You live a life experiencing one disappointment after another and constantly wonder where things went wrong. Expecting people to give you the same respect you give them just isn’t practical, yet so many of us do it. It’s the most twisted logic and the strangest thing about it all is even after all of the heartbreaks and disappointments, the logic doesn’t change. You’ll go out of your way to do nice things for others, agree to things you don’t necessarily want to do, get walked on along the way, and often find that same people you go out to save are the ones standing on your cape.
From as far back as I can remember, my parents have told me to treat others the way I would want to be treated, and to always think about how my actions would make others feel. They set the guidelines and standards of how I should act towards others and to not accept anything less. For something so simple yet so important, you would think that it’s an unspoken rule of life, but growing up has a way of showing you that not everyone’s intentions are as pure as yours.
I can't even being to count the amount of times I’ve done things for the one simple reason that if I ever needed help, or were in different shoes, I would hope that someone would be there for me. I was brought up in a family that would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. Those same people not only showed me why love and loyalty are so important, but also how it felt to be on the receiving end of it. It’s that same feeling I so strongly desire to pass on to others that I expect back in return, because it is what I deserve.
Being so conscious of my actions and the effect they would have on others has led me to a greater understanding of who I am and what I long for. It has also led me to become more in touch with my own emotions and perhaps I feel everything so deeply because I know what it is like to actually feel for others and put myself in shoes other than mine.
After all of the times you’ve been hurt and showed why you shouldn’t expect a mutual respect, you still do, and will continue to do so, but why? There are so many people who know that if they ever need a favor you’d be the first person to come running and there are even more times that your kindness has been taken for granted. You know you’re worth way more than a half genuine friendship but it’s those few, rare times when you weren’t left hanging, when you were shown the same compassion that keep you hanging on. You know the value of having those few good people in your life that even though it might be a one way street you’re still hoping that there will be a fork in the road leading to change.
