October 13, 2009. Another figure farther from the markable days in the calendar, and another day to stress to myself that the numbers don't matter.
I've been wont to do some appreciations for people in my life every now and then. Today this year, I'm doing it ala post...
to my BB first and foremost ~~ you made my day today! I hoped that you would greet me. And you did!
to you whom I share my BB and demented dog moments (and a lot of other things) with ~~ thank you for a lot of things! For allowing me to share every bit of my truly demented dog lashings, to my baby gushings... and lots more. I really appreciate it.
to you who first greeted me in Facebook ~~ thank you very much! I was afraid someone would do that because what if people just didn't greet me afterwards? That would be utter humiliation. However, never mind that fact. Thank you for the primary greetings! Yes, you were the first.
to you who reminded me of the demented dog's special day ~~ today's the first year I actually didn't feel anything about that, and you had to remind me haha. Even so, I know your heart's intents. Thanks a lot. We've shared a lot of things. I truly appreciate them all.
to you who share our all-girl-emails-even-though-you're-not-a-girl ~~ thank you! words just can't express my appreciation of you. napakalaki ng aking UTANG NA LOOB.
to my huggable preggy whale ~~ thank you! I could never feel ashamed or little whenever I talk to you.
to my OC YM buddy ~~ thank you. You're there almost 5/9-5. Work life would be different otherwise.
to you who will soon turn kiwi ~~ thank you. You understand the apprehensions and experience of living alone overseas. And you like the pictures I take. It makes me feel good, like I'm good at something. Thanks a lot!
to you who share the same art cell as me in our clan ~~ thank you. You fully understand when I need to lash out about being unconsciously and subconsciously discriminated against, and you are 101% behind me. That comforts me. Thanks!
to the 5 of you girls who make me feel really blessed for meeting you early on in life ~~ even as I went a different path not long afterwards, thank you! thank you! thank you! for being there.
to you mr. perenially nice guy ~~ thank you! even though you just announced to "everyone" that I'm like one of the boys... I take that as a compliment. Besides, you're comfortable yourself.
to you ms. bottomless pit ~~ I will always remember when you described me as one who looks at things like I'm observing them. I take that as a compliment. It's always fun when you're around.
to the potentially perennial ms. nice girl ~~ thank you. Just like mr. perenially nice guy, you're always there when I have a need. I really really appreciate it.
... and the list goes on.
Words are not always enough to express one's gratitude. And we can never get enough (and give enough) of appreciations. Hugs and kisses to y'all!
~~~~~~~~~
1. Got it. Thanks.
2. Noted.
~~~~~~~~~
Two simple responses. A show of manners and etiquette. And basically informing the other person that you got/received/understood what he/she was trying to inform you. Or if you didn't really at all... number 2 would buy you some time to mull over what it is really you are supposed to have gotten/received/understood.
Seriously.
If we can send a gazillion "k" texts a gazillion times a day, over a gazillion text messages we don't really even need to respond to, why not the same thing over email? It's not like we're using more electricity and spending more by sending a simple "Got it. Thanks." in emails.
I remember my boss telling me she loved my "Noted." email responses to her emails sometime back. I was taken aback. Haha. Maybe it was because nobody else did that to her. Yeah. Maybe. Then again, I would've thought it was just common courtesy to notify the person that you got his/her email.
Looking back, I never really did see its essence until later on... when I was the one who was informing people of things. People! I just sent you something. At the least let me know that you got my email!!!
I think this stems out from recent experiences.
1. I asked a friend to help me email another friend's picture to him. I just never got anything from her after asking her this favor. Ok, so never mind the fact that I could've just asked her this friend's email......... ok ok ok, so yeah, maybe I should've just asked. Ok ok ok. Fine. Yes, I should've just asked. There. Satisfied?
2. I asked the same friend to help me email again another friend's pictures to him. And once again I never heard from her. Has she forwarded the pictures? Did she have the email of this friend at all? TELL ME SOMETHING! After about a week, I asked her if she was able to forward the pictures, only to find out that she hasn't... because she didn't have that friend's email. By golly. She could've informed me the moment she got my email that she didn't have that friend's email, and that 1) she could ask somebody else to forward it, or 2) ask me to find a way to email the pictures of the friend myself. Why o why o why?
3. I finally got the email of this friend, and emailed him the pictures. And once again, I never did get any "Got it. Thanks." email back. Of course I know he got the pictures. But, I still would've appreciated it if I got a response that he actually, ACTUALLY, got what I sent him.
Ok. of course not all emails need to be "gotten and thanked", what with all the virus-linked emails, even from our friends whose email accounts were hacked... but, I'm sure you can tell, and besides, you know what I mean.
Come to think of it... I rarely send "k" text messages to my friends. Only when there's a rhetoric question I simply cannot not send a response to. But then again... sending "k" text messages costs me a few dollars where I am, whereas a "Got it. Thanks." or "Noted." email doesn't even disrupt my adsl speed. But I (think I do) try to respond to emails as much as I can.
So please, people, unless you're paying extra for each email you send, or for the extra byte you use on your already-paid-for Internet services, it's a nice gesture to inform the sender of the email that you received whatever it is he/she's sending... or that you're still alive and breathing, and that the email wasn't sent in vain.
Got it?
