Thanks & Giving: The Forgotten Human Superpower
We are starving.
Not just for food—though, heartbreakingly, many still are.
Not for time—though we chase it like it’s always slipping away.
No, our hunger runs deeper.
We are starving for connection.
For meaning.
For something tangible to hold on to in a world that often feels hollow.
And here’s the hard truth:
We’ve forgotten how to feed that hunger.
We say “thank you” on autopilot.
Thanks for the coffee.
Thanks for the text.
Thanks for the meeting.
But does it mean anything?
Does it stir the soul, spark recognition, and leave a warmth in its wake?
Or is it just noise—one more polite phrase in a world too busy to look up?
We’ve Lost the Art of Thanks and Giving.
We live in a culture fluent in efficiency but impoverished in meaning.
We know how to get, hustle, and accumulate.
But we’ve lost touch with the quiet power of giving.
And even more so with the courage it takes to receive.
We’re flailing.
Not because we don’t care—but because we’ve forgotten how to show it.
Gratitude has become a reflex.
Giving has become a performance.
And in the process, we’ve hollowed out two of the most beautiful, most healing human expressions we have.
We talk about self-care like it’s a bath bomb and a scented candle.
But let’s tell the truth:
soul care. Gratitude and generosity are the original soul-care. And right now, the world is aching for both.
What It Means to Give
To give isn’t to hand someone a thing.
It’s to look them in the eyes and say:
I see you. You matter. I want your burden to be lighter because I’m here.
Faithful giving isn’t flashy.
It’s intimate. Vulnerable. Quiet.
It’s choosing empathy over ego—presence over performance.
Sometimes, giving means not offering advice but simply sitting with someone in their pain.
Sometimes, it means showing up again—and again—without needing a thank-you or a gold star.
The most radical gift you can offer?
Your full presence.
Unrushed. Undistracted. Unconditional.
When was the last time you gave that?
What It Truly Means to Thank
Real thanks isn’t transactional—it’s transformational.
It’s what happens when your heart recognizes beauty, effort, or love in another person—and pauses to name it.
But here’s what few dare to say:
Receiving thanks is just as powerful.
Maybe even harder.
How many of us brush off compliments?
How often do we deflect kindness because it feels too tender to bear?
We must learn to receive thanks with open hands and a soft heart.
Because you can’t give what you don’t believe you’re worthy of receiving.
And when you let it in—really let it in—it changes you.
It roots you. It reminds you: You are seen. You are valued. You belong.
Thanks and Giving: Two Sides of the Same Sacred Coin
This is where the magic lives.
Thanks without giving? Hollow.
Giving without thanks? Empty.
But when both are present—freely, vulnerably, without expectation—we awaken something ancient. Something deep in our bones remembers:
We were never meant to do this life alone.
We belong to each other.
And we are made whole, not by what we keep, but by what we share.
Gratitude is not just a virtue; it’s a powerful force that can spark a spiritual revolution in our lives and the world around us.
So What Can You Do?
Don’t wait for Thanksgiving.
Start now. Start small. Start real.
1. Say Thanks As You Mean It
Instead of a quick “thanks,” try this:
“Thank you for taking the time to help me with my project—your insights really opened my eyes.” Be specific. Be sincere. Let your gratitude carry weight.
2. Give Beyond the Obvious
- Yes, donate money if you can.
- But also give your time.
- Your honesty.
- Your forgiveness.
- Your silence.
- Your willingness to be wrong.
- These are the gifts the world needs most.
3. Receive with Open Hands
- Let yourself be loved.
- Let others show up for you.
- Let them thank you without brushing it off.
- It’s not weakness—it’s grace.
- And it gives them the gift of giving.
By making gratitude and giving a part of our daily practice, we can actively shape our lives and contribute to a more empathetic and connected world.
Every day, ask yourself:
- What did I give?
- What did I receive?
- Write it down. Reflect.
Let that simple ritual soften you. Open you. Heal you.
A Revolution in Disguise
This isn’t lightweight advice… It’s the kind of truth that sits with you, challenges you, and slowly changes you.
This is how we save ourselves.
This is how we save each other.
The quiet, radical act of Thanks and Giving heals wounds.
- It bridges divides.
- It reawakens empathy in a world that desperately needs it.
Do you want to live a truly holistic life?
Start here.
Not with supplements or expensive retreats (though they have their place).
Start with the most ancient, most accessible medicine we have:
Gratitude. Generosity. Connection.
Not because it’s November.
But because it’s what makes us human.
Because it’s what makes us whole.
“Gratitude and generosity are the original soul-care. And right now, the world is aching for both.” “When we allow both thanks and giving to exist—freely, vulnerably, and without agenda—we activate something ancient.” “The most radical gift you can offer someone is your full presence.” -Susan Shatzer
- Connect with our Executive Writer, Susan Shatzer
- More articles from our Executive Contributor, Susan Shatzer