--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wondered what happened when you offered…" description: "\"I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you were not the gift they expected and they had t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg" --- # I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to… ![“I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you were not the gift they expected and they had to smile and nod and say thank you all the same.” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg) > “I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you were not the gift they expected and they had to smile and nod and say thank you all the same.” [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Offering oneself can lead to unexpected rejection, yet gratitude persists despite unmet expectations. **In simple terms:** Even if not what was hoped, appreciation can still be given. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability, accept varied reactions. Themes vulnerability expectations gratitude Mood reflective empathetic Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - therapy - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts self‑offering social exchange emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle being the unexpected gift? - What does gratitude mean when expectations fail? A Different Perspective Not all offers are welcomed; disappointment may follow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dating/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Expected Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-smile-1087213/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Happened Offered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-offered-2253245/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Offered Opened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offered-opened-4947348/) [Say Thank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-thank/) [Saying thank you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-thank-you/) [Unrequited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrequited/) [Wondered Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondered-happened-3199661/) ## Related quotes > [Before 'Rangeela' happened to me, all that was offered to me were song-and-dance roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/before-rangeela-happened-to-me-all-that-was-offered-to-me-were-song/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [“You’ll be expected to smile even though you want to scream and say everything is fine even when the sky is on fire… Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-mcavoy/you-ll-be-expected-to-smile-even-though-you-want-to-scream-and-say/) [J.J. McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-mcavoy/) > [“Not what you expected, huh?” she asked in a sad voice. I wrapped a towel around her and drew her close to me. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/not-what-you-expected-huh-she-asked-in-a-sad-voice-i-wrapped-a-towel/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“And you asked why people always expected you to smile in photographs. And I told you it was because they hoped that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/and-you-asked-why-people-always-expected-you-to-smile-in-photographs/) [pleasefindthis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pleasefindthis/) > [You don't have to justify a beautiful stroke of good luck. Accept it. Smile and say thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/you-don-t-have-to-justify-a-beautiful-stroke-of-good-luck-accept-it/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Say "thank you" when you're grateful and "sorry" when you're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/say-thank-you-when-you-re-grateful-and-sorry-when-you-re-wrong/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests: This is one of the happiest moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-mcdaniel/academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-fellow-members-of-the/) [Hattie McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-mcdaniel/) > [Even in bad times, always say thank you. Whatever you are going through, God is using you to get through. God has already put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/even-in-bad-times-always-say-thank-you-whatever-you-are-going-through/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [What does it mean when people applaud? Should I give 'em money? Say thank you? Lift my dress? The lack of applause - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/what-does-it-mean-when-people-applaud-should-i-give-em-money-say/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [May we learn to say “thank you” to God and to one another. We teach children to do it, and then we forget to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/may-we-learn-to-say-thank-you-to-god-and-to-one-another-we-teach/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We cherish the chance to say thank you in person to Cpl. Frank Buckles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-buckles/we-cherish-the-chance-to-say-thank-you-in-person-to-cpl-frank-buckles/) [Frank Buckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-buckles/) > [Take time to be kind and to say 'thank you'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/take-time-to-be-kind-and-to-say-thank-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [God is life. God is life in action. The best way to say, "I love you, God," is to live your life doing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-is-life-god-is-life-in-action-the-best-way-to-say-i-love-you-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My grandmother taught me two very important lessons before she passed: hold the door for everyone and always say "thank you." That means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/my-grandmother-taught-me-two-very-important-lessons-before-she-passed/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [My hometown is extremely supportive of me and I feel blessed to be able to create something as a way of giving back; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/my-hometown-is-extremely-supportive-of-me-and-i-feel-blessed-to-be/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) ## More by Jodi Picoult > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Let me guess," Eric says, "You never meant for it to happen." "Hell, yes, I did. I've wanted her since you two started dating."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/let-me-guess-eric-says-you-never-meant-for-it-to-happen-hell-yes-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Some women are meant to change the world, while others are meant to hold it together. And then there are those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/some-women-are-meant-to-change-the-world-while-others-are-meant-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Music is the language of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/music-is-the-language-of-memory/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“sometimes words are not big enough to contain all the feelings you are trying to pour into them. My”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/sometimes-words-are-not-big-enough-to-contain-all-the-feelings-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The age wasn't as important as the milestones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-age-wasn-t-as-important-as-the-milestones/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The night is falling down around us. Meteors rain like fireworks, quick rips in the seam of the dark... Every second, another streak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-night-is-falling-down-around-us-meteors-rain-like-fireworks-quick/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“When she had packed all the artifacts that made up their personal history into liquor store boxes, the house became strictly a feminine place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-she-had-packed-all-the-artifacts-that-made-up-their-personal/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Maybe who we are isn't so much about what we do, but rather what we're capable of when we least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-who-we-are-isn-t-so-much-about-what-we-do-but-rather-what-we-re/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Here's what I hadn't realized : the mother you haven't seen for almost 36 years isn't your mother. She is a stranger. Sharing DNA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/here-s-what-i-hadn-t-realized-the-mother-you-haven-t-seen-for-almost/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Explore all 2,062 Jodi Picoult quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More Dating quotes > [When it comes to dating, Im straightforward and traditional with a twist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-pasqualino/when-it-comes-to-dating-im-straightforward-and-traditional-with-a/) [Luke Pasqualino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-pasqualino/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [An ex is an ex for a reason, they are an EXample of what you don't want in your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/an-ex-is-an-ex-for-a-reason-they-are-an-example-of-what-you-don-t/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) > [“To lovers out there… Pregnancy is the main reason why most couples are married today. Yet every day they ask themselves why they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/to-lovers-out-there-pregnancy-is-the-main-reason-why-most-couples-are/) [De philosopher DJ Kyos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/) > [Someone needs to make an app that alerts you every time your wife/girlfriend gets a haircut, so we don't forget to notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someone-needs-to-make-an-app-that-alerts-you-every-time-your-wife/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My brother trolled recovery and support groups, searching for women with dependency issues, the way I frequented bookstores with the hope of finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-o-brien/my-brother-trolled-recovery-and-support-groups-searching-for-women/) [Richard J. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-o-brien/) > [“Are Seth and I seeing each other? Is that even possible? I mean, inter-realmal dating?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-klein/are-seth-and-i-seeing-each-other-is-that-even-possible-i-mean-inter/) [Katie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-klein/) > [“There are exes with whom it is too dangerous to allow even a moment’s eye contact. These are not exes at all, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-wagner/there-are-exes-with-whom-it-is-too-dangerous-to-allow-even-a-moment-s/) [Josh Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-wagner/) > [I don't really comment on my personal life because I feel like any comment at all is opening up a whole can of worms.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-don-t-really-comment-on-my-personal-life-because-i-feel-like-any/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [I started online dating in my 50s after two divorces. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/i-started-online-dating-in-my-50s-after-two-divorces-trust-me-if-i/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [Being in a relationship isn't about the kissing, the dates,looks,or the showing off, it;s about being with someone who makes you happy in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-in-a-relationship-isn-t-about-the-kissing-the-dates-looks-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Serial dating: It's not just for breakfast anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/serial-dating-it-s-not-just-for-breakfast-anymore/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [We don't do 'dating' in Sweden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-winberg/we-don-t-do-dating-in-sweden/) [Caroline Winberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-winberg/) > [Ex boyfriends, are like an old pair of shoes. You know that you don't need them anymore but you don't have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ex-boyfriends-are-like-an-old-pair-of-shoes-you-know-that-you-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Browse all 2,705 Dating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you were not the gift they expected and they had to smile and nod and say thank you all the same.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jodi Picoult" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offered-yourself-to-someone-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offered-yourself-to-someone-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/jodi-picoult-45_dating_i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offere_3030293.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you…” — Jodi Picoult", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jodi Picoult", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wondered what happened when you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offered-yourself-to-someone-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-wondered-what-happened-when-you-offered-yourself-to-someone-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```