There is an old saying:
“It’s better to rely on oneself than on the heavens, the earth, or one’s ancestors.”
When people are young, they always think that the people around them are reliable. They like to confide in others and often treat others as their support.
But as they grow older, they realize that many things are not as they imagined.
On the journey of life, many people have already drifted away. Looking back, they realize that no one can be counted on.
1 Partners are not always reliable
When teenagers, they always want to find someone who treats them well, because they believe their significant other should be reliable in order to take care of them.
They go round and round in the path of love, thinking that their kindness to others can be reciprocated.
But life often doesn’t go as planned, especially in love.
I once chatted with a neighbor’s grandma who is 69 years old and learned that she got divorced at the age of 35.
She believed that her relationship with her ex-husband, whom she considered to be a close friend, could last. However, things didn’t go as expected.
After nine years together, she was diagnosed with early-stage stomach cancer, which was considered incurable at that time.
At first, her ex-husband was caring, but he became increasingly indifferent. He eventually stopped coming home and had an affair.
Losing faith in life, she fell into depression and didn’t want to live anymore. However, with her friend’s help, she underwent surgery and recovered.
After recovering, she divorced her ex-husband as she could not trust love anymore.
Many people are abandoned by their significant others when they fall ill, realizing that their partners are not reliable.
2 Children are not always reliable
In middle age, people often work tirelessly for their children, considering them their everything in life.
There’s an old saying in Chinese: “Raising children to provide for old age.” But nowadays, even raising children may not guarantee a secure old age.
My grandfather, 73 years old, has always been unwell. When he got sick this year, his children, who had successful careers, neglected him.
Some of them even called to scold him, leaving him in tears.
It was then that I realized that children, whom people devote their lives to, can also be unreliable.
Many people, after divorcing, want to keep their children with them. However, sometimes having a child is not as good as not having one, as you never know if they will be filial and reliable.
3 Friends are not always reliable
In reality, many friendships are based on mutual benefit. When you are successful, you have many friends who can benefit from the relationship. But in tough times, many may distance themselves from you.
Song Dandan, a Chinese actress, was surrounded by friends when she was married to a director.
However, after her divorce, she found that she had no real friends as they all followed her ex-husband.
She lost not only her husband but also her friends, and her career suffered.
At that moment, she realized that many of her friends were not true friends and were not reliable. People never truly know what their friends think.
4 Being good to oneself is the best
In the end, people realize that no one can be counted on, and they are destined to be alone in life.
Despite this, they should not lose hope in the world and should always view it with kindness.
Song Dandan, despite her failed marriage and unreliable friends, once said in an interview:
“As an actress, it’s easy to lose oneself. But no matter what, we must view the world with a pure perspective, improve ourselves in a legitimate way, work with integrity, and learn to treat others kindly.”
Though she experienced failure, she remained clear-hearted.
She reminds us that she is not only a great comedian but also an excellent actress.
Through her story, she proves that being good to oneself is the most important.
When others are not reliable, always maintain your original intentions, strive forward, and you will find that the world is full of brightness.
In life, the only person you can rely on is yourself. Never confine yourself, keep an open heart, and rely on yourself mentally.
Save some money for yourself so that you can rely on yourself in emergencies.