Just Tell Them

My recent star struck moment

Years ago, while on Spring Break in Death Valley, I picked up the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It was one of those easy-to-read memoirs about a writer trying to create more happiness, meaning, and intentionality in her everyday life.

I loved the book.

My kids were still little then. Life was very full. I wasn’t unhappy, but I also wasn’t fully awake to my own life. The book sparked something in me, and as per usual, I fell down the Gretchen Rubin vortex.

What else had she written? How else could I learn from her?

More books. Podcasts. YouTube videos. Interviews. Even journals and little quotes from her became part of my world. Over the years, I became so familiar with Gretchen that I almost felt like I knew her — her routines, her habits, the stories she shared about her family and life.

So when I saw her and her husband having breakfast two tables away from us a few days ago, I naturally blurted out: “It’s Gretchen Rubin!”

My family had no idea who she was. But after I shared her bio and my brother did some Googling, they appreciated the gravitas of our neighboring diner.

My impulse was to dash over immediately and introduce myself, but I waited a few minutes for my nerves to settle. When her husband stepped away from the table for a moment, I casually walked over.

“Hi, Gretchen,” I said. “My name is Kit. You don’t know me, but I’ve followed your work for years. Your books and podcasts changed my life — and the lives of many of my patients and clients too. I just wanted to thank you for all you do.”

“Oh my gosh,” she said, taking my hand warmly, “thank you so much. That means so much to me.”

We exchanged more pleasantries — why we were both there, our kids graduating and moving through these big life transitions, all of it. The interaction felt surprisingly intimate — not like an exchange between a famous writer and one of her many readers, but simply between two humans whose lives had quietly touched long before meeting in person.

I came back to our table fully satisfied with the encounter. No photo taken, but the moment felt etched into my memory.

Breakfast continued as normal until I saw Gretchen and her husband walking toward our table.

“I wanted to congratulate you all on your grandchildren’s achievements! Kit said you came here from Thailand?! That’s amazing!” she said before introducing us to her husband.

A few more exchanges followed before they walked away.

“Well, that was lovely,” I said out loud.

Because it really was.

What stayed with me most was how meaningful it is to express gratitude openly. To tell people that what they created, offered, or shared mattered to you. I was grateful simply to have the chance to tell her how deeply her work impacted both me and my community.

The fact that she came back to acknowledge my family in return — when she absolutely didn’t have to — felt like an unexpected gift.

Two humans, seeing each other. So simple, yet so significant.

I am here today to encourage you to tell the people in your life how much they matter to you. How they may have touched some part of your wellbeing, big or small.

Famous or not.
Public or private.

You never know how deeply a small act of acknowledgment might land.

Maybe it simply brightens their day.
Maybe it stays with them far longer than you realize.

JUST TELL THEM.

It matters more than you think.

You matter too — more than you know.

Thank you for being here.

Love,

xoxo
Dr. Kit

P.S. I am still on the road for the rest of May. Upon my return in June, I will have private appointments available to help you reset your Qi!

You can make your appointment here.

In addition, I will be offering community acupuncture again at OSU Integrative Health on Monday afternoons.

This is an affordable way to receive acupuncture treatments in a relaxing, community setting. Please call the office directly to make your appointment. 614-293-9777

P.P.S. Know someone who might like this message? Please share it with them!