Appreciation

I'm not sure how to share my opinion on this topic without sounding like a hypocrite. I guess it would be best that I explain how I personally show gratitude. I say thank you often. I say it so often that I feel like the words have lost their meaning. When someone opens a door for me, when someone moves out of my way at the grocery store, when I ask someone to do something for me; I start with 'Please and Thank You' and when the task is complete, I say 'Thank You' again. If saying the words isn't enough, I will write them down... a personalized message, a card, a text, a social media post, a blog post, or an email.

Those two words of appreciation is all I expect in return - verbally or written. It's acknowledgement for when I take time out my day to do something for someone else. Out of the kindness of my heart, I put someone else's needs or wants before my own. I will spend my hard-earned dollars on putting a smile on someone's face and a simple 'Thank You' can be the hardest spoken phrase in the English language (maybe tied for 1st place with 'I'm sorry' but that's a whole other blog topic). I find Generation Z to be among the worst group for showing appreciation without being reminded or constantly nagged to do so. Of my personal opinion, Gen Z-ers are horrible with manners and social graces. It's not all of them, there are exceptions to the rule. In their defensive, I do not believe it is done on purpose. I find, when I am talking to their age group, people born between 1995 and 2015, that they feel misunderstood by almost every generation except their own. They are smart, and fast learners with a capacity for technology that baffles me. They seem to think we are mind readers, or that everything is obvious, they shouldn't have to explain themselves. When they are asked to put their thoughts or feelings into sentences, the reaction is defensive or worse, full of attitude. I remember being a bratty teenager but I grew out of it. I thought it was just a phase that every adolescent went through but I don't think that's true anymore. I was at CVS pharmacy yesterday and the cashier was at least 25 years old and there was no need for her to say 'duh' when I asked her if she could break a $50 bill for my $3.50 purchase. I used to love the saying, "be the change you want to see in the world", but I bet Ghandi didn't think future generations would be satisfied with less interpersonal skills and more selfies.