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First Reactions

If you know me in person, you know my first reaction to most things is an attempt at humor, often using sarcasm, which may or may not be kind. I also completely understand the psychology behind me continuous use of humor when showing gratitude and this is due to the discomfort I get from others doing for me. I should add, I recently wrote a social media post about the constant and consistent misuse of thankfulness, gratefulness, and the oft-misused term of being blessed. I realize how we react to things, especially when people do for us, says more about who we are than any other factor. Our first reactions speak volumes and this is why, if we use humor or mocking irreverence, it's important that we know our audience. I don't always do this successfully, especially when I am truly thankful (not grateful). 

The thing that has struck me in my life recently is those who seem to go the extra mile to show, not only no thankfulness or gratitude, but to complain about the one or few things you didn't do. I won't get into specifics, because these people also fall into the category of those who cannot point their own judgemental views into the mirror, nor do they have the ability to take their own brand of criticism from others. What struck me recently was the amount of time someone was willing to complain, both of my efforts and those of others to simplify their lives. Their critique, plus their need for an explanation, not only took time, but it took longer than their own efforts would have taken, should they have chosen to restore one object to the place it had been removed (to clean it). While this reaction was not only not a surprise, but expected, it made me think of how painfully unaware people are of how others perceive them. There was no humor in this man's reaction, in fact, it has dawned on me, from previous experiences, seeing videos, photos, and simply hearing stories, that there is no humor, maybe not even joy in this person's life. It's just one series of complaints, in a life filled with others doing for him, that will never end. In a moment of what should have been a feeling of anger, at the very least frustration, I simply felt sadness for this person, because I realized, this complaint, criticism, and critique of favor, is all that he has. It was this that made me realize, maybe, despite seemingly having far less, it is I who is blessed. 

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