Heavy post title huh? But I saw pictures on a blog the other day that I knew within a millisecond would gladden the heart of a blogfriend on the other side of the world so I sent him the link.
I was right, he did love the crafty goodness I pointed at him and told me he had favourited the site. Now I want to share this ace piece of info with the friend who lead me to the pictures but I don't want
a) her to feel like I am being a bossy old moo who 'clunks' names.
b) put any pressure on the creator of said fabulous crafty goodness by knowing random strangers in a different hemisphere are oohing and aahing over her work.
and
c) anyone to think I am anticipating thanks and appreciation
At the same time I want the creator to know how well received the crafty goodness was.
On a lesser scale it is the same situation when handing over a baby knit recently. It was for a friend's brand new nephew. No one asked me to do it, I just wanted to make something small bc all babies should be welcomed by as many people as possible. I winged the sizing a bit and wanted to check with the proud aunt today that things fitted. She was effusive in her praise and gratitude and I almost felt like there was an air of me fishing for the compliment.
Do we ever really do things out of the goodness of our hearts or is there always a payoff, even if it is just quietly feeling good about our act/ion?
I often do things just because I want to. Generally there is just a quick thanks, effusive or not and then that is it. I get my kicks from that quick smile. I don't think that is altruistic. We should say thankyou. We should be grateful if someone gives or does something for us. Our mothers would be shocked if we didn't/weren't. So why shouldn't we enjoy and even expect that sort of result when we do something for another? Cherrie
ReplyDeleteI love to make things and give little surprise gifts, but then I'm always embarrassed when someone makes a fuss over it. I feel like they think I did it just for the attention or something. Doing things for others can often be very sticky!
ReplyDeleteWow thats heavy!! I do things just because i want to - i love making presents! Xxxx
ReplyDeleteWould we perform acts of altruism at all if there was no quiet glow?
ReplyDeleteIf it is quiet, internal and not boastful then I think that is as it is meant to be.
I think that quiet little internal glow of pleasure we get when we make a random act of kindess is okay... because it happens whether we get thanked or not.
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