If you’ve ever handed out turkeys at Thanksgiving or a random bonus because things were going well, you’ve probably seen firsthand how ungrateful some people can be.

Actress Marlo Thomas is credited for the following, “My father said there are two types of people in the world: givers and takers.  The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.”

Although I agree with most of that quote, the cynic is me disagrees with the last part.  Sure, the givers sleep well, but I’m not sure they actually sleep “better” than the takers.  I’ve been around a lot of takers.  From what I’ve seen, almost all of them are perfectly fine with the type of person they are.  Somehow, takers can justify that ‘taking’ is their right.  Their entitlement mentality convinces them that other people owe them something.

To make matters worse, when generous ‘givers’ come into their lives, entitled people rarely show them much appreciation.  Instead of taking care of these people who are good to them, they take advantage of them and their kind generosity.  No, it doesn’t make sense.  You’d think that the logical response toward someone who treats you well is to do the same back to them, right?  Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like that.  Hence the quote from Marlo Thomas’ dad.

So what can you do to change it?  Unfortunately, not much.  But the first thing you can do is to not let the takers convince you that there’s only one type of person out there.  If you allow the takers to change the way you think and live, you’ll quit being the giving person you’ve grown to become throughout your life.

Once you reassure yourself that you’re living right and takers are simply doing what they do, remember the following…

1. Beware of takers and don’t get taken twice.

2. Be generous without expecting anything in return.

3. Surround yourself with more givers.

In the end, remember… it’s in giving that you receive.