Yesterday, in my therapy group, people talked about relationships. Some people were exploring new relationships, others were hoping for different relationships, and somebody spoke about their relationship with themselves, realizing they could be their own soulmate.
I have always been fascinated by relationships. Maybe that’s why I became a therapist. Maybe that’s why I watched only relationship movies like When Harry Met Sally… on the airplane to and from Italy. Maybe that’s why I’m still friends with people I’ve had important relationships with.
Last night, I asked a question about relationships on social media:
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I’m so grateful for all my relationships — In Real Life and elsewhere.
What relationships do you see in my other images for today?
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Speaking of therapy, here’s something I found on YouTube when I searched for relationships:
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Thanks to all those who help me understand relationships, including YOU!
I had a great text exchange this morning with a friend I made when I moved to Central New York more than 40 years ago, Ann. He moved away a few years ago but we manage to stay close with our words.
It’s wonderful to maintain our important relationships, my friend.
Relationships are a struggle for me. Only My sister, My wife, and my son are those with whom I can be truly honest and be myself.
I have good relationships with cousins but those are only when we see each other. I have reached out but only rarely do they respond. With my maternal side, I often feel it is because I am my father’s son (they did not like my father). With my paternal side, I feel it is because I am my father’s son and they double down on me being my mother’s son (they did not like my mother and my father was the only son and thus was treated like a prince leaving my aunts to be servants). So I never really felt a belonging and that made it hard for relationships.
Same with schools. I went to several different elementary schools. Never any for more than 1 year. Really hard to develop relationships when I was a kid. Always the new kid, never belonged anywhere. By the time I got to high school, friendships had been forged and it was tough breaking in.
Stan, thank you for sharing about relationships. They are complicated for so many people!
Don’t try to “improve” anyone; you’re in that relationship because you liked them the way they were in the first place. I’ve been engaged three times, married twice, and in several serial monogamous relationships since my last divorce in 1979. And looking back, I realize I loved them all in my way. There was a possible soul mate in that mix, but I was way too insecure to make myself vulnerable. Which I have to believe is the hardest thing to do. By the time I learned, he was gone.
I appreciate you sharing about your relationships, Barbara, as I appreciate all you reveal in your comments.
I have learned that some are temporary, some are forever, but they all have meaning
All your comments have important meaning, beth.
Over the years I’ve learned that friends are family. Biological relationships don’t really matter. Anyone who doesn’t treat you as a friend doesn’t deserve to be considered family.
I appreciate your perspective on everything, Chris, including relationships.