Look at your daily life. There is a gentle girl in the office, who is assigned extra work every day by some colleagues because "I work faster", "I just help you a little". A friend who is always willing to listen, gradually becomes an emotional trash can for the whole group, while his own sadness has no place to confess. Even in the family, there are children who are always patient and take responsibility on behalf of their brothers and sisters, and then lose their youth as caregivers.
We believe that kindness will be rewarded with kindness. But the simple truth is that not everyone has the same scale. Few people are grateful, many people consider it an obligation. When we always move forward to give, but forget to stop to wonder if we are still strong enough; then kindness becomes a burden.
Even kindness needs a sense of alertness. Knowing limits, knowing how to refuse, knowing how to retreat to preserve energy, is not selfishness, but a form of intelligence. When we protect our emotions, we can maintain the energy of the giving and the dignity of the recipient - as famous psychologist Carl Jung once said.
Because life does not require us to be "heroes" of everyone, but only need to be healthy... In fact, being silent, refusing, or stepping back does not make us less kind. It only shows that we understand that kindness needs to be put in the right place. Because kindness is not for show-off or to please everyone. It is a part of the being, only valuable when it comes from voluntariness, purity and moderation. Keeping yourself a distance, a shield, is also a way to keep kindness from being eroded, but still be intact, strong enough to shine when really needed.
No matter how full a well is, if there is no time for the underground water to build up, it will continue to be drained, and there will be days when the bottom is exposed. Our kindness is the same. It needs to be cultivated and protected and should only be shared when the well is full.
