I pulled out several of the things you said just to point out something. You repeatedly say that in a relationship you respect the other person's limits. I think what some of us are saying here is "Are you respecting that the other person may have their own limits?" They may not match up with your limits, but can you see how they may also have limits that perhaps you are not respecting? Or is it only your way and their needs have no bearing in your relationships?

It's just something to think about. I don't say it to be mean (as you keep accusing me of), but so that perhaps you can gain some insight that your expectations and other people's expectations may not match up. You may not agree with their expectations, but perhaps they have needs and expectations you are not honoring or respecting either. As I said before, their "too busy" may not be about time at all, but it is the only reason they are willing to give. So yes, it may not be a truthful answer, but perhaps they need to allowed that space without judgment about needing that space and they just don't know a better way to communicate it.

When I've had people in my life who didn't respond to a text or email, rather than get perturbed that they haven't responded, I might communicate back something like "I hadn't heard back from you. I hope everything is going okay. I've been thinking about you. Let me know if you'd like to meet up" (or something along that line). And I leave it at that. They'll reply if they've just forgotten along the way (it happens and often that is all that it is -- they just got sidetracked and are thankful that I reminded them). Or, they won't because they really aren't wanting to socialize at the moment for whatever reason. I could choose to get angry and say I'm not their priority, but it is okay if I'm not their priority right at that moment. Sometimes things are going on in a person's life that do need to be their priority, and I'm not always it -- that's okay. I might be down the road when life calms down (which is why I simply send a polite communication to inquire).

It just seems contradictory to say expectations "are different for everyone" yet you "expect the same treatment from others" and you won't cut them a break on this one thing. What if they need a break because this is different for them than it is for you? Just something to think about.