Something happened at my workplace recently and I realised that the path from gratitude to entitlement is shorter than I thought.
One lady had car trouble and was offered a ride home by her colleague, a guy. She was so grateful and kept thanking him, even bought him coffee the next morning to show her appreciation.
A week later, her car was still in the mechanic workshop, so he gave her another lift. This time she thanked him, but it wasn’t quite the same spark of gratitude. It felt more like, thanks, I knew you’d come through.
Soon, she started waiting by his desk at the end of every shift. No text, no question, just the assumption that he’d drive her. She didn’t bother exploring bus routes or asking anyone else, because he had it covered. What began as kindness had quietly turned into his plan.
One Friday, he mentioned he couldn’t give her a ride because he had dinner plans. Instead of understanding, she frowned and said, Well, how am I supposed to get home then?
That was the moment he realised what had happened. His generosity, which started as a favour, had slowly morphed into her expectation, then her reliance, and finally her sense of entitlement.
This kind of shift happens everywhere, between friends, coworkers, and even in families, and a lot of people are guilty of it, either carelessly or intentionally.
The first thank you is usually genuine. But if kindness isn’t balanced with boundaries, it can turn into something else entirely. From appreciation, to expectation, to dependency, and to entitlement.
Simple Life Lessons for Kids & Young Adults.
Say thank you every time. Gratitude keeps kindness alive.
Don’t lean so much on others that you forget your own strength.
Help is a gift, not a guarantee.
When people stop helping, don’t get mad, ask, How can I do this myself?
Respect the person, not just the favour.
Appreciate help, but don’t expect it always.
Learn from others instead of leaning on them too much.
The greatest gift is not being helped, but being taught how to help yourself.
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
