giving thanks
May 30, 2010
Today I finally submitted my bio for a chapter I co-authored (let’s not discuss how tardy it is). My email was very brief – just this:
Hello,
Here is my bio for the volume.
[BIO]Thanks,
[Me]
I find that most of my correspondence ends this way. Just “Thanks,” and my name. It’s migrating into the realm of “hey, how you feeling?” as a friendly filler in communication. As much as some people hate the “how are you” that doesn’t expect an answer, I have a little affection for it. After all, there is nothing but habit and social pressure that keeps it from turning into a conversation about how a person is doing. The very structure of the comment leaves things just a wee-bit more open than they would be if we just said, “Hey”.
So – what about “thanks”? At first it was me thanking someone, anyone, for answering my emailed cries for help. “Do you know how I can . . .? Thanks!” “Do you have time to talk about . . .? Thanks!” Now, here where I’m (tardily) satisfying someone else’s request, I still say it. Why not expand the notion – perhaps it means I’m saying “thanks” to the divine will of the universe for letting me take care of business by email. I like this idea – that I’m saying “thanks” in a non-specific, broad, expression of gratitude.
