When you see someone who needs help, a friend you needs a helping hand, you do it because your a nice person.
When you see something a person like and buy it for them as a gift or when you happen to stumble along something a friend has been searching for and get it for them, you do it out of friendliness.
Right?
But my question is...is it always that simple, that pure? Is there never that tinge, that feeling that yes you do it because your nice, friendly and a good person but also you do it out for praise or respect even?
Maybe you don't so something because you seek praise, but be honest, when you give someone a gift and they just take it without saying thank you, doesn't it feel weird? Doesn't it feel almost as if they are implying they expected you to do what you did or give them what you did? It feels like there are unappreciative? The same goes for if you did someone a favor and they don't seem to show even the slightest gratitude. It's times like these when I question is it that I do things because I want the praise, thanks, the extra boost of morale....or is it just that when I don't get a thanks or a hug or a smile SOMETHING, that it FEELS as if they deserved it.
It's hard to tell, and of course I'd like to say the latter is true, but who knows. I have two points, one from the giving end and the other for the receiving end. For the GIVER if you ever do anything or give anything to someone do it because YOU want to regardless of how you think they'll react to it. Do it because by doing so, you think it will benefit them or make them happy in some way. And remember that people aren't always as expressive as you like and may not show how much they appreciate what you did or like what you have them. Basically don't get caught up in trying to understand what is going on in their head because that'll just drive you crazy. All you can do is control your actions and your thoughts. For the RECEIVER realize that it is hard for people to be intuitive and realize that givers often had you in mind. Be grateful that some one thought to do something for you or buy something for you, even if it isn't something you wanted or something you really asked for. It's the thought that counts right? So if anything remember to give a polite thank you or a smile because sometimes that really makes all the difference.
In the spirit of the holidays a time to cherish time with friend and family and lets me a honest a time of consumerism remember don't just give to give but give for a purpose and with thought and remember to always have a thank you stored a way just in case.
prompted by: holiday shopping
