I remember rushing headlong into a romantic love relationship when I was young, and recall the giddy feelings it caused as we compared ourselves to the wonderful, live happily ever after endings of our favorite fairy tales.
Blinded by our desires, we paid no attention to our differences; differences that would later come back and threaten our respect for each other, forcing us further apart until we had no choice but to go our separate ways.
Remembering now all the relationships I started that ended so badly, each one of us in our own way suffering the painful ordeal of searching our souls for the answers as to why we were rejected, I can see that we had skipped that important step of building on our mutual respect by exploring our differences before we trusted each other to hold each other’s fragile hearts.
Not all relationships were meant to be. Many of our friends come to us because of the things we have in common, and we meet them while engaging in activities we both share an interest in. Whether at work or at play, things held in common will always be a source to meet new friends. Most of these friendships will be limited to whatever activity it is that created that bond we share.
That special bond is the trust that we will always grant each other the simple respect of each other’s right to be there and share their time with us. It is how all basic relationships begin.
When we love in this way it is never an accident.
