African forests have a type of birch tree. Its sap feeds a special bird: the sap-sucking woodpecker.
Unlike other woodpeckers, this bird lives off the birch sap. It never helps the tree by catching bugs or curing diseases. It just rips off the bark and pecks for more sap inside.
The woodpecker took all the birch tree’s sap. The tree withered and died.
In real life, how many people live like that birch tree?
You spend much time and energy saving others. But they don’t appreciate it. Instead, they drain your energy. They betray your kindness.
This traps you in a cycle of exhaustion and burnout. Then, they even accuse you of meddling.
That’s just human nature. A small favor earns thanks. Too much help breeds resentment.
Kindness never satisfies greed. If someone isn’t grateful, they’ll take your help for granted.
If someone is immature, your sympathy just seems like pity.
If you insist on saving the wrong person, they’ll drag you down. You’ll both sink.
You carry a torch, but you always guard others’ emotions late at night. The chains of ‘I must understand’ or ‘I must tolerate’ erode…
