Be careful whom you push away...

Be careful whom you push away, as some of those people will never come back.

At some point, we've all felt taken for granted, whether it's by a friend who just entered into a new relationship, a spouse who's too swamped to tend to you and the kids, a relative who seems to care more about fantasy football than having a deep conversation, or a boss who fails to recognize your valuable contribitions to the company.

Or, maybe you've been the one to take advantage of someone else, only to regret it later.

Unfortunately, many people have this false sense of confidence that even if they make others feel neglected or unappreciated, they'll always stick by. What they fail to realize is that everyone has a breaking point. Once someone has had enough, they will most certainly bolt.

Sure, if luck is on their side, and if they can convincingly make the case that they'll change, the other person might just give them a second chance. But this is not a given, as many people aren't keen on putting their trust on the line again once it's been broken.

How do you avoid such a fate?

It's easy. Never take advantage of the people who matter most in your life. Make them feel as though they count, even if it's with an occasional hug, text, or phone call. No gesture is too small.

Picture what it'd be like if someone you love or admire were no longer in your life. By imagining that sense of loss, we're more likely to take steps to avoid such a scenario while there's still time.

While it's true that life gets awfully busy, that's no excuse to quit investing time and energy in a relationship that deep down you wish not to lose.

At the end of the day, we find a way to make time for the things and people we hold near and dear to our hearts.

Whether we push someone away in a fit of rage or because we have too many items to check off on our To Do List, we must live with the consequences of our actions. They may never come back, and we'll have to respect and accept that.

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