When Do You Stop Trying?

If you clicked on this looking for an answer, you won't find one. Instead, I'd like to hear your thoughts. After how much effort and trials does it make it okay for you to stop?

This question can be applied in every aspect of one's life. I'll give an example. My older sister has always been closed off and hasn't been much of a talker, or a gossiper. She'll always listen to me talk but when it's her turn she won't have much to say. She keeps to herself a lot. I've been trying to get her to talk to me like an actual sister for years. The older we grow, the closer we get. At the end of last year, I started going out with her and her friend group. We started talking more since we had more to talk about now. But recently, something happened and it reminded me of the way she's always been. She's my only sister and we don't even talk much.

So how many years does it take for it to be acceptable for me to give up on trying to get her to open up? What sucks is I can guarantee that if she were dating someone, she would be telling him everything.

After the recent incident, I've been silent. I just want her to feel what I feel on a daily basis. But we haven't spoken in days, since I'm the usual initiator of the conversation. So me not talking isn't really doing much. It makes me feel good and bad. Good because I feel like I'm in control. Bad because I miss talking to her, she's the one I can truly say anything to and not feel judged by. She's the only one who will listen to me without anything in return. Hell, I'm pretty sure I waste so much of her time by all my blabbering.

But I guess the fact is that some people are just like that. We need to stop expecting people to be like us or do the things we do for them. Expectations lead to disappointments, and that's on us, not them. Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves and showing love.

While we may not chat about her personal issues much, she still knows I will always be there for her. That is what matters.

What do you think? Felt the same frustration before? Let me know.