The Gratitude Gap: Why Saying Thanks Feels Harder Than It Should
Thanking someone shouldn’t be hard. You open your mouth, say the words, and boom. Gratitude. Easy.
Except it’s not. Not really. For a lot of people, expressing real thanks feels a little weird. A little stiff. Maybe even awkward. We’re great at dropping a quick “thanks” in passing or reacting with an emoji. But sitting down and genuinely telling someone they made a difference in your life? That’s where things get complicated.
The Pressure to Get It Right
Part of it is the pressure to say it the “right” way. We think it has to sound deep or poetic. Or we default to saying what we think we’re supposed to say instead of just speaking like a human being.
“Your support has meant the world to me this fiscal quarter” is not the vibe. And you know it.
The truth? A real, unpolished thank you beats a scripted one every time. People can tell when you mean it. They’re not grading your grammar. They’re looking for sincerity.
Why It Feels So Vulnerable
For some people, giving a compliment or expressing thanks brings up a level of vulnerability that’s… uncomfortable. Not because we don’t care, but because we do. A lot. And saying it out loud sometimes feels like stepping into emotional quicksand.
That’s normal. You’re not bad at gratitude. You’re just trying to survive late-stage capitalism with feelings intact.
Gratitude Doesn’t Have to Be Verbal
Here’s the good news. Not all appreciation has to come out of your mouth. Some of the best thank-yous happen through action. A well-timed text. Making space in your week to hang out. Doing something ridiculous together just to blow off steam and reconnect.
Spending time doing something fun — and actually being present — can mean a lot more than words. It doesn’t have to be sentimental. It just has to be real. Whether that’s a shared inside joke, a spontaneous group activity, or letting loose in an environment built for maximum mayhem and joy… it all adds up.
Let’s just say, if you’re planning a team outing, friend hangout, or extended-family-we-actually-like gathering, maybe skip the “mandatory fun” and aim for something that will get people laughing and competing and talking about it long after it’s over.
We know a place. But we’re not naming names.
What Gratitude Looks Like at High Caliber
Our management team and floor leaders sit down every two weeks and take ten minutes to write accolade cards. Nothing fancy, just little index cards with real words about real things. We hand them out to employees who go above and beyond in meaningful and impactful ways.
It’s a moment of gratitude and reflection from us that turns into a feeling of appreciation and pride from the receiver. You’ll find the offices decorated with these note cards everywhere. They’re taped to monitors, pinned to walls, tucked into pockets for way too long. It’s proof that we see and value one another.
Except our founder, Jordan. Jordan’s cards are all condescending remarks. And honestly, he wouldn’t have it any other way, it’s his love language.
You’re Allowed to Keep It Simple
Gratitude doesn’t need to be dramatic. It can be quick. It can be awkward. It can even be delivered mid-laugh while you’re trying to explain why you picked that exact moment to scream-laugh over something dumb that happened.
What matters is that you do it.
Say thanks. Or show it. Or set aside time to be in the same room with people who helped you make it through this year a little more whole than you would’ve been without them.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be honest. And if it involves a little chaos, some foam darts or maybe even axes… well, that sounds like a pretty great thank you to us.
NEW YEAR, NEW HOURS
Heads Up, High Caliber Fans! 
Here’s how it’s going down:
