Appropriate Attire

I think I’m a bit of a thank you whore.
Well, maybe whore is a harsh word, but I say, “thank you” a lot and I’m wondering why it feels so shallow lately. I should be more selective and authentic in my dispensing of gratitude. It’s possible I have cheapened the phrase.
I instinctively tack it on at the end of emails. There are times I catch myself typing “thank you” and then backing it out because, after reading the content of the email, there’s absolutely no reason for me to be thanking anyone. I say it smiling when I’m handed my tea or someone holds the door. In the past, I’ve said thank you when I was the one doing for another or even when I’ve been given bad news. It’s cursory and polite.
Thank you has become a standard, token response. Sort of like when someone asks, “How are you today?” I always respond with “I’m good,” whether I’m good or not. Actually, I could be pretty miserable and I’m certainly not sharing that with the woman at the carwash, so I just say, “I’m good” and then I follow it up with . . . you guessed it, “thank you.”
So, if “thank you” has become this auto response, if I say it all the time without even thinking or out of obligation, is it the same as being thankful? I suppose I’m grateful that the woman gave me a receipt or that the person in front of me didn’t let the door slam in my face. I’m thankful, but I would say it even if I wasn’t, it’s generic, expected and it doesn’t feel the same as being genuinely thankful.
Thanksgiving is tomorrow. After a little self analysis, I have discovered that when I’m honestly trying to tell someone that I’m thankful for a gesture or deed, I say, “thank you so much” or “I really appreciate this, thank you so much.”
I add the “so,” and in my world, that must make it “for real.”
It’s as if I think people have been drinking my “thank you” for so long they have built up a tolerance, so when I’m serious, when I want to say, “What you’ve done is important and I’m grateful,” I add the “so”. The “so” is that little shot of sincerity.
The other day, I asked someone how he was doing, not because I particularly cared, but because he had asked me and I felt obligated to ask back. His response was, “Eh, I’m getting by.” Nice!
He seems like a no nonsense, non-thank you whore, kind of guy.
My thoughts from the laundry room. Thanks for Waking Me.
crazy life expression good choices life propaganda thankful culture gratitude life self expression thankful thoughts whatever
Hey….THANK YOU!
In all caps is something right ??? LOL 😉
All caps…hmmm, not sure what that means.
Haha! I do the same thing. I always wonder why I thank the grocery checker after she hands me the receipt.
I’m always thanking people, but I don’t think it’s lost it’s meaning. It’s polite and nice and if someone said it to me I’d feel good about it. So you know, I thank people when they do something for me.