#idontknowwhatthismeans

i disagree.

i love my dad more than any other human being on the entire planet. he has given me so much more than i could ever ask for. faith and knowledge and love and warmth, all of those fuzzy feel-good emotions.

but no. i am not obliged to give him anything in return. i have immense gratitude. but i don’t owe him my life, my love, my time, my anything in return for his actions.

i love my brother. he’s there for me when my dad can’t be. he cares about me, even if he may insult me, he still tells me ‘please don’t die’ and reminds me that if anyone hurts me, to let him know.

but i do not owe him anything.

i love my friends. they are patient with me. i am thankful for all the reassurance and the reasons they give me to live. they mean more to me than they could ever know. they try their best in every aspect.

but i do not owe them anything in return.

why? you may ask.

because gratefulness does not equal obligation.

gratitude does not equal debt.

why?

because our lives are not something to be bought or auctioned or given away. we belong to ourselves and ourselves only.

why?

because if you say yes to something for a ‘repayment’ when you want to say no, your relationship will crumble. resentment will grow.

why?

because everyone has free choice. they chose to give you what they have given, you are not under responsibility to give that back in return.

why?

because obligation to pay or repay something that’s been received, something that has been freely gifted, does not exist.

why?

because love is not transactional.

love and care and kindness are not negotiable.

do not give love into the universe with the expectation it will be given back in return. there is a high chance it will, there are many kind people in the world. but do not ever love to be loved. nobody owes that to you.

express your thankfulness in any way you choose. a simple thank you, a hug, time, effort, energy. anything. but there is nothing done to you that has elicits this as something you MUST do.

your gratitude is to be earned. those who do things with the expectation of receiving good in return, are setting themselves up for failure.

is that love?

is that kindness?

is that raw goodness?

you decide what it means to be a good person.

what it means to love.

to care.

you do not owe anyone anything.

and if they think you do,