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"the love and kindness you give to others will always find its way back to you." i’ve always believed in this, and it’s something i try to live by every day. i put a lot of effort into being kind to people, whether it’s online or in real life. i love giving compliments, offering comforting words when someone is down, and giving advice when i think it might help. it’s not just about making people feel better in the moment, but about showing them that they are seen and appreciated, and that their feelings matter. but lately, i’ve been feeling like that kindness i put out into the world isn’t really coming back to me in the way i imagined it would.

of course, i do get compliments and kind words from time to time, but it’s never quite the same as someone taking time out of their day to show they care about me in a more personal, consistent way. it often feels like i’m always the one doing the giving—the one offering support, the one giving compliments, the one who listens. but when it comes time for me to need a little reassurance, or just a moment of kindness in return, i don’t feel like it’s there. it’s not that i expect grand gestures or constant attention, but just a simple acknowledgment or a thoughtful word once in a while would mean a lot. it’s those small, heartfelt moments that remind you that you’re not alone in your kindness.

sometimes, i wonder if it’s selfish of me to want this. maybe i’m over-exaggerating how i feel, or maybe i just need to adjust my expectations. but it’s hard not to feel invisible when it seems like everyone else is getting their needs met while mine are often left unnoticed. i don’t want to be the center of attention, but it would be nice to feel like i matter too—like the effort i put into showing love and care for others is being recognized, even if it’s just in small ways. i try to remind myself that people have their own lives, their own struggles, but at the same time, i can’t help but wish that the kindness i give would come back to me in a more meaningful way, just once in a while. it doesn’t have to be anything big, just a simple reminder that the love i give isn’t lost, and that i’m seen too.

maybe it will come when the time is right. until then, i’ll continue to be kind, not because i expect anything in return, but because it has the power to make someone’s world a little brighter.