This post is about UNthankfulness. Is that a word? I have no idea, I just know that it's what I want to discuss today. You know unthankfulness - it's when someone never bothers to thank someone else for things done. It could be a chore, attending an event, giving a gift, whatever. It happens all the time, and it boggles the mind that some people can be so selfish and unkind.
Example 1 - A friend in high school started chatting with me again a few years ago when she decided that she'd like to try dating someone from HS again. They had dated while we were in HS but broken up (I think she broke up with him). Apparently, they had both thought a lot about each other in the ensuing years, to the point that he (let's call him Art) would give up pretty much anything just to see her (let's call her Mary). Mary lived out of state, while Art still lived where we grew up, so Art literally drove 1000 miles to see Mary one weekend. She was hesitant to see him again, afraid of the old feelings that might be there, but I encouraged her to just visit. What could it hurt if they were just friends? She ended up talking to me a lot during that early phase of dating him again. Art ended up proposing, and Mary said yes, so then there was the invariable chats about weddings, moving, combining lives, etc. I was thrilled for her! For her wedding to Art, I got them something really nice off their registry and had it shipped to them. They married and I've heard about two peeps from Mary since. No thank you for the wedding gift, no thank you for your help talking things through, nothing. 1.5 years on, I'm beginning to wonder why the heck I helped her out in the first place. I feel used.
Example 2 - Whenever I offer to make some food item for anyone (i.e. husband, in-laws, etc.), they always turn me down. Or, if they don't turn me down, they say something vague like "oh, it's not necessary, unless you want to." Then, if I do end up making something (time, energy, ingredients, money, etc.), they only eat it out of politeness. It really makes me want to cry. If I suck as a cook/baker, then please tell me. Otherwise, why are you being so awful to me about food?!?
Example 3 - My girls beg and beg and beg me to get a Dora the Explorer book at the bookstore. I finally relent, get it for them, and they tear/rip out pages within the hour, even with supervision. *rage*
What kind of examples of un-thankfulness have you run into? How does it make you feel? What do you do about it? How do you try to make sure it doesn't happen again? How do you avoid the invariable feeling of worthlessness when it happens?
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