I came to a realization the other day. A short and simple way to say something I have been thinking of for awhile.

A bleeding heart will eventually kill you.

I've helped many people, my family (especially my wife) tends to help a lot of people, this includes people who are actually better off than us, and that usually do not bother to reciprocate. In many parts of our life my family has been directly impacted and harmed by the help we gave to others that wouldn't bother to help themselves.

It has been a painful lesson but we are gradually catching on.

A bleeding heart will eventually kill you, is the simplest way I have come up with to express that realization.