Something that I recently added to my own Living To-Do List is to offer gratitude to the people who have really made a difference in my life. And boy is that a lot of people! From teachers to relatives, hospital staff to past employers, it’s sure to be a list that will keep growing throughout my life, even as I check each person off.

Most of us do say thank-you, if nothing else as a simple gesture of good manners. We say it to our waitress, our flight attendant, our spouse… or do we? Try counting the number of times you say a simple “thank you” each day and see what you come up with.

But how many of us give an actual deep, heartfelt gesture of gratitude? That sounds like a hefty order, but to be meaningful it doesn’t have to be expensive or huge. I poured my heart out into a simply-designed thank-you card for each and every nurse and doctor on my daughter’s—and my own—medical team once we were finally home from the hospital, and I think that worked out well. Here are some other ways to pause and give thanks.

• Write a letter. You don’t have to have cardstock or fancy stationary at home to make a gesture of thanks. Simply pour out everything you feel for the person on paper. Include specific examples and how you felt at the time. It doesn’t have to be poetry—it just has to come from you.
• Leave a little note. I like to leave little notes about my waitress on the bill if we’ve received exceptional service. I don’t know if it helps them get a raise or anything, but I hope they at least get a smile and feel pride for a job well done.
• Send a gift. Again, this doesn’t have to be expensive. How about a mason jar full of fresh flowers from your garden? Maybe a family photo? We put together a fun basket for my daughter’s teachers last year of things we mostly had around the house—books, glue sticks, etc.—and they loved it.

Who could you thank today? A music teacher who inspired you, a coach who believed in you, a boss who pushed you far and made you hate him—until you realized that he taught you a lot? Make a list of five people you could thank today and start on the first one. Your list may grow exponentially by the end of the week!