Never take your loved ones for Granted

During the eulogy for the late actor Eddie Garcia, his lifetime partner Lilibeth Romero  expressed her sadness and regret, by saying, “I thought he was immortal. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to him.”

Some of us may have taken our loved ones for granted. We thought that they are always around, forgetting that life is brief and time is ephemeral. Nothing lasts forever.  As one writer puts it: “Never take someone you love for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.”

There’s a story about three sons who lived far away from their widowed mother. After several years, they feel that they had neglected their 87-year-old mother. So they decide to make up for lost time. The eldest brings his mom a limousine. The second son buys her a big house. The third son gives her a parrot that could talk. After a few days they send her a letter asking her about their gifts. The mother replies, “I like your limousine, but I could not drive anymore. I’m too old.” To the second son, she says, “I love your house, but it’s too big for me. I could hardly clean it because of my age.” Then, she tells her third son, “I like your chicken; it was so delicious.” And then to all three, she says, “I would have appreciated it more, if you had all visited me.”

A week after, the mother passes away due to illness of old age.  The three sons mournfully grieve her death, but most of all they regret of not finding the time to visit her. 

Ashley Fern, of www.elitedaily.com, writes: “You really do not know how good you have until it’s gone. In a relationship, people tend to get too comfortable and as a result become bored and complacent. This can result in infidelity and the destruction of the relationship. Only after the relationship has been ruined does this person realize the terrible and irreversible mistake he/she made. At this point, it is too late.  Learn to appreciate what you have before time makes you appreciate what you had.”

Fern advises, “Never fail to appreciate someone who cares for you. Just because they’re always in your life to help in some way, never fail to give thanks or recognition.  To value someone or something too lightly is a risk no one should take.  The things that you take for granted are the things others are praying for.”

On the flip side of the coin, one may ask how can one stop being taken for granted in a relationship? Pincesswithapen shares the following tips:

• Say “no.” If you want to stop being taken for granted, you will have to put this fear aside and put your foot down to say “no” should the need arises.

• Don’t be nice all the time. Being nice to others should be the way we all behave. Unfortunately, it is often the case that people who are too nice can be taken for granted. If you think that people are taking advantage of your niceness, it is time you hang up nice boots and put a firm attitude. Be nice, but use your discretion and firm up whenever required.

• Don’t show up. Let your absence speak for itself. If you think you are being taken for granted, don’t show up.  Make others realize how important you are in their lives.