We meet all kinds of people in our daily lives, and while most are genuine, some have a way of taking advantage of your kindness. They act innocent, but their actions reveal a sense of entitlement that can leave you feeling used.
I learned this lesson the hard way with my elderly neighbor. One day, she approached me near our building and asked if I could help her with her computer. She said she couldn’t access any websites. When I checked, I realized her computer wasn’t connected to Wi-Fi. A few days earlier, I had replaced my router and updated the password. That’s when it dawned on me—eight years ago, she had asked for my help because she didn’t have internet and needed to contact her son abroad. I had set up Skype for her and connected her to my Wi-Fi, but I never thought to disconnect her.
When I told her she had been using my internet all this time, she simply asked, “What should I do now?” I suggested she get her own internet plan, which was affordable at just $4 a month. Her response was, “Just set it up like before. You have internet. Why not share?” I stood my ground and said no. She never thanked me for the years of free internet, and now she avoids me. Still, I choose to believe in the goodness of people.
