Many years ago, Jo-Ann Roberts on CBC Radio, when someone said "Thank you" to her would reply, "You're welcome."
It was unusual, because, most people, when thanked, reply, "Thank you" or "My pleasure" or "No worries" or "Don't mention it" etc.
I began to realize, listening to Jo-Ann's simple "You're welcome" in different situations, that such a response was most worthwhile. It accepts the thanks. It benefits both the thanker and the thankee. Ever since I tend to accept thanks with "You're welcome."
This all came to mind a few days ago, again because of CBC, when an interviewer was thanking three candidtates in the upcoming municipal elections. "Thanks for having me", "It was my pleasure", "You're welcome". were the three responses. The third 'got my vote' - at least for the interview; I 'liked' what I heard. And I wondered why more people didn't "accept thanks".
The same day, when a man held the door open for me at the bank and I thanked him he said "You're welcome." Same thing happened when a woman told me my scarf was dragging a bit on the ground and I thanked her. "You're welcome". And then again yesterday: the woman ahead of me at the library book- return shute saw that I had only a few books while she had two kids and two bags full of books and she told me to go ahead and responded to my "Thanks!" with "You're welcome".
Thanks, Jo-Ann!
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