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Thank a Soldier

Expressing your gratitude can help you both feel more positive

By

Staying Sharp

Updated May 20, 2024

Updated May 20, 2024

A female soldier with two young girls on a patio

Peathegee Inc/Getty Images

Quick Win

A simple thank you note can boost a service member’s mood while improving your outlook, too.

Try This Today

Write a thank-you card or letter to a military person abroad.
Begin your letter “Dear Service Member,” and keep your message positive and light. Avoid personal or political topics that you wouldn’t discuss with strangers. You might emphasize your appreciation, or if you are a veteran, you could share some of your better memories and experiences.
Contact your local USO, Operation Gratitude or a local veterans’ facility to have your letter forwarded to a member of the military.

Why

It only takes a moment to extend some kindness to a U.S. service member who is overseas and far from home, but the results can be powerful. “Writing letters to soldiers can .. provide a sense of purpose and meaning for the sender, according to Operation: Care and Comfort. Expressing gratitude, in general, can increase feelings of happiness and well-being, according to a 2018 white paper by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.

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