Friday, September 19, 2025

Beyond Dinner: Showing True Appreciation

In the bustling society, everyone encounters benefactors to varying degrees.

Among them are those who pull us out of life's quagmire, and some help us dispel the fog before our eyes.

To repay kindness, we usually choose to treat them to a meal or give gifts.

But do those who are capable of helping us really care about a meal or a gift?

Undoubtedly, the answer is no, just as the saying goes:

"A good meal can be measured by money, but kindness cannot be compared, nor can it be fully repaid."

The rarest thing in kindness is not the kindness of others but the warmth within it, because the other party is under no obligation.

If you repay casually, you are underestimating this sentiment.

For those who have shown kindness to you, stop repaying them with meals or gifts, and consider learning these three ways:

01 On rainy days, hold an umbrella for them.

A's company had just started to thrive not long ago when a college student named C, recommended by his older brother, came to work at A's company.

A let C choose the position he liked. C was an IT major, and he wanted to apply his expertise, so he proposed connecting the company to the international network, which required a budget.

However, it was the 1990s, and there were still few companies using computers. Moreover, C had just graduated from college and had no work experience. Even A's brother thought he was crazy, and the company's finances were not optimistic.

But A decisively agreed and set up a separate department for C, providing him with sufficient budget.

In fact, A didn't understand the internet or computers, but he chose to trust C.

Later, when C encountered a bottleneck in developing another new technology due to insufficient funds, he had no choice but to turn to A again.

This time, the amount of money needed was relatively large, and the company's finance and others thought C was asking for too much. Only A firmly believed in C.

With the support of this funding, C quickly developed the new technology and signed a large contract with a well-known German company.

Just as C's career was beginning to take off, A's company encountered a financial crisis.

When C learned about it, he hurriedly returned from Germany, disregarding the time difference, and came to A's office, saying he would bring all the money over.

A was surprised to hear this. He knew that the internet project was C's dream, so he said:

"In my heart, I've been thinking for a long time, who would be the first person to send me money? I thought of many people, but I didn't expect it to be you."

C replied, "When I was in my most difficult times, it was you who believed in me, so no matter what difficulties you are facing now, I will do my best to help you."

Everyone experiences times when they forget to bring an umbrella on rainy days, and it's the perfect opportunity to repay kindness, especially by holding an umbrella for them on rainy days.

"Sending charcoal in snowy weather is valuable because few people truly do it."

Most people's repayment of kindness only stays on the surface, with a simple "Let me know if you need anything" or "I'll definitely repay you in the future."

There are very few people who truly take action, and it's precisely because they are rare that they strike a chord in people's hearts.

When they save you at a critical moment, and you help them in times of trouble, this is the perfect completion of friendship.

02 On sunny days, give them applause.

A netizen once expressed his feelings unintentionally, saying:

"The most helpless thing is when others help you, but you can't help them back. Over time, you feel inferior."

Indeed, for those who are grateful, being unable to repay is painful.

We often feel that if someone extends a helping hand to us, we should repay them in the same way.

However, many times, kindness cannot be exchanged equally, even if you have the intention, you may not have the ability or opportunity.

But being unable to help does not mean there is no way to repay.

There are many ways to express gratitude. Even if you cannot hold an umbrella for them on rainy days, at least you can applaud for them on sunny days.

At the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival, Andy Lau solemnly thanked someone in front of many celebrities.

That person was director Tsui Hark.

Andy Lau said that he had only worked with Tsui Hark once, but Tsui Hark had brought him great gains and influence.

Through his collaboration with Tsui Hark, Andy Lau truly learned how to act, how to choose scripts that he liked and audiences liked.

At the same time, Tsui Hark also taught Andy Lau to see the world from another perspective, broadening Andy Lau's cinematic horizons.

Andy Lau openly expressed his gratitude to Tsui Hark for his guidance. When it was announced that Tsui Hark was the recipient of the "Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award," Andy Lau immediately walked up, bent down to hug Tsui Hark, and then quietly stepped aside to applaud for Tsui Hark.

Andy Lau integrated his gratitude to Tsui Hark into his admiration and applause, which was indeed a sincere way of expressing gratitude.

In real life, those who can help us are often more capable and outstanding than us.

In their world, sunny days are always more frequent than rainy days, and applauding them during their shining moments is also a heartfelt gesture.

Although the world is never short of those who add flowers to the brocade, sincere support is equally precious.

As the saying goes, "Sincerity is always the killer move."

Repayment doesn't have to be intense; it just needs to be sincere.

People have a heart to repay. Even a simple thank you, a congratulatory word can convey the gratitude in one's heart.

On sunny days, when the sun is shining brightly, coupled with the blooming flowers, it makes for a beautiful story.

03 On cloudy days, visit them often.

Life is like winter weather; there are few rainy and sunny days, and more often, it's just plain cloudy.

The more ordinary the days, the more they test true feelings, after all, time can easily disperse everything.

A doctor once shared her experience.

She was born in a rural area and has suffered from severe hereditary diabetes since childhood. Therefore, she decided to study medicine in college.

When she was in college, she didn't want her classmates to pity her or look down on her, so she didn't tell anyone about her diabetes.

Therefore, she often went to the hospital to get medicine by herself, then secretly hid in the restroom to inject insulin.

Once when she went to the hospital to get medicine, she happened to meet her professor.

Under the professor's inquiry, she revealed the fact that she had diabetes. She thought the professor would inform the school.

Unexpectedly, not only did the professor not mention it to anyone, thus protecting her privacy, but he also consciously or unconsciously took care of her.

The professor knew that her family conditions were not very good, and she needed to continue taking medicine, so he proactively applied for scholarships and financial aid for her.

Sometimes, the professor would also help her do some projects to earn some subsidies or give her some things to adjust her insulin.

From undergraduate to graduate school, whether it was academics or life, the professor helped her a lot.

She was very grateful to the professor in her heart, but she knew that the professor was not lacking materially, so she had never formally repaid him.

But on holidays, she would go to see the professor and his wife, report her situation, and chat with them.

Later, when she encountered difficult medical cases at work, she would consult the professor, and he would always give his opinion without reservation.

She knew that the professor and his wife liked to go to the park, so when she had free time, she would accompany them to walk in the park and take photos with them.

She said:

"Every time I see the professor and his wife smiling happily, I feel warm in my heart.

Although the professor and I initially bonded over his kindness, after many years of interaction, it has long surpassed the original kindness and now feels more like family.

Kindness is often just the starting point of fate.

Daily care is the most heartwarming, and good relationships cannot do without the witness of daily life.

"Relationships, you have to keep moving; the more you move, the more entangled they become, and the more entangled you become, the harder it is to extricate yourself."

Always being able to distinguish between you, me, and him is key to maintaining a sense of distance.

For those with good intentions who have never asked for your repayment, remembering their kindness and visiting them often in ordinary times is already sufficient.

Repayment doesn't require immediate courage; steady effort demonstrates deep affection.

If you want to repay someone, why not use a grateful heart to add warmth to ordinary days and elevate fleeting encounters into lasting relationships.

04 Whether you are mediocre or not, as long as you have a heart, you can always find a suitable way to repay.

Whether it's holding an umbrella on rainy days or applauding on sunny days, or even chatting about everyday life on cloudy days, your efforts to repay are all touching.

"The meaning of life lies in the illumination between people."

Born into loneliness, it is the kindness from others that allows us to feel the warmth of the world.

By continuing this warmth, becoming a light in each other's lives, kindness fulfills its mission.

In this world, nothing is more precious than genuine affection. When others show righteousness, respond with kindness, and fulfill the bonds of fate, you won't regret it!

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Beyond Dinner: Showing True Appreciation

In the bustling society, everyone encounters benefactors to varying degrees. Among them are those who pull us out of life's quagmire, ...