can relationships last?

Once your heart awakens to the need to be in relation with others - be a friend, be a lover, be a partner; the search should begin honestly and, you should know, it is a journey. A journey of self discovery as well as a discovery of the type of relationship you want, the type of people you want to be in relationship with and the type of person you are in a relationship. You should first determine what you are doing right as well as what you are doing wrong. Once you have figured that out, the real journey begins and once the real journey begins; you can never go back. From then on, you should be inflamed with a special longing to seek to be the best that you can be. You should never again choose to linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment with regards to yourself and with regard to your relationships. While the need to be true to who you are can make you reluctant to compromise on your idea of a perfect relationship, it should not hold you back from striving toward the summit of true relationships … to have happy, healthy, loving, connected giving relationships which last forever, weathering all storms.

Having happy, healthy, loving connected relationships – the kind we choose to keep close to our hearts; the kind that will last for the long haul –means being able to fulfill certain requirements. These types of relationships must be, more often than not, consistent, contributing, self-revealing, and trustworthy.  Be consistent with your time and attention. Don’t just be the receiver of the benefits of the relationship, be a giver as well. Share who you truly are; share your hopes, dreams, secrets, and imperfections. Keep secrets and avoid being judgmental. Avoid constant negativity and toxic behavior. Connect with the person you are in relationship with. Be joyful when you are together and when you think of the people with whom you are in relationship.

Truthfully, you won’t always be all these things all the time, your relationships won't be all of these amazing things all the time, and you can't be in relationships without there being misunderstandings and hurt feelings at times. Striving toward these qualities, however, is the basis of lasting relationships. And isn't that really what we all want - to find people who love us and who we love and to have those relationships stand the test of time and trials and LAST!!!

-- written by asd --
photograph from agewise