the thing they called 'ikhlas'

Assalamualaykum,

Ikhlas by definition is what you wanna do, with honesty, and without any expectation of getting even a lil thing in return. By definition. By action, I suppose it should be like that.

Yes.

Most of the times, ikhlas works that way. When things work that way for way tooooo much, ikhlas sometimes can be irrelevant in some situations. It is the situation where people kinda sees you like a 'free machine' or 'slave' which they can rely on you to do every single thing for them. For free.

In other word, you are being used from your honesty.

Living in a community who don't even appreciate certain peoples can be troublesome. The thing about appreciation is to appreciate people for whatever they've done. But, this community lacks them. It matter only when they happen to be like wanna use you for something. And in the name of religion, they buy your brain, and they use you. For the sake of, them.

So, learn to appreciate people for big or small deeds they have done for you. Sadly to say, but Russians appreciate people more than us who have been taught by Islam about this. Say, 'thank you', give them something big or small, is what Islam has always teach us. The effect? Yes, they will feel much more appreciated, and in return, they will always be motivated to help, with honesty, with ikhlas. The effect of don't? Yes, they will start thinking they are being used, and in turn, they will start to make a business out of it.

Like who would do something for free, while they can do it to make at least, a quarter pocket of money, right?

Again, community needs to learn to appreciate.

That is why I stop being so kind in helping. Because, for the people who doesn't even know how to appreciate, what for are you squeezing out your sweats.

How to appreciate?
Big question, simple answer. Yes, certain people ikhlas in their doing, they don't even ask a bite of biscuit to pay them something in return. Yes, sometimes a simple thank, can make them smile. BUT, a simple cup of coffee, perhaps 2 packet of sweet candy, perhaps a bottle of mineral water, can make a difference; they are more motivated to do it, ikhlas-ly! Just give something in return. It wouldn't tear your purse apart with your act. Just. Appreciate. People. Small. Or. Big.

Why would I say this?
*Just to warn: Im not bragging myself up here, just take the ibrah from here, I just wanna share my experiences:

1. When I was walking in the middle of snowstorm otw to the Mashrutka stop, I saw a box right in the middle of the road. And it was disturbing the road much that most of the cars just avoid the box. Me, on the other hand, felt that I was responsible to take them off the road, so that it wouldn't disturb the traffic, even though it is relatively just a small box. When I took it off the road, a driver slowed his car, and honked me; as a sign of 'thank you for helping'. I felt good for helping. Simple, but yeah, I do feel like wanna help people more!
2. My father whenever someone helped him to carry something, even it is not as much as heavy as truck, he will always say thank you, and not just that, he will take the helper (even if he insists) to the nearest stall, and buy him a drink at least. He will be happy for the rest of the day. Really, appreciating someone, can make a day for him! And this, is what my father taught me.

In comparisons with certain people around here:

1.  It happened when we are moving out from our hostel Hiroshima, to Kim. What shocked me was, only the guys are carrying the girls stuffs (and as you guessed, of course theirs were much more heavier). Which was okay. The un-okay part was, none of the girls really appreciate them the proper way. Was it just a simple picture taken and saying 'thank you abang-abang gagah for carrying things for us ^^' really paid their used energy? Really? Just buy them sweets, or at least make a cup of tea for them. What they did? None. Sad sad sad!
2. There is a person who I know, do a lot of works especially with these tech things. And people usually always underestimate these kinds of work because all they think is you just have to push-this-push-that buttons, and your work is done. They don't even know how much hours spent in even getting an idea on how to do it, whatmore to do it perfectly. BUT, all that he got was, nothing. Maybe just a bit of thank you. But seriously, 4 hours of work, all that he got was just a thank you? You madam, please clean your brain, 3 times a day, literally. Where's the logic?

That's why I said, I hate blind people. Not physically, but mentally.