,” as he put it in “ De Main de Maître ,” a 2014 documentary about his life. But by age 18, he had grown irritated with the label. He refused to release the Études and retreated from concert life, learning repertoire and studying briefly with another pianist of restraint, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli .

Mr. Pollini did not entirely withdraw from performing and made his London debut in 1963. But it was not until the end of the 1960s that he emerged fully on the international stage, touring widely and starting his long collaboration with the Deutsche Grammophon label, for which he recorded Stravinsky, Prokofiev and an imperious new set of the Chopin Études , recast as if they were Brutalist edifices. He matured into a pianist with a unique approach that a New York Times Magazine profile described as “elegant, clear, lucid and specifically modern,” though it struck some critics as impersonally , mechanically literal .

Part of the transformation came from politics. Mr. Pollini rarely spoke about the relationship between his politics and his playing style — or his personal life, or indeed anything else — in his infrequent interviews, but it was hard to hear the pitiless force and the ferocious defiance of the Chopin Polonaises he recorded in 1975 outside the context of his avowed antifascism.

He joined the Italian Communist Party at the start of the so-called Years of Lead, a period of political violence and social upheaval in Italy. He justified that decision because the party's denunciation of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 allowed him to square doctrine with democracy. He was escorted from one of his own recitals for protesting the U.S. bombing of Hanoi, and he befriended the composer Luigi Nono , with whom he collaborated on works like “ Como una ola de fuerza y luz ,” dedicated to the memory of the Chilean activist Luciano Cruz.

Convinced that music was a right for all, Mr. Pollini gave concerts for workers and students with the conductor Claudio Abbado , a lifelong collaborator, and he abandoned conventions that separated new music from old, recording the piano works of Schoenberg as strikingly as he did the late sonatas of Beethoven . His fervor had dimmed by the 1980s — “It was something of a letdown,” he subsequently said of the period — but he retained his socialism, along with an idealistic belief in the power of art.

“Art itself, if it is really great, has a progressive aspect that is needed by a society, even if it seems absolutely useless in strictly practical terms,” Mr. Pollini told The Guardian in 2011. “In a way, art is a little like the dreams of a society. They seem to contribute little, but sleeping and dreaming are vitally important in that a human couldn’t live without them, in the same way a society cannot live without art.”

Mr. Pollini kept up with modern art, read all of Shakespeare repeatedly in English and Italian, and studied scores well beyond those for the piano. But he selected what he performed with care, committing only to works that he knew he would never tire of, and that had contributed to what he saw as the evolution of music.

Even so, Mr. Pollini was a modest modernist. Rarely seen without a jacket, a tie and cigarettes, he spoke of his appreciation for musicians of antithetical persuasions, from the arch-Romanticism of the pianist Alfred Cortot to the regal grandeur of the conductor Karl Böhm , with whom he made exquisite recordings of Mozart , Beethoven and Brahms concertos. Unusual for a modernist, he even confessed to listening to Rachmaninoff from time to time.

Mr. Pollini’s survivors include his wife, Maria Elisabetta, commonly known as Marilisa, whom he married in 1968, and their son, Daniele. Both his wife and his son play the piano.

“We have the most beautiful repertoire ever written for an instrument,” Mr. Pollini said of pianists in an interview with The Times in 2006. “We have at our disposal a richness. And then we deal with an instrument that has an absolutely extraordinary possibility. There are no limits to what you can do on the piano.”

An earlier version of this obituary misstated the surname of a pianist with whom Mr. Pollini studied. He was Carlo Vidusso, not Viducci.

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Thank you so much.". "The work you do is important and so appreciated.". "Sending a little heartfelt appreciation your way today!". "Just wanted to express our deep gratitude for the dedicated work you do day after day.". "For all you do—and for the kind, thoughtful way you do it—thank you.".
Short Essay on "Appreciation" (480 Words)
Short Essay on "Appreciation" (480 Words) Article shared by. Praising anybody for his or her task can increase the confidence of receiver. The word " Appreciation " looks smaller from outside but it can help achieve anything if used properly. This word is the most powerful word for motivating someone. If someone gets appreciated for a ...
Maurizio Pollini, Celebrated Pianist Who Defined Modernism, Dies at 82
March 23, 2024, 12:29 p.m. ET. Maurizio Pollini, an Italian pianist of formidable intellectual powers whose unrivaled technique and unwavering interpretive integrity made him the modernist master ...