So there’s this tweet going around—one of those that quietly exposes a larger problem nobody really wants to talk about. A guy shared that he paid a lady’s house rent. A whole house rent. Now, I don’t care who you are, that’s a big deal. That’s not pocket change. That’s someone stepping in during what’s probably a pretty stressful time.
And her response? Just… “thank you.”
Now before you say, “Well, at least she said thank you,” let’s be real for a second. You can say thank you and still not actually be grateful. We’ve all seen it—the kind of dry, dismissive “thanks” that feels more like an automatic response than genuine appreciation. It’s the kind you give when someone passes the salt, not when someone helps you keep a roof over your head.
And that’s the issue. Gratitude is slowly becoming more and more hollow these days. It’s not just about saying the words. It’s about meaning them. Feeling them. Letting them carry the weight of what someone actually did for you.
But what we’re seeing more of, especially on social media, is a growing sense of entitlement. People don’t say thank you because they’re deeply moved. They say it like they’re ticking off a box. Or worse—like you were supposed to help them in the first place, and now they’re just being polite. Barely.
When did we start treating acts of kindness like they were obligations? Like help is something we’re owed instead of something we receive with humility?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: some people only appreciate help when it comes with strings attached. When it’s transactional. When it benefits them in a way they can measure. But when someone shows up for them in a real, selfless way? They don’t even know how to process it. Because deep down, they’ve started expecting it. And expected help rarely gets appreciated.
It’s wild because real gratitude isn’t even that hard. You don’t have to fall on your knees and cry (unless you want to). You don’t need to overdo it. But your response should match the weight of what was done for you. Sometimes that looks like a thoughtful message. A follow-up. A check-in down the line to say, “Hey, I still remember what you did for me. Thank you again.” That’s real. That’s memorable. That’s human.
But a casual “thanks” with no depth? No warmth? No follow-through? That just screams I didn’t really care or worse, you owed me that. And honestly, no one owes you anything.
We’ve got to do better. Not just for the people who help us, but for ourselves. Gratitude softens you. It keeps you grounded. It reminds you that you’re not doing life alone—and that when someone shows up for you, especially when they didn’t have to, that’s a moment to hold on to, not brush off.
So next time someone does something meaningful for you—big or small—don’t just say thank you. Mean it. Show it. Let it be felt. Because “thank you” should never feel like an afterthought.
