At times when you offer free help, it is thought you expect something back or there is something wrong. Sometimes we appreciate it after it's gone. And then again miss appreciating what we have. The main reason for employees to leave their job is lack of appreciation. But if someone appreciates your help do not ask to be compensated. Unless you really believe you are not paid fairly but this has nothing to do with the other party being grateful of you and your help. Since this will discourage the behavior of being grateful. When kids get everything as gift and don't learn to appreciate what they have, like freedom or free health care in Canada. If you believe that being grateful is good and helping others with no expectation is good, DO IT regardless of what the response is. However if something goes wrong, don't stop, find what went wrong, fix it and do it again. I believe if someone is not grateful, they do not deserve to be helped. Till they learn how to be grateful. If we can't appreciate the good we have, it is almost as bad as not having it all. At times a kick in the butt is the best way to learn. Yes, losing the good we have in life to teach us how to be grateful for what we have and not just seeking what we don't have. It is said to talk about what has gone wrong in your life in order to heal, but at times this translates to having a victim personality and is more of focusing on what has gone wrong than the good in the situation. Eg bad parents, friends, boss, colleagues ...., but not talking about why they did what they did, understanding them and empathy, and probably what we did and taking responsibility for our actions. When someone offers help do you take it or think they may have an agenda?