Do we get to choose?

Have you ever thought that someone was really going all out to help you but then find out later that it comes with strings attached? Accepting that "gift" will essentially make your life difficult and potentially stir up your household because you will be obliged to fulfill the underlying conditions? It is kind of like those too good to be true deals with the fine prints well-hidden somewhere. It makes it harder when the gift comes from a person who is either a family member or a really close friend. But today I realize that in this world you can really only ever depend on yourself and in a situation like this one, you will just need to act in the way that will be beneficial to yourself. I find that if otherwise, people will continue to step on you and think that they have control over you.

Have you ever come across a person who claims that he/she has helped someone else out but goes around boasting to other people how "charitable" he/she has been? Well, if you truly want to help someone out, you should do it out of goodwill, not expect anything in return, and certainly not be wanting the whole world to know. There are a few people like that I have come across in my life and it bugs the living hell out of me. I wish sometimes that I had not known them but then by means of fate and to a certain extent, you can't really choose who your friends, family, or relatives are. It's unfortunate.