Expectations, hopes and aspirations
Perfect ingredients to stifle your relations
To wish for something to be done for you,
To expect reciprocation for all you do
That’s not a relationship — that’s a deal,
A contract that two parties seal.
When you love someone, you only give
For a smile, a look, a loving hug, you live.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Sure does. It’s the romanticized version of life. In reality, all relationships require a give and take. The spousal kind, more so.
You could certainly aspire to have a relationship devoid of expectations, but to translate that into your day-to-day thoughts and activities — close to impossible. Just read the last line of the verse above
I am an idealist at heart but I’ve come to believe that selflessness doesn’t quite exist.
We always expect something in return … even if it is an immaterial thing.
It’s human nature.
You can’t just give of yourself.
Disagree with me? Tell me why.

I agree completely, all those fundas about unconditional love is never for real. There’s no bigger myth for me.
I SOOOOOOOOO agree with you!
If you subscribe to the theory that making someone happy to make yourself happy, then yes, I agree with you, but otherwise, no.
Look up enlightened self-interest and you will find that philosophically selfishness is not an all encompassing concept.
Mansi, you always ask the best questions! My opinion – no – we can’t enter into relationships of any kind w/o expectations. In the case of marriage, besides the emotional component, there are a lot of other practice “business” aspects to it, which compound the expectations. Is selfless love an ideal? Yes.
You can’t expect someone else to make you happy! Realistic expectations are reasonable, unrealistic ones, not so much.
perceptions
prespectives
and attitudes
these 3 play an important role ! !