Day 32: Go and Say Thank You to Someone Who Helped You in the Past

The Idea:

Today’s challenge is to seek out someone who helped you at some point in your life—someone who supported you, believed in you, or showed you kindness when you needed it—and thank them in person. Not with a text, not with a gift—just with your presence and honest words.

Why It’s Good:

Reaching out to someone from your past can stir up nervousness. You may worry that they won’t remember, or that your gratitude will come out awkwardly. But facing that discomfort to express sincere thanks is one of the most powerful ways to practice courage and humility.

This act also gives something deeply meaningful to the other person: confirmation that what they did truly mattered. Many people never know the impact they’ve had. Your words can bring healing, joy, and a sense of purpose to someone who may have quietly shaped your life.

How to Do It:

1. Think of Someone Who Helped You: A teacher, mentor, relative, friend, boss, or even a stranger who made a difference.
2. Reach Out to Arrange a Visit or Meeting: If you can find them, send a message or stop by. Let them know you just want to say hello.
3. Speak Honestly and Specifically: “I’ve thought about how much you helped me back then, and I never really said thank you. It meant more than you know.”
4. Let It Be Simple and Real: You don’t need to explain everything—just speak from the heart and let it land.

Relevant Quotes:

On the power of overdue gratitude:

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

~William Arthur Ward

On honoring those who shaped us:

“No one who achieves success does so without help. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”

~Alfred North Whitehead

On revisiting kindness with courage:

“Sometimes the most important journey is just walking back to someone and saying, ‘Thank you.’”

~Unknown

Takeaway:

Going out of your way to thank someone who helped you is a bold act of grace. It honors your past, uplifts another soul, and shows that your voice is strong enough to carry truth, even across years of silence. That’s real, lasting confidence.