Life's not a ledger

No one owes me anything.

Everything that anyone does for me is a gift and not payment of a debt. This is everyone, even close friends and family. Viewing relationships from this perspective, I'm all of a sudden relieved – so much human endeavor is directed towards currying favor, towards the creation of debts in our favor.

But releasing all debts, realizing that, not only is everything anyone does for me a gift, but everything I do for them is a gift, it's so much easier. I can throw out the account books and just give simple gifts, with no expectation of reciprocity. And it's also a relief to let go of that frustration I feel that others don't do as much for me as I do for them – and even when they do something, I resent that it's disproportionately small. Now, I'm grateful for even the smallest gesture. It's so much easier, and so much, well, easier to be happy this way.