Starting a new relationship can feel exciting, but in that excitement, it’s easy to forget a crucial truth: if you have to do crazy things to get someone’s attention, you’ll have to keep doing crazy things to hold it.
That’s not sustainable, and it’s not love—it’s performance.
Relationships should be about mutual interest, not a one-sided chase.
Think of it like a game of tennis.
You serve the ball—you show your interest.
But then you wait.
You wait to see if they return the serve, if they’re equally interested in playing the game.
You volley back and forth, each person putting in effort, each person engaged.
But here’s the deal: if you serve, and there’s no response, not once, not twice, but three times, it’s time to politely walk off the court.
No one should have to beg for attention or force a connection.
Healthy relationships are built on reciprocity.
They require both parties to show up, to invest, and to meet each other halfway.
If you’re constantly the one trying to “win” their attention, you’re setting yourself up for a cycle of exhaustion.
And if someone isn’t returning your interest in a balanced way, it’s not a match.
No amount of grand gestures, chasing, or dramatic actions will make someone care more.
What’s real, what’s sustainable, is effort that flows both ways.
We often convince ourselves that if we just do a little more—be a little more exciting, go out of our way a little more—that maybe they’ll finally see our worth.
But the truth is, if someone doesn’t see your worth from the beginning, no amount of “crazy” actions will change that.
You can’t make someone value what they don’t naturally appreciate.
Instead of exhausting yourself with over-the-top efforts, approach relationships with clarity and confidence.
Serve the ball—show your interest.
Then wait.
If they return the serve, that’s when you know there’s potential for a true partnership.
But if you’re left waiting for responses that never come, have the courage to leave the game.
Relationships aren’t supposed to be about who can do the most to keep someone around.
They’re about two people who genuinely enjoy each other’s company, who put in equal effort, and who grow together over time.
The right person will not need you to bend over backward to hold their attention—they’ll naturally reciprocate because they want to be there.
Respect yourself enough to expect mutual effort.
Value your own time and energy enough to know when to walk away from something that isn’t growing.
In the end, love is like tennis—it only works when both people are committed to playing the game, serving, and volleying with equal enthusiasm.
So serve with confidence, and if the ball isn’t returned, politely walk off the court knowing that the right match is still out there waiting for you.
With love, yours truly, Cristian, in collaboration with ChatGPT.