I am thankful for my families and my friendships, both near and far, face to face and across the distance of the internet. And although some relationships may not maintain the same level of closeness as people grow and interests change, as new challenges arrive and new families are created, as new relationships flourish and life hands us things unexpected, I firmly believe that every person we meet leaves an impression on our lives. I am thankful for those experiences and the things they've taught me. Each person becomes a thread in the weave of the lives they touch, and therefore make up a part of that person, whether just a few stitches or a whole section of tapestry.
FOOTPRINTS
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
Some people come into our lives
and quickly go... Some stay for awhile
and embrace our silent dreams.
They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope...
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.
They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams...
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.
They celebrate the true essence
of who we are...
and have faith in all
that we may become.
Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations...
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom
Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls...
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.
To learn... to teach... to nurture... to love
Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.
Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love...
The love that rests within ourselves.
Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
that it ever is in words.
Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.
They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life...
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
~Flavia Weedn
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Love: Spontaneous Passion or Caring Effort?
This is a discussion that some friends and I have had, for which no one seemed to have a solid answer. Should love be that "feeling" -- that passionate, thought-consuming, consistently affectionate, romantic, whirlwind of emotion? Or is love a caring companionship where things like passion and romance are carefully cultivated and require a conscious effort? Can it be both?
I believe that the intensity of love as a romantic feeling is an initial attraction and connection that leads to a deeper, more mature aspect of love. I do think you lose the effortless component of love over time. I think relationships evolve into comfortable, familial companionship where romance and passion become part of the work, part of the effort of maintaining the relationship's health. There should always be an element of deep caring involved, of course, but I think that when people find themselves having to work for passion, they fear it's the end of the relationship. I don't think that's true.
Like anything in life, a relationship, a marriage, takes work regardless of feelings. There is always somewhere to improve -- communication, romance, quality time, etc. -- but the foundation of it is a deeply caring friendship, and I think that's where true love lies. To me, true love is not whirlwind emotion, but a constant ally. True love isn't so much a feeling as a bond, regardless of the feelings of the moment.
I have heard that the divorce rate is now at 54%. I feel you have to earn your way out of a marriage. If a partner is adamantly no longer willing to put forth any effort into the relationship, and you have done all you can, only then does divorce become an option (except in the case of the three A's - adultery, alcoholism, and abuse). But even the three A's can be overcome, as long as there is EFFORT willing to be made (and obviously drastic and permanent change on the part of the offending partner). I think that's what it all comes down to in a relationship -- are you willing to put in the work to reap the reward?
I'm still surprised at how many people -- regardless of age -- think the basis of marriage is those "good feelings." I'm not an expert by any means, but it seems to me that relying on good feelings is like building a house on a foundation of sand.
I believe that the intensity of love as a romantic feeling is an initial attraction and connection that leads to a deeper, more mature aspect of love. I do think you lose the effortless component of love over time. I think relationships evolve into comfortable, familial companionship where romance and passion become part of the work, part of the effort of maintaining the relationship's health. There should always be an element of deep caring involved, of course, but I think that when people find themselves having to work for passion, they fear it's the end of the relationship. I don't think that's true.
Like anything in life, a relationship, a marriage, takes work regardless of feelings. There is always somewhere to improve -- communication, romance, quality time, etc. -- but the foundation of it is a deeply caring friendship, and I think that's where true love lies. To me, true love is not whirlwind emotion, but a constant ally. True love isn't so much a feeling as a bond, regardless of the feelings of the moment.
I have heard that the divorce rate is now at 54%. I feel you have to earn your way out of a marriage. If a partner is adamantly no longer willing to put forth any effort into the relationship, and you have done all you can, only then does divorce become an option (except in the case of the three A's - adultery, alcoholism, and abuse). But even the three A's can be overcome, as long as there is EFFORT willing to be made (and obviously drastic and permanent change on the part of the offending partner). I think that's what it all comes down to in a relationship -- are you willing to put in the work to reap the reward?
I'm still surprised at how many people -- regardless of age -- think the basis of marriage is those "good feelings." I'm not an expert by any means, but it seems to me that relying on good feelings is like building a house on a foundation of sand.
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