The Art of Giving & Receiving...

A friend once said to me, "Most people say you should treat people how you want to be treated. But really, you should treat people how they want to be treated."

While riding home today,  I took a minute (music off, focused) to think about the people in my life.
I looked back over time, at the friends, as well as romantic relationships, that I've had/have... && I've realized that most of the miscommunication that occurs between others and myself revolves around giving and receiving.

Allow me to explain this further.

I know myself. &&& how far I'm willing to go for the average human being, not to mention someone I consider myself cool with, completely independent of anyone I would even call a (close) friend...
I'm a(n over) giver. That's how I show my love, respect, and appreciation for others. I give.

However...

I do not feel I am able to receive. Often... it takes awhile, if ever, for me to genuinely receive from those I care about. I question motives.... I worry about intentions...when hurt by that person, I do not believe that it was not purposeful.... but worst of all, if I'm not being "given to" the way I feel I need to be, it may, again, take me awhile (if ever) to receive what someone is trying to give me....

My insecurities around getting too close to a person or being taken advantage of force me to immediately put my guard up completely when I sense the slightest bit of indiscretion. This is not effective. However, it is the only defense mechanism that has truly protected me from experiencing further hurt. The bad thing about this though, is that it hurts the person who is trying to give to me. Because my wall, sturdy and high, is impenetrable, the person attempting to break through often grows tired, sometimes even to the point of giving up... Who can blame them? Sometimes we all must accept defeat.

But that's where the epiphany comes in. If we truly love others, we must be willing to receive their version of giving. No matter how their notion of giving differs from our version of giving, or even from our notion of what a person giving to us should look or feel like... if we truly care about a person, we should accept them for who they are, along with their notion of giving, and be willing to receive that giving to the best of our abilities.

Now... sometimes, it just doesn't work. Sometimes, how two people give & receive are just too different, and it is nearly impossible to give or receive on either end without changing who you are as a person... However.... usually, I feel, it often involves us stepping outside of ourselves, attempting to put ourselves in the other person's shoes, and attempt to understand their notion of giving in order for us to better receive.

I've learned this lesson before.... that I must accept others for who they are, and how they are. && I can take it or leave it. But...if who and how they are isn't harmful, but simply different from who & how I am, I should be willing to accept that person and understand... that though their version of giving may not be how I prefer to receive... at least that person feels positively enough about me to give... and that alone should at least make me willing to attempt to receive. I expect the same from others... which tends to be easier on my end because I "over-give", which may result in some saying I give too much, but that's who and how I am. && anyone who cares about me will accept that ....and equally be willing to receive, even if they don't agree with how I give.....

&&& there's the crux. It's a push n pull. A give & take. But each person must be willing to compromise for each other's sake....