Stop Begging for the Bare Minimum. Love Should Meet You Halfway
Photo: Getty images There’s a quiet exhaustion that comes from always being the one who tries harder. The one who texts first. Who explains twice. Who forgives faster. Who lowers expectations just to keep the peace. At first, it feels generous. Mature, even. You tell yourself relationships require compromise. You pride yourself on being understanding. Then one day, you notice something uncomfortable: you’re carrying the entire weight of two people. And calling it love. Affection should never feel like negotiation. Respect isn’t a prize you earn through endurance. Care isn’t something you chase down corridors of mixed signals and inconsistent behavior. Photo: Getty images Yet many people stay trapped in dynamics where basic decency feels like a reward. A returned call becomes impressive. A simple apology feels monumental. Consistency looks like luxury. That’s how standards quietly erode. The bare minimum starts masquerading as effort. Healthy rela...