The Power of Gratitude
Monica Castanys We teach kids to say "please" and "thank you" right from the start. We know all too well that awkward exchange with a child where their parent prods and asks "what do you say?" over and over until the kid finally mumbles a thanks. Many of us say thank you as a default, the same way we practice the "how are you" "I'm good, how are you" exchange. It's not that we really mean it, but that it's a social norm that we participate in, and it is generally considered good manners. Default gratitude is expected. Even if you don't really like the service at the restaurant, you're expected to thank your waiter. Even if you think the sweater your grandma gave you for Christmas is actually really ugly, your mom hands you the phone to call and say thanks. To be fair, default gratitude is not all bad. It shows that you are well-mannered and that you have an understanding of the way social interactions and expectat...
