Being good, kind, nice, generous, or loving

It's often occurred to me that people who are good or kind or nice, or who have wonderful intentions towards others don't get appreciated or thanked, and are sometimes hated in fact. Many people are wary of altruism because they apply their own beliefs to others. And so they assume everyone is out to screw them. It's not easy for some people to accept that another person can actually be kinder and more loving than they are themselves. It's hard on the ego. And so the honest folk are mistusted, and fall by the wayside. It's one of life's peculiar and sad ironies that being a loving person isn't enough. We have to prove we are, too. And then we get so busy proving we are that we're no longer getting on with the loving.

It's inebitable, though, that our beliefs limit us.

Then of course there are those who'll make impossible demands on the generous. They'll test a person to the limits to "prove" that they're insincere or dishonest or faking it. How many people have pushed love away with this kind of mistrust? We think something's too good to be true, so we don't allow it into our lives. Doubtless we do that with people all the time. And so we inevitably end up with who we feel we deserve, no more, no less.