“Stop saying thank you. It makes you look uncultured!”

I was in Paris, having the time of my life.

The Louvre. Incredible restaurants. Shopping at Galerie Lafayette.

A dream trip, gifted to me by a family friend who had always promised to take me.

And then, on the last night at dinner, it happened.

I thanked the waiter for bringing me a drink.

That’s when my friend lost it.

“I can’t take it anymore! Stop saying thank you. It makes you look uncultured.”

I was stunned. He was embarrassed that I showed gratitude.

For a moment, I questioned myself. Should I stop? Was he right?

But I didn’t change.

And now, 28 years later, I look back on that moment as one of the proudest of my life.

Because if there’s one thing I say more than anything else, it’s:

THANK YOU.

Not because I have to. But because I genuinely mean it.

Now, as a fundraiser, I’ve raised millions of dollars—from billionaires to children donating a single dollar. People have given their money, their time, their trust.

And every single act of generosity deserves acknowledgment.

Because generosity is a choice. Giving is a choice. And gratitude isn’t just about good manners—it’s about honoring that choice.

So no, I won’t stop saying thank you.

Not then. Not now. Not ever.

Have you ever been told to change something about yourself that you refused to compromise on?