taken for granted

friends - two friends walking side by side
Philippines
August 19, 2007 1:57am CST
it seems to me like the more i make a person special, the more he takes me for granted. this could go for friends and lovers alike. i am fond of spoiling the people i love rotten. i give them stuff, i give them my time and undivided attention. i have noticed though how things changed when they realized how much i loved them. for instance, text messages, emails, phone calls started to dwindle down when they used to come in nonstop. gifts and small notes also came in trickles soon after. it's like we are just into the getting-to-know you part, the sticking-with-you part then becomes a whole lot different and difficult. well, i am aware that things will change eventually, but if the change happens overnight then it's either i am too idealistic or something is really up or that i have to change how i deal with people. what's your take on this?
2 people like this
8 responses
@moksalot (61)
• Indonesia
19 Aug 07
Remember that people get bored easily so ....shortly we will do something just for temporary by then we feel bored and we will forget to do the same thing again so while you still can enjoy it just go for it Just don't give your all when you are not sure... have a nice day gbu
• Philippines
19 Aug 07
true. i guess i just have to live with that fact that people do get bored with people too so i guess i'll just have to cherish the moment and not expect for the same thing to happen tomorrow. thanks for posting, have a nice day too.
• Indonesia
19 Aug 07
yeah just be happy life is short just do what you want to do as long as it is something positive and useful keep smiling have a nice day
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
people don't change that sudden..people wont change if they don't wanna change..for me changes comes within..if they wanna change they can change..i had felt so much alike of this now..when all i do is care for everyone else and treated them so much special and in return they took me for granted..never appreciated my deeds but instead used it to condemn me..now i realized that pleasing your love ones is not the best way to show them you love them..its letting them be..i just don't intrude with them now and just wont give and give..i got to give myself a good break and treat extra special now before them..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
i have also decided to let them be and just be good to myself as artemis has previously posted. i guess we just have to be kind to others and the rest will be up to them. good for you that you also have decided to give yourself a break. i think we should do that from time to time and really treat ourselves like we're special too, coz we are. thanks for the insight.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
19 Aug 07
You know, you just describe what I am going through. My friend and I have being together for 7 years, and lately I feel so neglected. I don't get gifts. I cannot even remember the last time he told me I love you. I keep thinking we are not married I can leave, but have not had the strength to leave yet. I think once they become accustom to you they don't think they have to keep doing the things they did before to keep you.
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
wow, 7 years is a long time so i'm thinking you really got something special going there. i actually feel the same way. it's not really that we're expecting them to treat us in a special way everyday, right? it's just that sometimes things get too ordinary or monotonous and there would be days when you feel like you're invisible to the other person. i think though that you both know you are special to each other. we just have to make a point to let the other person feel that from time to time. i think this is important.
@Zelmarq (12607)
• Cebu City, Philippines
19 Aug 07
For me its not about taken forgranted but about having time for everything. Its also important tat even if you already have a special some one its very important to spend time with them.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
i agree, it's really important to have time for people even if you already feel you are special to them and everything. it's like the game SIMS where if you don't hang out with your SIMS friends, your relationship level decreases until you are not friends anymore. thanks for posting.
• Philippines
19 Aug 07
I don't think its a good idea to spoil someone just because you LOVE them. Remember that anything that is too much is not good. You need to balance everything. And besides, if you truly love them, don't expect something in return. Love them freely without expecting anything in return, you could be happier that way. Don't give too much pressure in yourself because you love someone. Just be yourself. They will definitely love you for you truly are.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
i think you got a point there, i may have gone overboard in spoiling them rotten so they actually feel that they won't have to work so hard to earn my trust and friendship and that they can just take things for granted. it's not really like i'm expecting something in return though it's just that sometimes i miss the company and i don't want to have to keep bugging them to hang out with me and stuff like the old days. but things change and i guess i just have to be ready when they do. and when they do, i'd just have to make sure to still keep the friendship. thanks a lot for posting.
• Australia
20 Aug 07
Hi, could it be that you are being a little too needy? You deserve to be spoilt too, but make sure that you do not give up your life for your partner. Yes, you can love and adore someone, but stay true to yourself and still have a life of your own. A lot of people, especially men, are turned off by partners being too needy and clingy. Give them space and then they will have time to miss all the great things about you!
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
thanks jenski! you got a point there. sometimes i end up being too focused on people that i forget having a life of my own. and it sometimes gets to the point where i draw happiness from my relationships with others when happiness can easily be drawn from within. i'll make sure to give them that space from here on out.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
19 Aug 07
I could be wrong with this... But it would seem that you are trying to buy friends by spoiling them rotten. And then you have expectations of them being there for you when you need them. First... expectations are a big no-no. You should never do things with the expectation of getting something in return. What you get in return should come from their heart... not because you make them feel they have to give you something. Two... many people would get unconfortable receiving so many gifts and so much attention... partly because they cannot afford to buy you gifts... or because they simply don't love you as much as you love them. Love is a two ways street. Just because you love someone does not mean that they love you. Real love grow out of mutual understanding. And it does not involve making a person feel special. Making someone special is not love. It is an infatuation... like fatal attraction.
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
thank you so much for posting your point of view aussies2007. well it's not really that i spoil them rotten to get something in return. it's just something that i love to do and i'm happy doing it. and it's true, i would rather not be treated special everyday as long as what they do to me comes from their heart. i'd take it as long as it's sincere. and i really like your point about love and friendship not having to involve making the person feel special and that it should be a mutual understanding.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
19 Aug 07
Its true. Sometimes, its because they know they have you - and no longer need to work so hard. Its hard. I think we need to be cautious but not harden ourselves. It can be a scary thing to open yourself up. But its being a warrior. For a warriour has strength and courage - and what takes more strength and courage then opening yourself and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. We should still be cautious though, and take our time. Your a good person, a loyal and true friend I hope your experiences don't change this. There's a song I sing to my baby, you can look up the full lyrics online, its called Wonderful Baby and is sung by Don Mclean. One stanza comes to mind with this topic: Wonderful baby, nothin' to fear, Love whom you will, but doubt what you hear, They'll tell you sweet things, to make you untrue, So be good to yourself, its all you can do.
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
wow, that's a really beautiful song, i'll make sure to look it up. and thanks so much for the advice. yeah, i agree that when you open yourself up you also allow yourself to be vulnerable so that when we get disappointed we could always try to harden ourselves up so we would not feel disappointed again because it's easier. i guess that's the situation i am in.