06 “Thank You” Is a Magical Word
/06 “Thank You” Is a Magical Word
*Emma is a cheerful and lively girl.
/*Emma is a cheerful and lively girl.
She went to school every day, played with her friends, and spent time with her family at home.
/She went to school every day, played with her friends, and spent time with her family at home.
One day, a special teacher was scheduled to visit the school.
/One day, a special teacher was scheduled to visit the school.
The teacher was a psychologist who would talk about the connection between the mind and body.
/The teacher was a psychologist who would talk about the connection between the mind and body.
“Today, I’m going to talk to you all about the power of saying ‘thank you’,” the teacher said.
/”Today, I’m going to talk to you all about the power of saying ‘thank you’,” the teacher said.
‘Thank you’ is not just a word.
/’Thank you’ is not just a word.
In fact, it’s been found that a type of immune cell called ‘natural killer cells’ becomes more active when people say or hear ‘thank you’.
/In fact, it’s been found that a type of immune cell called ‘natural killer cells’ becomes more active when people say or hear ‘thank you’.
The classroom buzzed with excitement.
/The classroom buzzed with excitement.
“Wow! Cells get stronger?” “Is ‘thank you’ really that amazing?”
/”Wow! Cells get stronger?” “Is ‘thank you’ really that amazing?”
The teacher nodded.
/The teacher nodded.
“Yes. ‘Thank you’ is a magical word that positively affects not only the heart but also the body.”
/”Yes. ‘Thank you’ is a magical word that positively affects not only the heart but also the body.”
Those words stayed in *Emma’s heart.
/Those words stayed in *Emma’s heart.
When she got home, *Emma asked her mother,
/When she got home, *Emma asked her mother,
“Hey, is it true that ‘thank you’ is good for your body too?”
/”Hey, is it true that ‘thank you’ is good for your body too?”
Her mother smiled and replied,
/Her mother smiled and replied,
“Yes. For example, when someone does something for you and you say ‘thank you,’ it makes them happy, and you feel good too, right? Isn’t it amazing that it’s also good for your body?”
/”Yes. For example, when someone does something for you and you say ‘thank you,’ it makes them happy, and you feel good too, right? Isn’t it amazing that it’s also good for your body?”
*Emma nodded. But then, a question popped into her mind.
/*Emma nodded. But then, a question popped into her mind.
“But the things people do for me every day feel so normal that I might not be saying ‘thank you’ at all…”
/”But the things people do for me every day feel so normal that I might not be saying ‘thank you’ at all…”
That night, *Emma thought in her room.
/That night, *Emma thought in her room.
“Being able to go to school, having breakfast, having friends… maybe none of these are really ‘normal’.”
/”Being able to go to school, having breakfast, having friends… maybe none of these are really ‘normal’.”
So, *Emma took out a notebook and wrote on the cover:
/So, *Emma took out a notebook and wrote on the cover:
“Thank You Diary”
/”Thank You Diary”
And on the first page, she wrote:
/And on the first page, she wrote:
Day 1
/Day 1
・Mom made breakfast. Thank you.
/・Mom made breakfast. Thank you.
・Dad said “Have a good day.” Thank you.
/・Dad said “Have a good day.” Thank you.
・My friend Miyu lent me something I forgot. Thank you.
/・My friend Miyu lent me something I forgot. Thank you.
・The teacher gave a clear and easy-to-understand lesson. Thank you.
/・The teacher gave a clear and easy-to-understand lesson. Thank you.
The next day, *Emma wrote in her diary again.
/The next day, *Emma wrote in her diary again.
Day 2
/Day 2
・It rained, but a friend lent me an umbrella. Thank you.
/・It rained, but a friend lent me an umbrella. Thank you.
・I found a book I liked in the library. Thank you.
/・I found a book I liked in the library. Thank you.
・Grandma called and cheered me up. Thank you.
/・Grandma called and cheered me up. Thank you.
As she continued writing in her diary, *Emma realized something.
/As she continued writing in her diary, *Emma realized something.
“Saying ‘thank you’ isn’t just about words—it’s about finding the feeling.”
/”Saying ‘thank you’ isn’t just about words—it’s about finding the feeling.”
One day at school, her friend Ahmad looked down. *Emma spoke to him.
/One day at school, her friend Ahmad looked down. *Emma spoke to him.
“What’s wrong?”
/”What’s wrong?”
“Yesterday, my mom got mad at me… I just feel really down.”
/”Yesterday, my mom got mad at me… I just feel really down.”
*Emma thought for a moment and said,
/*Emma thought for a moment and said,
“But your mom makes meals for you every day, right? I think that’s amazing.”
/”But your mom makes meals for you every day, right? I think that’s amazing.”
Ahmad looked surprised and smiled a little.
/Ahmad looked surprised and smiled a little.
“You’re right… I haven’t said thank you.”
/”You’re right… I haven’t said thank you.”
That day, *Emma wrote in her diary:
/That day, *Emma wrote in her diary:
Day 5
/Day 5
・I was happy that Ahmad felt better. Thank you.
/・I was happy that Ahmad felt better. Thank you.
・’Thank you’ can cheer up someone’s heart. Thank you.
/・’Thank you’ can cheer up someone’s heart. Thank you.
・Just like the psychology teacher said, maybe it makes the body feel better too.
/・Just like the psychology teacher said, maybe it makes the body feel better too.
The diary became *Emma’s treasure.
/The diary became *Emma’s treasure.
By writing every day, her feelings of gratitude kept growing.
/By writing every day, her feelings of gratitude kept growing.
One day, her mother came into *Emma’s room and said,
/One day, her mother came into *Emma’s room and said,
“Lately, you’ve been saying ‘thank you’ a lot. It makes me happy.”
/”Lately, you’ve been saying ‘thank you’ a lot. It makes me happy.”
*Emma smiled and said,
/*Emma smiled and said,
‘Thank you’ really is a magical word. That’s why I write it in my diary so I don’t forget.”
/’Thank you’ really is a magical word. That’s why I write it in my diary so I don’t forget.”
Her mother hugged *Emma tightly.
/Her mother hugged *Emma tightly.
“That’s a wonderful kind of magic.”
/”That’s a wonderful kind of magic.”
*Emma thought,
/*Emma thought,
“From now on, I’ll keep finding ‘thank yous’. I’ll treasure this magical word.”
/”From now on, I’ll keep finding ‘thank yous’. I’ll treasure this magical word.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. Which of the following is the correct effect of ‘thank you’ mentioned by the psychology teacher?
/Q1. Which of the following is the correct effect of ‘thank you’ mentioned by the psychology teacher?
A. You finish your homework faster
/A. You finish your homework faster
B. Natural killer cells become more active
/B. Natural killer cells become more active
C. It becomes a magic that increases your friends
/C. It becomes a magic that increases your friends
Q2. What did *Emma write in her ‘Thank You Diary’?
/Q2. What did *Emma write in her ‘Thank You Diary’?
A. A record of her daily homework
/A. A record of her daily homework
B. A record of fights with friends
/B. A record of fights with friends
C. A record of things she was grateful for
/C. A record of things she was grateful for
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
Have you ever said “thank you” and made someone happy? When was that?
/Have you ever said “thank you” and made someone happy? When was that?
Have you ever felt grateful for something you usually take for granted? What was it?
/Have you ever felt grateful for something you usually take for granted? What was it?
