It feels like these days, people only say thank you for one of four reasons: one, they want something from you. Two, they feel like they are obligated to do so. Three, they feel as though there may be repercussions for not. Four, the more seldom one, they genuinely mean it. I feel like these days, saying ‘thank you’ is more of a knee-jerk response rather than meaning something genuine.
When I experience kindness, no matter if it were to be even the smallest gesture, I always am sure to express how grateful I am for it. If I’m having a bad day and someone just complimented my shirt, I will ensure to slip in a “you don’t know how much that means,” when the timing is right.
I feel like sometimes these things are overlooked as something that should be crafted — maybe that’s the writer in me — rather than slathered on like ketchup on fries.
I think the opportunity to use language to express your full gratitude towards something (when you mean it) is a beautiful thing. Thank you notes have even been thrown to the wayside in some cases, despite the concept of a short note and a card should honestly be enough as is.
Those who have helped lift you to the spot where you stand honestly deserve acknowledgement, especially if they have been there to support you time and time again.
Without this expression, it truly shows what your true motives are, rather than just being something that could be as simple as “thank you for your time,” or “thank you for your help.”
Sort of like my prior writing about kind gestures, these things often seem to have a double-edged sword that seems to be forgotten. “If I help you, will there be something for me?” is often a sentiment that makes people fearful of one another. Personal gain, as a subject, has no room to fit these topics, especially when it comes to human decency.
