My grandparents taught me growing up to leave things either the same or in better condition than when they were originally borrowed. Pop and Nana both grew up during the Great Depression and they seemed to have an incredible understand of what the word “value” meant; they knew if something could be fixed it would be fixed, not tossed to the side. Watching how they were during my childhood reflected greatly on who I am as a person today, and I try to place those values into every part of my life – not just things.
Where am I going with this? The heart, of course. When someone gives you their heart, it is your responsibility to either say up front, “No, thank you,” or take it with the intention of holding onto it or returning it in a condition the same or better. Relationships don’t always work out, this is a given. I for one, have way more experience thank I’d like to admit in receiving my heart back in need of repairs rather than having it returned at factory settings. Short and simple, if you – or whoever – are not ready to take on the heart of another person, don’t fucking do it. I feel like it’s in-part ingrained in the younger generations of new and more and upgrades, that we need the latest and best thing and just trade in or toss aside the things we had previously when we no longer desire to use them. We beat our cars and phones and possessions into the ground, because we know that one day soon, sometimes to the date, the newest model will be available. In this world of trading up we take advantage of our material items, and more importantly we take advantage of our health, our time, and our relationships with others.
I constantly wonder if I am so foolish to just bear my heart, or if it’s simply because I was raised among a generation that prized something so invaluable? I was told one time, “You wear your heart on your sleeve, and that is something I don’t take lightly.” This turned out to be untrue, and ultimately I was hurt in the process, but I don’t regret taking the word of someone who I believed to be worthy
Your word is your worth and your worth is your word.
If you are uncertain of holding a heart, admit it.