Everyone deserves to be paid for their work, but that doesn’t always happen.

Sometimes we don’t get rewarded for the work we do, and that’s just the breaks. There is plenty of labor that we all have to do in a day that goes unrecognized by the world. We have to do things for ourselves and others that go without celebration. We have to unload the dishwasher and pick up our roommate’s dry cleaning because it’s on the way, pick up after our pets, and fold the laundry when we get home. This is simply the stuff of life. Plus, it can be nice to do things for others. It makes us feel good. It makes us feel like we’re a part of something, even when we’re all alone. Plus, we like people to do stuff for us. We might even rely on the help of others. That’s part of being a human. 

This is especially true with family. We rely on each other, and that’s a beautiful thing. We wouldn’t be where we are without them, and that’s by design. It’s good to be able to use each other’s help when you need it, and know they will always be there for you. But there are limits around this kind of expectation. We reserve the right to our own lives and our own boundaries, and that’s a good thing. We need to make sure our needs are being met first, before we can help anyone else. It’s the way it is.