Thank You Speech
February 23, 2007
“Everybody is a star. One big circle going round and round.”– Sly and the Family Stone
The Oscars. The Grammies. The Pulitzer. The Nobel.
Maybe you’ve already practiced your speech. With a hairbrush-microphone, looking straight into the camera-mirror, you’ve thanked all the people who fostered you to glory. No doubt about it, your gown or tux would be front and center, but it’s your thank you speech that would ripple out for all to feel.
Whether you’re standing at a podium, or in the middle of your very normal life, it’s likely taken a village of comrades, sages, and cheerleaders to get you to this moment.
THIS WEEK: Imagine that you’re receiving the esteemed Gold Medal of Getting This Far. Who are you going to thank? The English teacher who told you she was moved by your essay? The boss who did you a big favor by firing you? The lover who helped you to see yourself in a whole new light?; or how about the people who are in your daily orbit, supporting you to shine with encouragement, or by managing the details, or getting dinner on the table.
Make this somewhat ceremonious. If you have to track down someone from your past, if you need to toil over a letter or a phone call – do it. Expressing gratitude can be quite an intimate experience. Humility is like that. And humble stars go down in history.
February 23, 2007 at 4:30 pm
This got me thinking about my favourite acceptance speeches. Remember when Roberto Benigni rocked the house? He leapt over the seats, ran to the stage and proclaimed he wanted to “make love to the world”.
His speech had humility, excitement and deeply felt gratitude.
Then it occured to me that these are the ingredients for living the best possible life: to be thrilled, humbled by the beauty and abundance around me, and deeply grateful for all the people who got me this far.
I admit to doing this every year the Oscars roll around. (I am usually in my jammies instead of a gown, and clutching the Golden Hairbrush while doing my little speech.)
But this time, it’s different. I changed the focus from some imaginary role played in some imaginary movie to my Real Life. And it feels really really good to be grateful. And to stop for a moment and realize just how far I have come. I even came to see that people who I thought I would never forgive for certain things – actually gave me the gift of self-discovery. I thanked them too.
Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your life is “thank you” that will be enough.”
Indeed.
April 24, 2009 at 11:29 am
This is very hot information. I think I’ll share it on Digg.