The Relationship Factor

You may have heard of someone saying that they are
completely happy on their own and all by themselves.

Although this isn’t what appeals to me, I can
understand why some people would think this; the only
relationship they have is with themselves and it’s
hard to mess up a relationship with yourself. It’s
hard to have much satisfaction from that kind of
relationship too.

Relationships with others are what make the world go
around, because it is a thermometer of how we "relate"
to others. Friends can be just like us, or just the
opposite of us, but it is how we relate to them that
feeds our souls.

We can choose to put effort into a relationship or
choose to walk away; but each of us needs other people
around us to make us feel a part of a bigger thing.

The world is full of other people. We can decide to
make friends of some of them and enhance our lives, or
we can choose to remain silent in the elevator or to
not speak to the person at the next table at
Starbucks.

We can stay in our own little world, or we can expand
it to include others, who might enrich us with their
knowledge and personalities. I can open the door, or I
can keep it closed.

I can choose to take what my marriage is giving me or
I can put more into it and reap the rewards. I can be
lazy and think only about what this relationship means
to me, or I can think about how much better it could
be if I put more effort into making sure my spouse
gets as much as s/he gives.

You do get back more than you give to relationships
and relationships will reward you for years in many,
many ways. Nurture those relationships that you need
to keep you happy!