Don't take the efforts of those around you for granted.
Many people only realize this after they've lost their partner: what destroys a relationship isn't arguing, but taking their kindness for granted.
The kitchen exhaust fan whirred, the food was reheated again and again, only to become cold again. This wasn't just a simple meal; it was the expectation hidden in the cooking, slowly turning into disappointment. How many people come home and become hands-off, sprawling on the sofa, scrolling through their phones, laughing at online jokes while feeling indifferent to those around them? You can't see the unspoken words in their eyes, you can't hear the unspoken grievances in their silence, you just think life should be this easy and carefree.
But you forget, no one is born to revolve around you.
She rushes home from get off work, buys groceries, cooks, washes dishes, mops the floor—her back aches after the whole process; you sit there scrolling through videos, playing games, not even a word of thanks, complaining that the food is too salty or the floor isn't clean enough. She excitedly shares the little things that happened to her today, and you don't even look up, just casually replying with "Okay" or "It's fine." She's sick and wants you to show some concern, but you just say "Drink more hot water" and continue with your own business.
These little things, you think are insignificant, but to her, every dismissive response is a stab in the heart.
Like a grain of sand in your shoe, you don't feel the pain at first, but after walking in it for a while, it leaves wounds everywhere. You think that as long as you're still at home, your heart won't stray; you think that silence and quiet mean a stable relationship. Actually, silence is more terrifying than arguments. Arguments mean you still want to make it work; silence means you no longer want to talk. When the person who used to nag you stops talking, when the person who always cared about you starts to grow distant, you'll suddenly realize that an invisible wall has already built between you.
What crushes a relationship is never some grand storm, but these seemingly insignificant acts of "indifference."
She painstakingly cleans the house, only to have you carelessly mess it up, thinking someone else will clean it anyway; she saves money for the family, but you're extravagant, thinking she's making a fuss over nothing; she remembers your preferences, your birthday, your habits, but you can't even remember what she likes to eat or what she's afraid of. Hearts cool slowly, and passion fades little by little. You always think there's plenty of time, but you don't realize that when disappointment accumulates, she's gone.
True life isn't about sweet words on the lips, but about hiding love in the everyday details of life.
It's picking up her favorite snack on your way home from get off work; it's wiping the sink dry after she showers; it's putting down your phone and listening attentively when she speaks; it's putting a piece of her favorite dish on your plate at dinner; it's saying "Let me do it, you rest" when she's tired. These small gestures cost nothing, require no effort, but they warm someone's heart for a long time.
Love isn't about expensive gifts on holidays, but about whether you cherish her in everyday life.
Don't wait until your home is cold and empty to remember to heat up a meal; don't wait until the lights are off and the person is gone to regret not appreciating her. Having someone leave a light on for you late at night, someone waiting for you to come home, someone cooking for you—that's a great blessing. Many people don't appreciate it when they have it, only to regret it when it's gone. Life doesn't offer second chances, and relationships don't have an automatic repair button. If you don't cherish it, it's truly gone.
Don't take other people's efforts for granted, and don't silently break the hearts of those who love you.
Starting today, spend less time on your phone and more time looking at the people around you; speak less empty words and do more small acts of kindness; be less entitled and more grateful and caring. Speak kindly, spend quality time with those who are willing to build a home for you.
Happiness isn't about grand, earth-shattering events, but about someone paying attention to the details. Don't wait until it's too late to understand, don't wait until you lose something to regret it. Cherish the people in front of you, walk your path carefully, and treat every moment of companionship with care, so as not to let this encounter go to waste.