Arigata-meiwaku

Arigata-meiwaku is a Japanese phrase that doesn’t really have a simple English translation.  It means the not-so-great feeling of having to thank someone when they’ve done something for you that you didn’t really even want them to do.  

When I first heard about this phrase, I immediately started thinking about how I could relate to the receiver of the act.  The relationship to the frustration of having to thank someone for something I didn’t want them to do, or that I now might feel obligated to in some way.  

But then I realized that I could also be the person doing the act for someone else.  How many times might I have tried to be generous without understanding that I might be burdensome as opposed to generous?

We often relate to people who complain about others, but how often do we consider if we might also be the people that others complain about?   

One response to “Arigata-meiwaku”

  1. KYM Avatar
    KYM

    Excellent!

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