On Relationships
"Someone I cared about said to me that maybe he
just can't handle
relationships. And those words broke my heart.
It’s like hearing someone say he'll be an
emotional cripple for the rest of his life
because sustaining any kind of relationships be
it as a friend or a lover is what makes us human.
I don't believe there's "handling" a relationship
as much as "building" one, do you? And then I
came across these... really good reminders if we
want our relationships to stay and for keeps.
God bless everyone!"
1. Don't think in terms of forever. Think of now,
and forever will take care of itself. Recognize
that all relationships cannot be forever.
Recognize their temporary quality, but continue
to act as if they are permanent.
2. Expect to invest a great deal of time and
ene rgy in your relationships. Lasting
relationships don't just happen, they are created.
3. Respect the other person's relationships apart
from you. If they are important to the one you
care about, they should be important to you.
4. Never idealize others. They will never live up
to your expectations.
5. Don't be afraid of giving. You can never give
too much, if you're giving willingly.
6. Never force anyone to do anything for you "in
the name of love." Love is not to be bargained
for.
7. Don't allow experience to harden your heart;
rather use it to become more aware and sensitive.
8. Don't lose touch with the craziness in you.
This, with a large dose of caring, will assure
that your relationship will never be boring.
9. Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You
don't have forever.
10. Always start a relationship by asking: Do I
have ulterior motives for wanting to relate to < BR>this person?
Is my caring conditional? Am I trying to escape
something? Am I planning t o change the person? Do
I need this person to help me make up for a
deficiency in myself? If your answer to any of
these questions
is "Yes", leave the person alone. He or she is
better off without you.
11. Keep the child in you alive and playing.
12. Divorce, fighting, arguing will never solve
your problems; better to try understanding,
warmth and flexibility.
13. Stop going through life in self-pity, self-
blame and "mea culpa" syndrome. We are not as bad
as we think.
14. Write down all the reasons why you love each
person you relate with. Then, when the going gets
tough, take the list out and reread it. It
resolves problems quickly.
15. Don't be afraid of disagreements and
arguments, the only people who don't argue are
people who don't care or are dead. In fact, don't
have short argument s.
Make certain they are thoroughly over and done
with.
After an argument is over, forget it.
16. Watch out for little irritations, they grow
into destructive monsters. Verbalize them at once.
17. Let go of pride. It is usually false, creates
barriers and prevents closeness.
18. Acknowledge the humanness of the other.
19. Exercise feelings. Feelings have meaning only
as they are expressed in action.
20. Be compassionate. It is the sure way to
understanding and acceptance.
21. See all criticism as positive for it leads to
self-evaluation. You are always free to reject it
if it is unfair or does not apply.
22. Expect what is reasonable, NOT what is
perfect.
23. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can
only be nurtured by GENUINENESS.
24. Even though you are only half of a
relationship,you must remain a whole person,
apart from the relationship.
25. Remember that moral and spiritual values don't
restrict, they PROTECT.
26. What you learn about yourself will infinitely
help in trying to understand others.
27. See problems as small MIRACLES which can bring
about KNOWLEDGE AND CHANGE.
28. Don't allow your relationships to die of
NEGLECT.
*********

**********
And Who Saved Love
Once upon a time there was an
island where all the feelings lived;
happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the
others,
including love.
One day it was announced to all of the feelings
that the
island was going to sink to the bottom of the
ocean. So all the
feelings prepared their boats to leave.
Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to
preserve
the island paradise until the last possible
moment.
When the island was almost totally under,
love decided it was time to leave.
She began looking for someone to ask for help.
Just then Richness was passing by in a grand
boat. Love asked,
"Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?"
Richness answered,
" I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and
gold on my boat
and there would be no room for you anywhere."
Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was
passing in
a beautiful vessel. Love cried out,
"Vanity, help me please." "I can't help you",
Vanity said,
"You are all wet and will damage my beautiful
boat."
Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said,
"Sadness, please let me go with you."
Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry, but, I just
need to be alone now."
Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out,
" Happiness, please take me with you." But
Happiness was so overjoyed
that he didn't hear Love calling to him.
Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say,
"Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an
elder.
Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she
forgot to ask the elder
his name. When they arrived on land the elder
went on his way.
Love realized how much she owed the elder.
Love then found Knowledge and asked,
"Who was it that helped me?"
"It was Time", Knowledge answered.
"But why did Time help me when no one else
would?", Love asked.
Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and
sincerity, answered,
"Because only Time is capable of understanding
how great Love is."
**

inspired?.. You need tha loo! Please hiT it!!.. BR>
Currently listening to: Help - Fountains of Wayne
Currently feeling: wiEnErisHly piSsEd!!..