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The Gratitude Campaign

Monday, 02 January 2012 13:12
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The Story of
HOW IT BEGAN:
For the past several years as I've been traveling on business, I've been approaching military personnel in airports and thanking them for serving for us. The vast majority of the times that I've done this it has been a wonderful experience. However, I am not proud to admit that there have been times when I couldn't muster up the nerve to approach a stranger. On a few occasions I noticed that it felt a little awkward for both of us. There are several reasons for this, some of which I am even just now learning as I produce this film and talk to more Service Men & Women and Veterans. Upon further reflection, I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that it is sometimes awkward to approach a stranger when most of us have been socialized since childhood not to talk to strangers. So if we resist talking to strangers at all, it's not surprising that we sometimes find it difficult to open our hearts to one to the extent of thanking them for our very Freedom. But I learned to resist my conditioning, and thank them anyway. They have always appreciated being thanked, and I have always felt better having expressed my gratitude.

The few awkward times and the times that I just couldn't do it for whatever reason got me thinking that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign, similar to a military salute, that they could use to express their gratitude quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found this sign, originating in 18th century France which, fully translated, means "thank you from the bottom of my heart."

My next challenge was, how do I spread this message? I called a client, The Seattle Seahawks, and I told them that I wanted to share this sign with people as a means of expressing their gratitude when circumstances did not allow for a verbal "thank you", or when they weren't comfortable approaching a stranger. The Seahawks suggested that I make a video about this that they could air at their games. I partnered with Amy Sedgwick of Mousehouse Productions, and we made this video. It aired for the first time at a Seattle Seahawks game on September 23rd, 2007. Since then the video has spread, and millions of people have seen it and are now using The Sign.

Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I'm sure that you'll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say "thank you from the bottom of my heart.' 

(WATCH SHORT VIDEO)(WATCH FULL LENGTH VIDEO)                                        

- Scott Truitt, FOUNDER, thegratitudecampaign

 

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