Every relationship is a choice.
But no matter how much we may want it to flourish, it will never grow past the level of investment of the two people involved.
Take your parents, for example.
Maybe you longed to build a deeper connection, to open up and experience closeness. Yet, no matter how much you gave, that bond could only go as far as they were willing—or able—to open themselves to you.
It is the same with any other relationship.
You might see someone as a brother from another mother, but if they don’t see you the same way, the relationship will constantly bring you frustration. One-sided bonds always end up draining the one who gives more.
And in love or marriage, the principle is just as true.
If one person is 100% invested while the other is only 67%, the imbalance creates tension, disappointment, and pain. A relationship is not something one person can carry alone—it requires two hands holding it firmly together.
This is why mutual investment is not just a cliché, but the very foundation of lasting relationships.
Whether it’s 50/50, 80/80, or 100/100, both people must be committed to building, nurturing, and sustaining the bond.
Otherwise, you’re left carrying something that was never meant to be carried by one person alone.
With love, yours truly, Cristian.