When you do something nice for a friend or family member, oftentimes they’ll be happy and say thank you. That thank you makes you feel good, doesn’t it? Knowing that you’ve made someone happy, it often makes you feel happy as well. But if you do something for someone, and they don’t thank you, it can make you feel like that wasn’t important to them. That what you did wasn’t important and a waste of your time. 

You might think I’m looking too deep into this, and that it’s not that complex. But why would you do something for someone if they don’t care about it? A simple thank you can make someone feel appreciated, even if it’s something simple like holding the door open for someone. It might be something that can make someone’s day even a little bit better. That’s why thank yous are so important. Someone could just be having a terrible day and saying thank you for their act of kindness despite their day can help them feel better. 

According to Psychology Today, thank yous are a way to show that we as a human race all depend on each other. We rely on each other for things, even something small like borrowing a pencil, or holding the door open. A thank you is like an acknowledgement of that connection that we share as a population. Like if you have a potato at a restaurant, someone has to serve it to you. That person had to get it from the cook, the cook from the supplier, and so on.

Oftentimes, saying thank you is considered good manners as well. Say you’re over at a friend’s house for the first time. This could be the first time you meet their parents, and they serve you a big dinner. It may leave a lasting impression on them about you. Even a simple thank you would be considered good manners, which might make them have a good impression on you. 

Hopefully, you say thank you to people. If not, give them some form of acknowledgement to make sure that they know you see them. We’re all in this world together, and whether we like someone or not, it’s important to tell them thank you for the small things they’ve done for you.