Thankfully, "Thank You" making comeback

Thankfully, more Americans are saying “Thank You” again and more frequently. It is the best way to offer your sincere appreciation.

A 2026 StudyFinds.com national survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that the average American says “thank you” more than 2,200 times a year, equating to about six times per day. Importantly, 57% of respondents reported saying “thank you” more frequently than the year before.”

The survey also determined that Americans are feeling more thankful overall, with 55% saying they have more to be grateful for this year especially for homes, good health, pets, favorite food and drinks, and jobs.

A OneSource.com study learned apart from their families, Americans predominantly feel grateful toward their friends (55%) and neighbors (51%). Perhaps more surprisingly, those polled are feeling love even for their bosses, with half saying they’re showing gratitude for their supervisors this year.

During a particularly “gloomy” time when politicians are at one another’s throats continually, it is nice to know that thank you and gratitude lesson tensions.

WifiTalents.com reports daily gratitude interventions reduce depressive symptoms by 35%. Employees who receive appreciation from managers show 50% percent higher productivity. Studies document comparable patterns in sleep quality, relationship stability, and physical health markers.

Expressing sincere gratitude is important and making a comeback after the Covid pandemic. AARP is pushing handwritten thank you notes over thank you emails because written notes are less likely to be lost in the barrage of emails people receive every day.

Saying thank you has taken a new broader dimension recently.

The Association of Washington Business (AWB) launched a “Thank You” campaign to encourage employers to stay in Washington and know they are appreciated.

“Two words that Washington’s businesses hear far too rarely” AWB President Kris Johnson said in launching the program. “Yet every day, across every corner of this state, businesses are creating jobs, paying taxes that fund our schools and roads, investing in housing and infrastructure, and giving back to the communities they call home.

‘From the farms that stocks our grocery stores to the companies that sponsors a local nonprofit, Washington businesses make this state what it is,” Johnson added.

AWB surveys found employers are leaving Washington. Others are being recruited away. Too many are frustrated by a growing tax and regulatory burden that makes it harder to compete and harder to stay.

“We want to change that. We want to celebrate Washington employers, because when they thrive, our communities thrive, our kids have opportunities, our neighborhoods grow stronger, and our state becomes a place people want to invest in, build in, and stay in” Johnson concluded.

Saying thank you also is beneficial for families. StudyFind.com research shows that 77% of respondents felt more grateful during the holidays than at any other time of the year, with three in four expressing their gratitude more often as well. During this time, 76% of those surveyed felt more connected to their loved ones.

Expressing gratitude and saying thank you was drilled into heads early in life. We had a great aunt who would give us a dime each time she came to dinner so we could buy a soda. That dime was a sacrifice for someone relying on Social Security and my parents reminded us that it is never the size of the gift; it is the gift that is given.

Finally, our family owned the garbage business in Walkerville, a small Montana town of 2,000 people. We would not only collect the garbage weekly but collect payment door-to-door every month.

We lobbied our parents to have the city add garbage collection fees to city taxes. It would have been easier, and we would not have to deal with customer complaints or delinquent payments.

Our parents’ rationale was we needed to stay close to our customers and say thank you every month.

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer, and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.