It's a Tit-For-Tat World We Live In

I absolutely hate that it is, but from what I can determine, it is.

Most intelligent creatures, i.e. dogs (and every other creature other than humans), don't play that game. They pretty much get along when they can, they argue when they can't and maybe draw a little blood, but for the most part, they don't seek revenge or paybacks from kind deeds done.

The world of humans is a "you do this for me, and I'll do this for you" world.

I loved it when the movie "Pay It Forward," came out. It reinforced my own beliefs that people could just do something NICE for someone else, without the awful expectation of something in return. Several  movies came along with much the same message, and it has been preached to great hordes of people by Buddha, the Dalai Lama, Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr. among others.

Why don't we listen? Why don't we adopt (and adapt) this into our daily lives? Why cannot we be happy with giving, and not always getting? Why is it always something we question: whether or not we will get something back in return for kindness and compassion given freely (with apparent strings) to others.

I'm no saint. But I'm not the worst human you can think up. I've always been thrilled to receive a present for no reason, to have someone fix something or install something for me or to become the beneficiary of a free coffee and doughnut. I respond in kind when I am able to, and share my usefulness, my finances or my talents to further and promote this feeling of good will. But, what I hate is the expectation from someone of a return favor, and the eventual resentment or bitterness when I don't respond, for whatever reason.

This is not to say that I do not thank someone for their considerations, or to be grateful every single day for kindnesses done for me. I cannot be grateful enough. But, there are some that feel that if something is done for you out of kindness, you are obligated. You are held as an emotional hostage  If for the niceness they have offered you. You must be meek and humble for the rest of your association because of what they did for you.

That is the crux of the matter.

In my brain, I honestly feel that everything is not always about the "bottom line," the money, the
payback you're gonna get. If we could all just do something nice; buy someone lunch, help someone cross a road or open a door, send someone a nice card in the mail, send someone flowers to brighten their day – think of the feeling you would get from giving, and then let it go. Don't expect anything in return. Just be happy with them knowing that you care, that you did something for them without asking for a return on your investment.

I can't change multitudes; I can only change myself. And I work on it every single day. I practice tolerance of others, kindness above all and offer respect at all times. And I totally understand if you cannot respond. I don't expect you to.