So easily taken advantage of. If someone offers a helping hand because you have whined and complained about how bad you have it. Are they fools for falling prey to your will? If they are willing to sacrifice so you may be happy does this really make them happy or are they just so desperate for attention, any ones attention, they put themselves out there to be taken advantage of.
Think about this. When we begin a relationship with someone we give it our all. 110% jump in with both feet and hope the landing is soft. We hope that the other person is on the same page, we assume they are also in it 110% but do you really know that for sure? Really?
What happens if after a while you start to see signs that maybe it's more like you are giving 110% and they are scraping by with 95%. Then what? Suppose that slips even further, to say 75% on a declining scale as time passes? Are you still giving your 110% or is that waining too? I bet it is.
There is no give without get. Time is the factor here, the more you give and the less you get over time will certainly shift the balance in even the most stable of relationships. Yet the receiver still wants your 110% and oddly enough feel entitled. Maybe even still a little grateful, but it's come to be expected. Who's at fault? Both.
The kind hearted fool and the sponge who's slowly sucking them dry. How do you stop this? You can't, it's up the the individuals involved. Typically the kindness dries up and leaves and the sponge is left sitting all alone wondering what went wrong. OR the sponge is no longer satisfied and kicks the kindhearted soul to the curb. I've seen it happen, I've witnessed the aftermath of such a relationship and the sponge is and always will be the sponge, where as the kindhearted individual becomes jaded and takes on the position of a sponge because they have learned a valuable lesson.
Funny how that works. If you are in a position where you feel even remotely as though you are being taken advantage of you need to speak up. You have rights too, you deserve to be given as much as you give. You deserve to not be drained dry, either emotionally, physically or financially. Your generosity has limits and be sure it is being deposited into as much as withdrawn from.
As for you sponges out there, remember, you are not entitled to rob someone of everything they are, you are not entitled to sit back an put in zero effort. And making excuses is not acceptable. Even Steven please, that way everyone wins.
Oh, and for the record, just because someone had taken advantage of you does not mean you get a "Free Sponge" card. The person you are taking advantage of now, is not the person who took advantage of you, you didn't like it why should they?
Tammy.
