I spent a lot of my life showing up for people. Checking in. Making the effort. Giving second chances. Trying to be understanding. Trying to see the good in everyone. And for a long time, I thought that was just what love was. Giving more. Trying harder. Being the one who held everything together. But eventually, you get tired. Not of loving people. Of carrying relationships that only move when you push them. You get tired of being the one who always reaches out. Always understands. Always forgives. Always makes excuses. At some point, you stop asking people to care the way you care. You stop explaining why something hurt. You stop chasing reciprocity. And you start paying attention to what people willingly give. Not because you've become cold. Because you've learned that relationships should not feel like a full-time job. The right people won't make you earn their effort. They won't make you beg for basic respect. And they won't leave you wondering where you stand. These days, I match energy. I match effort. I match consistency. Not to punish anyone. To protect myself. And honestly, life has become much lighter because of it.🤍