In any relationship, romantic or platonic, love and respect show up not as grand gestures, but heavily in the number of times you have to say the same thing.
Once should be enough to say, “I trust you with something vulnerable” or “this matters to me.”
Love listens differently. Love doesn’t look for loopholes…doesn’t minimize. Love does not wait until it becomes convenient. Love responds.
And when it doesn’t…what begins as patience slowly becomes tally marks. Each reminder adds weight. And quietly and suddenly, resentment roots where inconsideration becomes predicable.
We should not have to manage someone’s memory or negotiate their motivation and being heard should not equal being a nag.
The reminders, hints, and huffs are not the tell. The amount of time your brain is quiet in the peace their presence creates in your life is. And when done well, once is enough.
Deeper Than a Puddle 