How many times do you give someone the chance to say I’m sorry? How many chances do you give to the very thing that hurt you once, twice, three times? There should come a point when we take a second to breathe and realize how much we should value ourselves before giving that “one more chance” that turns into six more chances.

We always want to give those we care about a chance to start over, and do it right. When they don’t they run around pretending like you don’t matter anymore. Then, they decide to turn around and say they need us. They want to have their cake and eat it too. You can’t. It is not fair to the feeble that sit around waiting for you.

Every time you give someone another chance, you’re supplying them with the ability to hurt you again. Why give someone the opportunity to hold your heart in their hand for them to decide your fate. We tend to play Devil’s advocate when we give chances. Yeah, maybe they will change. Maybe, just maybe, they’ve come to all of the realizations that they just couldn’t quite see before. That’s fine if you want to put yourself in that place, but don’t cry when you read the rules before playing the game of chance.

Our brains think with rationality. Well, I have given them time and time again to prove themselves and they still have not come up to par. The brain gives us the sight that our hearts don’t have. Our heart hears the words “I’m sorry” and “it will be different next time” and believes them. Our hearts hear the love and passion and think it’s the best option. When giving another chance, don’t choose between your heart and head. Make a compromise between them both that makes you happy and is the decision you really want to make.

Maybe your mother didn’t read you the story of the giving tree. There once was a boy that loved this tree. He always came to her, and she always gave. She gave and gave until she had nothing left. People who give and give, deserve more than to be left with nothing. We give and give until there isn’t much left to give.

So before you give that last chance, take care of you first. Is that last chance worth it? Are you going to end up like all the other failed chances before? Are you willing to toss yourself around like yesterday’s trash? You are not a second option, so don’t act like it. Every chance you give someone, is degrading to yourself. Don’t feel that anyone else is more important than you are. We give people these chances in hopes that they have changed. In hopes that it is going to be different this time. Sometimes silence provides the answer you need on whether that last chance is worth the pain. Chances need to be treated a lot more preciously than they are. So if you decide, that the last and final chance is worth it—take it and don’t look back.