No Thanks.
Source: lexam.deviantart.com via Daniela on Pinterest
The question: how to serve and support without being taken advantage of?
I personally and elephant generally are asked to support more individuals
(texts. Emails. FB messages. Invites. Stop n’chats. Drivebys)
and make more connections and support more causes
(Kickstarters. Vote for this or that. Publicize my thing. Invite your friends to this. Review my product. Tag my Page. Send a writer to cover this]
and businesses in a week than there are coins in a wishing well. No problem there: it’s an honor, and usually a pleasure, to be of any use.
But speaking of “use,” the concrete appreciation, love that comes back is and long has been minimal. As the Godfather said in the first scene in the first movie, if you had come to me in friendship and respect, even now…
As I grow older, I learn that friendship is mutual, or not at all.
Source: wisteria.com via Lori on Pinterest
Bonus: that first scene (unfortunately, couldn’t find the full 7 minutes)
Incorrect source, offensive, or found a typo? Or do you want to write for Elephant?
Yeah. I have to agree. All I have to do is open my personal email account to experience the despair of one-way "relationships". I don't answer my own phone, or look at the mail anymore! (I dump it directly into the recycle bin.) I'm not even joking, Waylon! I , well, I hate it. I hope you know I've never done that to you or Elephant. As big as I dream, I'm afraid I'm not much of an opportunist, or beggar. When I really want something, I demand it. Remember when I used to shout on twitter "I WANT THAT FUCKING MONEYYYYYYYY!!!!!!" ? That was funny. I thought. Anyway, I hear you, and you're right. Take care, friend. Anne
Indeed it is lonely at the top. ((Hugs))
Hell YES!
PS: this resonated with me … I live in a place that has money, I make a little, but not a lot, and so many people think I have money to give to them now … I am generous, to a fault, so I'm told. But a couple nights ago, I got hit hard again by this behavior, blatantly treated (by a relative) like I was an ATM (and in your words, a doormat) … thank you for writing this. It's good to be generous, to help people … being nice at the expense of ahimsa for yourself first, self respect first, that's a balance beam to walk, but it's a mission of a lifetime. Good luck using the Buddhi force. I'll wish myself the same.
[...] no doormat. And while friendship must be offered unconditionally, if it is not returned, it’s not friendship. I’m writing folks off left and right. And that’s healthy. In the New Year, let go. [...]