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Then all of a sudden, I'll do something that's a little mushy like write a letter to someone thanking them for something or just being really direct and straightforward with someone who is not so straightforward, and then they don't respond or respond in a very negative way.
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Sarah that is a wonderful thing to do. I think you may be getting negative responses because people are just not used to that kind of graciousness and don't know how to respond.
The truth is you can never know why people respond the way they do. Everyone has their insecurities and quirks, and the outside world only gets to see a tiny fraction of what goes on in a person's head.
So make a point of never assuming that you know what they're thinking. If you do, you will mistake your own thoughts for theirs, and you will feel you are being treated unfairly.
Be all means, continue to show admiration and gratitude to people but
do not expect anything in return. That should not be the reason you do it. In all likelihood, they want to reciprocate, but they are too self-conscious or caught off guard to do so. Don't worry about it.
There is a shortage of straightforwardness and reaching out to others in the world... don't stop!
