frustration

I'm frustrated again. This seems to be a recurring theme for situations where I have no control. What is it with people not having the decency, courtesy of saying 'thank you'. I gave 2 donations to the 3day breast cancer walk for 2 firefighters that I met during the walk. I never got an acknowledgment of any sort for either one of them. Then I donated to a friend who biked in a race benefiting MS. No thank you at all. What are people thinking? I find it very rude. At least a quick email 'thank you' would have been nice.

Then another source of frustration is when an email is sent that clearly asks for a reply and none is given. I take that personally, as though what I asked about doesn't matter and that I am not relevant or important enough. If I had called that same person on the phone and asked them the questions I did in an email would they sit in silence? That's in effect what they are doing by not replying. Pisses me off.

what has happened to gratitude?

I am frustrated by the general lack of gratitude these days. Why can't people be grateful for the kindness of others, things done for them, given to them and acknowledge it? Sometimes a simple 'thank you' is all it takes. Is it because people feel they are entitled to these things and therefore acknowledgment is unnecessary? This line of thinking perplexes me.

I was raised that you say 'thank you' to those that have done something for you or given you something. Saying thank you engenders good feeling and mutual respect. I think it's like a slap in the face when kindness and/or generosity has been bestowed upon someone else and no gratitude is expressed. In situations like this it makes me question why I did something in the first place. I do not expect someone to reciprocate in the same way I do (not everyone has the same financial means, values and morals) however a 'thank you' is universal and is recognition that you appreciated what was given/done to you.

Maybe I shouldn't do nice things anymore for people. I like giving and I like doing nice things but for people to assume I will do these things for all time to come and that they are entitled to these things is sad. It makes me not want to do nice things anymore. I am grateful that I have time and money to do nice things for people, perhaps it's time I focus my gifts on a different set of people and organizations, focus them on people that appreciate them.

Here is one example from the home front. I recently purchased a family member a new cell phone. There were some problems with the ordering and delivery of it, so it took multiple phone calls and trips to the store. I spent 2 extra hours dealing with it and all I got was snappy responses in the car ride to Moscow. No thank you, no expression of gratitude....why? I have always expected my children to write or say thank you's where appropriate. How come with family members it's different? Do they think because they are family a thank you isn't necessary? My time is valuable, I didn't want to make an extra trip to Moscow to resolve the phone issue, but I did. Next time I probably won't. I am not going to let people take advantage of me and abuse my generosity. This is only one example...there are others. I'm frustrated by all this, can you tell? Oh, by the way...it's never to late to say Thank You.

"Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing."

~ Zig Ziglar