Gratitude has become a catchphrase in the world of self help and self care. As a key concept in a booming global wellness industry, practicing gratitude - through mindfulness, journaling and verbal and written social gestures - has been found to boost mental health. As reported by Psychology Today, gratitude also has attendant physical benefits, as it tends to go ‘hand in hand’ with healthier habits such as exercise and better nutrition, promoting an overall healthier lifestyle which includes more ‘meaningful connections with others.’

I have my GCSE and A Level students to thank for this practice being on my mind. I was fortunate to receive - in the aftermath of an incredibly challenging year in education - a number of handwritten ‘thank you’ cards from students, conveying meaningful messages of gratitude for the knowledge, skills and support they feel I gave them. To say these notes make the effort worthwhile is an understatement: It means everything, as an educator, to know your students feel they have benefited from your teaching - and to hear it from them.

In a response that may seem unnecessary, I will now set about thanking those students for their thanks. I do this to reinforce - in a time of vanishing courtesies and civilities - my appreciation of them as students and of their thoughtfulness. I do it as a teacher and as a communicator, to reinforce the importance of this refined gesture and social grace, as it conveys kindness, respect, goodwill and gratitude to others in the world.