Relationships take effort...

I saw this on my Facebook this morning and it came at the "right" time :  "If people don't make an effort to be in your life, don't try so hard to be in theirs.  It's not worth the effort!"

I sat back with my cup of coffee and debated with myself and I came to the conclusion that there was a lot of common sense in that basic statement.  I have chastised myself, time and time again, for trying so hard to win over family members who chose to remain distant from me.....when I had been there  (in a monstrous way) for them.  Finally, my 75th birthday party was my Waterloo!   You showed up or you didn't!  And if you didn't, and you didn't manage to send a card or a text or an email, go on your way without whining.  You failed Waterloo 101.

I came and I conquered problem after problem...for all of the family  ...and I won some and I lost some....but I CAME!   Now, after Waterloo 101,

I am free to pick and choose relationships without even a hint of malice or aforethought.  Relationships take effort....but first they take a desire to maintain that relationship on both sides.  One-sided relationships are like the pits.

Besides, they keep a person from concentrating on relationships that are there for the long haul....in sickness and in health, for birthday parties, for joys and the sorrows of the day,  etc.