How do you say “Thank you” in your language?

Katherine Lizardo

Feb 12 (edited) • 🥳Wins

Instead of saying “sorry"...Now, I say “Thank you.”

I used to say sorry for everything…even in situations where saying sorry didn’t make sense. 🤦‍♀️

For example, I used to say sorry when:

I dropped something, like a pen. (“Oppss! Sorry!)
I passed by people. (“excuse me” would have been more appropriate)
I was late. (“Sorry, traffic was bad because of a car accident.”)
I was taking time getting my stuff together. (“Sorry, I’m almost done.”)
I was asking for something I needed. (“Sorry, but can I have a glass of water, please?”)
My area was messy. (“Sorry, it’s a mess.”)
And more!

I even started writing “sorry” in texts and emails.

Others even started telling me that I said “sorry” a lot. And I responded, “Sorry!” 🤦‍♀️

Then, I started learning about self-compassion AND actually implemented it in my life, family, and business.

That’s when I realized something: I was saying sorry as a placeholder.

What do I mean?

Because I grew up saying sorry for the consequences of my ADHD symptoms (procrastination, tardiness, messiness, anger issues, etc.), I got so used to saying it so many times that it became a habit and a people-pleasing tendency.

Most importantly, it became my INSTINCTIVE response for self-preservation—to protect myself from negative feelings.

And since “sorry” became my protective word…like an armor I can put on…it became the word I’d use when I felt uncomfortable...that’s why that word became a placeholder for other words that would have been more appropriate. Hence the examples above. ☝️

When I realized WHY I was using the word sorry that way, that was when I could shift my mindset and actions.

And since I’m using sorry as a placeholder, I needed a different word instead. That’s when I started saying “Thank you.”

👉 Now, in response to the consequences of my ADHD, I say “Thank you” instead.

For example, when I’m late or it’s taking me too long to do something, I say, “Thank you for waiting for me patiently.”

This sentence alone is POWERFUL.

Why? When I say it to the person who’s irritated because I’m late, it diffuses their negative emotions.

That’s because my words shift their focus from me to themselves. They start recognizing their good trait (patience), which I recognized as well, that’s why I pointed it out in the first place.

And I’m being truthful (that’s the key!) — because they would have left already if they were not patient enough to wait.

That’s how I stopped saying sorry for my ADHD — and started thanking people who tried to understand, even if they didn't know it. 💞

I invite you to try it today and tomorrow. Then post here how it felt...how it went. I’m curious to know!

—————

🔥 BONUS: Here’s a video I created for you on how to pronounce “Thank you” in Tagalog (my first language):

“Salamat”

And to say it to someone older than you to show respect, you say:

“Salamat po.”

How do you say “Thank you” in your language?

If you can record a video on how to pronounce it, even better!!! So I can practice it. 😊

Thank you, and I appreciate you. 🙏

P.S. The "Thank You" video was inspired by