Have you ever taken the initiative to help someone in need, lift a broken soul, or lend a smile to a struggling soul and realize the person smiling back at you even if it is just to hide their pain and make you feel welcomed?
This is where reciprocity comes in, we most times attract what we give out.
I am a perfect example of that, sometime this year, I had a friend of mine who came to visit with urgent work, she needed me to make a dress for her which will be needed in about two days, to think I was even sick, I couldn't say no, simply because she had no one else to make the dress perfectly well, as my friends always know, I always try to lend a hand to make them happy.
Well, though sick, I took the pain in making the dress for her, she was surprised because she knew I was sick, and she had started to look for alternatives. When I called her to come over for the dress, she burst into tears.
It is a little act of kindness, but she valued it. Days later, she sent a delivery guy to my house to gift me with some beautiful items, those gifts included a frame, waist bead, and a plate of food๐ฎ๐ฎ.
To my greatest surprise it was from her and then I asked what I did to deserve it. Here's her reply.
A screenshot of the conversation. Ever since then, she always goes out of her way to make me happy.
I on the other hand never take people for granted, I am blessed with a few friends who are worth a gem. Whenever people do good for me, no matter how little it may seem, I always look for ways to reciprocate and this makes the bond stronger.
Does this mean that people will always reciprocate the vibe or effort you put in?
No is the answer, this is because we are all created differently, and grew up in different backgrounds, some were brought up to be thankful for any act of kindness while others were not trained that way.
Does that mean we shouldn't show kindness anyways? No, we should show kindness wherever the need maybe not hoping to get back the same act of kindness from the same persons.
I also, on the other hand, return negative vibes, what do I mean? I observe how you treat me and act accordingly, meaning you get what you give. Let's say "garbage in, garbage out"๐.
For instance, you can't treat me like trash and expect me to treat you like a queen or king. I'll treat you accordingly.
I remembered at my place of work, there was this particular colleague who wouldn't respond to my greetings whenever I greeted her, she'll just snub me, I noticed this countless times and I kept my greeting to myself, that's reciprocity too๐๐.
If I am around you and you do not make me feel comfortable, I'll go into my shell, but to your greatest surprise if I am around my favorite people you be surprised how sweet, funny, outspoken, playful, and helpful I can be. I am what you are to me.
Imagine me smiling at you and you not smiling back, trust me you will never see my smiles again.
Do you know reciprocity also works in the hive?
If you are always commenting on people's posts and upvoting, trust me you will get the same vibe. You can't be expecting people to always comment on your post and upvote your posts when you don't reciprocate the same energy. Do unto others, what you want them to do to you.๐
To have a friend, you must be a friend.
This is the answer to the question by @antnn on Unity towards freedom community.