I used the reference once of a relationship being like a raft. I think whoever I was telling this to probably thought I was crazy – but hear me out.
Picture yourself floating on the water in a raft. It doesn’t really matter the reason you’re there, but you only have one person on the raft with you.
If you alone are using your paddle to move the water, you might end up spinning in circles on the water.
If the other person tries paddling alone the same thing will happen, you’ll go in circles yet move nowhere in terms of distance.
If neither of you makes an effort to paddle, sure you can hope that the tide will pull you in or the wind will push you. But what if it doesn’t?
If you and this person make an effort together to paddle to the other side, you will get there in no time.
To me that’s just how a relationship works. It doesn’t matter if it’s your relationship with your mom, sibling, best friend, or your significant other – little effort from either side will get you nowhere.
You can try all you want. Work as hard as you can. Put in twice as much work as the other person, but at the end of the day if they don’t match your effort…you won’t get anywhere.
There’s a reason we are taught from a young age that we’re better together, teamwork makes the dream work, power through partnership, and there is strength in unity.
Picture yourself back on that raft. You either both want to get to the other side or you don't. You either paddle together or jump ship. Isn’t that a relationship? Either you both make an effort and you keep on growing, getting stronger, and making strides, or you walk away.
We never know how much time we have left. Don't be complacent. Why waste it sitting on that raft going nowhere with someone who isn’t matching your effort?
It's 2020. Be intentional with every relationship you have. Call your parents, talk to your boss about that promotion, send an out of the blue text to that friend, go the extra mile, but make sure they are willing to put in that same effort for you.
Life is short. Paddle hard or jump off.