give and take

there's always someone there for me. i find that puzzling and a bit weird. why is it that wherever i go, there's always someone ready and willing to help. and most of them aren't expecting anything in return. why is that? in a way i do understand that its possible to help someone and not expect anything in return but for me, it makes more sense to at least get something back. im a believer of the equivalent exchange rule.

but then again, there are those who do ask for something in return. or dont ask for it but they make you feel that you are obliged to give something in return. back then, i could easily say "i never asked for your help. i didnt seek your assistance". well, back then, my attitude was "so what if i benefited? you gave it, i took it, i dont feel obliged to give anything in return. the way i see it, it was purely voluntary on your part and i passively accepted. why do i have to actively do something to return the favor i didnt ask for?". anyway, now it just feels plain wrong not to have a sense of gratitude. i benefited so its only fair to give some kind of compensation to the person who provided such benefit. this "adult" way of doing things sucks but thats how this world operates. thats being fair. thats preventing unjust enrichment. in a way, the gratitude system can be a mechanism to moderate greed, now that i think about it. can be. but not actually.