Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.  ~Sicilian Proverb

“What do you say?” I can hear the mom-voice echo in my head. “Thank you,” the little-girl me mumbles, annoyed at having been reminded publicly.

These days, I don’t need to be reminded. I see gifts everywhere (even when people didn’t intend for their friendship to be a gift, I accept it and treasure it as the most precious of treasurers). Saying “thank you” is a reminder to me and to the gift-giver of how special our friendship is.

Girlfriend Guru (and fabulous artist) RACHEL AWES tells us about the joy of thanking and being thanked. (In multiple languages, even!) How do you say “thank you”?

My friend, Sarah, is a glorious queen of thanking. She has taught me, by example, what a gift it is to offer consistent thanks. For example, we have a ritual of taking each other out for our birthdays and these times are always followed by her superlative snail mail.

Here are a few excerpts:

“Thank you for blessing my socks off on Sunday.”

“I am absolutely in love with my new sweater and have worn it at some point every day this week. I am wrapped up cozy in wool and sweet friendship.”

“Tack so mucket for svenska table runner (thanks so much for the Swedish table runner – I don’t know how to say table runner in Swedish). Jag tycker om leck (I really like it). Du ere bara bra (you are really good). Casta checks (throw crackers).”

“What could be better than a bright sunny morning enjoying yummy bacon, fresh-squeezed oj and chatting with my dear friend!?!!”

Her thanks feel like one more hug. Her thanks feel like they seal our time as real and precious. Her thanks feel like love.

Let’s all thank our treasured girlfriends!

RACHEL AWES is a psychologist, art playgroundist, writer, wife, mother & friend, who loves listening to the beauty in people. You can see more of her art or her artistic thoughts on Pinterest. You can also read more of her work on her blog.

How do you show your Girlfriend Gratitude? Share in the comments below. Thanks Girlfriend!

And check out Rachel’s other FABULOUS blogs (and her gorgeous art):

• Library Love Notes – A wonderful way to cheer up the world
• Love keeps Lifting me Higher – Experiencing Girlfriend Gratitude
• Timing Matters – A Girlfriend’s perfect timing
• The Power of a Girlfriend’s Kindness – Prayer that all friends feel loved
• A Year of Great Girlfriend Intentions – A great year of friends and friendships
• The Art of Girlfriends – How friends inspire us (& we inspire friends, like Rachel does)
• Playdates with Girlfriends – Great things to plan in 2012!
• Girlfriend Love Letters – Write one to your BFFs!
• Girlfriend Gift Ideas - Creative ways to show your friendship

By the way, we LOVE guest blogs here at Girlfriendology. Have a great girlfriend story to tell? Want to celebrate your fabulous female friends? SHARE! (And, we also have Girlfriend Gurus – check that out to be featured on Girlfriendology!)

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