Oh, you're one of *those* people.

You know that feeling you get when you sneeze, and no one says "bless you" because that's what you might have grow up to expect? I'd like to believe its the same feeling when you wish someone a happy birthday, yet they don't wish you one back when it's your time. Of course, the big difference between the two is that you'd have to know the person well enough to wish them such, while the former example can be done to a stranger or two. Still, I feel as if they, and other acts in this realm, are connected in a sad way.

But I’m wondering, have people, even the ones you might have considered friends, become so jaded or disconnected, that they can't even acknowledge that for a moment, their existence mattered to another?

Yeah, in some cases we get too overwhelmed with life duties that we can't get to say everything or anything we want, but to take a few measly seconds to say "thank you" or something of that feature seems like a method of torture to one's ego. Of course even to the ego-ridden, interactions of any kind with the other can often risk leading to awkward conversations. You know the ones, where they end with one saying they should meet up for lunch/coffee/misc., but never really mean it.  

I guess it's true what some say, that silence can be better than "B.S." But if one's incapable of telling the truth about whether they truly want to associate with you or not (especially outside the internet), then perhaps they were full of crap to begin with. 

That doesn't justify that you have to discontinue any method of kindness to others, be they friends or strangers. Consider your methods as a way to weed out who’s worth your attention.

If you happen to say “bless you” in one’s moment of nasal turmoil, but don’t give that respect back, let them know about themselves.

If that friendly food-and/or-drink-based meet-up is one-sided, your time is too important to be wasted on empty plans, and they should know that.

If it’s a (close) friend that you feel doesn’t care if your birthday’s coming or gone, yet you have, speak up. You can even take the high road and wish them one. Think of it like a reminder them that you were once somebody to them before they became “famous.”    

In closing, it seems like these little things make up the roots of people to grow into their own embodiment of suck. By telling them who they are in your eyes, it might just make them suck just a little less, but if it doesn’t, then at best you’ve started to respect yourself a little more.

No go on and bless yourself.

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