“I feel like I take you for granted.” she said, her head against my chest as we lay in bed together. I gently stroked her hair with my hand, kissing the top of her head. “Not at all. You’re really quite good to me.” I replied smiling. You see, what she had really just told me was that she loved me.

——

Let’s back up a minute. How did I possibly go from her saying she takes me for granted to me hearing she loves me? Easy. Sometimes it’s about hearing what is not said.

We take everything for granted – our health, our families, our jobs, everything. And that’s ok. There are far better things to spend our mental energy on than worrying about every aspect of our lives.

The problem is when we start neglecting those we care about most. The ones we want as permanent fixtures in our lives.

Jobs may come and go. Friends as well if we allow it to happen. We need to make choices. We need to choose to make time for those we love, those closest to us, those we value and add value to our lives, or risk losing them. It may be sudden, it may be gradual. We may be so busy with our own lives that we don’t even notice they’re gone for a while. But we need to choose.

If it brings you happiness, pursue it. I’ve said this before and I will say it again. There is not enough happiness in this universe so if you can hold onto a little piece of joy, do whatever it takes to make that happen. Fight for it. Never give up on it.

If I bring you happiness, never give up on me. Fight for me. I would do this for you a thousand times over. Ask anyone that knows me. That is my passion. That is my strength. I love deeply.

Or choose not to. That is your other option. The wondrous and shameful thing about the human heart is twofold:

1. It never remembers emotion
2. It can heal from just about any hurt

You can carry on as you always have, and get the exact same result you always do. Or, you can change a behaviour in your life, open a door, and see where it takes you.

Sometimes the risk is worth the reward.

——-

“Seriously, I feel like I do.” she insisted. “Well, then … don’t.” I replied and we both smiled. The truth was I had no idea what the future had in store, but I was confident we would be just fine.