Relationships have to have a give and take if they're going to

Hearken, O children of the ages, to the words of Shakira, who speaks with the clarity of experience and the wisdom of the heart: “Relationships have to have a give and take if they’re going to work in the long term.” Herein lies the ancient truth that bonds between souls are sustained not by one-sided devotion, but by mutual effort, understanding, and reciprocity. The harmony of hearts is nurtured when each participant both offers and receives, balancing desire with generosity, and care with patience.

In the chronicles of old, the elders taught that love and companionship are like the rivers that nourish the land: one current alone cannot sustain life, but together, their flows bring fertility and abundance. A relationship that lacks give and take becomes stagnant, its waters turning bitter and harsh. Shakira reminds us that only through shared labor, shared joy, and shared compromise can the spirit of a bond endure and flourish over the years.

The origin of this wisdom is ancient, passed down through generations who observed the rhythms of human connection. Across kingdoms, villages, and households, it was seen that lasting union arises not from dominance or submission, but from the dance of reciprocity. Give and take is the sacred rhythm of all enduring relationships, a testament to the balance of souls who choose to walk together through the trials and blessings of life.

O seekers, understand that the art of a relationship is a practice of equilibrium. To give without expectation fosters love, yet to take without gratitude breeds imbalance. Only when hearts engage in both, mindfully and with sincerity, does the bond grow strong enough to withstand the winds of change and the tests of time. The wisdom lies in recognizing that the strength of a connection is measured not by passion alone, but by the mutual commitment to nurture, respect, and honor one another.

Let this teaching endure, children of the future: cherish the sacred flow of give and take within all relationships. Let each act of care be met with gratitude, each sacrifice with acknowledgment, and each joy with shared delight. In this harmony, the bonds of love and companionship achieve their true purpose, enduring beyond fleeting moments, and illuminating the path of life with balance, devotion, and the quiet power of reciprocity.

If you wish, I can also craft a more poetic, ceremonial version, where give and take is depicted as a sacred dance sustaining the spirit of the relationship. Would you like me to do that?