As I experience life I am reminded daily of those who enrich my journey, who support my ideas, and who encourage me to go for what I want. I feel blessed. When we choose to move away from our roots, which is more common today than in past years, the relationships we develop become “our extended family”. During times of joy and moments of challenge, I rely on my friends. They applaud, they listen, and they help. All I have to do is place a call, make a visit or ask for what I need!

Friendship is all about being there for one another. When a friend calls upon me I feel special knowing my ideas and my time are valued. Sharing experiences with friends makes events more memorable. Having a conversation that creates clarity when uncertain about an issue makes it easier to decide. Friendship has no time constraint and no limits. Years pass and yet friends have the ability to re-connect and re-establish their relationship in an instant. Distance is not a barrier to friendship. People move, jobs change, unexpected circumstances occur and friends can still remain friends. What a wonderful concept! In a rapidly changing world it’s reassuring to know that friendships can endure. Neither politics, the economy, or the weather can replace an enduring friendship.

Recently I received a call from a long-standing friend whose husband is not well. Although we don’t see one another often because of geographic limitations, she knew when I picked up the phone that she could count on me to listen and support her as she struggles through a stressful time. Frequently friends just need a listening ear, a caring heart, and warm reassurance. Sometimes a friend is excited to share good fortune. There are times when a conversation or visit with a close friend is just the prescription we need when feeling out of sorts. Each of us has a never ending capacity to love and to care. We have unlimited opportunities to be supportive wherever and whenever someone needs us. Having friends and being a friend are priceless gifts we give to each other. Call or visit someone today.

“What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined for life, to strengthen each other in all labor, to rest on each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the last moment of last parting?”
~ George Eliot

How powerful it can be when we recognize that marriage has the potential of creating a beautiful union of two individuals. Through marriage a husband and wife build history together, and through this shared voyage can create a growing and deepening love each other. Marriage is a continuum of time where individuality evolves into oneness.

What I love about being married is that our relationship is continuously reinventing itself. It changes according to the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Sometimes I am on the giving end; sometimes on the receiving. We are passing through the stages of shared married by first and foremost committing to the relationship. For example, each of us is willing to take risks in communicating our feelings to each other along the journey. A strong marriage encourages the sharing of one’s separate, real self. Self-disclosure as an act of trust creates closeness and security. When my husband and I verbalize our mutual our marriage becomes stronger.

Marital partners are committed, not only to the relationship, but to the growth of each other throughout the marriage. There needs to exist an environment that encourages the development of both individuals. My experience has been that each partner has to feel fulfilled, affirmed, and comfortable with his or her own identity. How wonderful the feeling that comes from having a separate, satisfying life with a partner who also feels self- satisfaction. In fact, marriage is best served when each partner grows individually as well as together. It’s also about empathy, closeness, acceptance, flexibility, and appreciation for one another. Marriage thrives when there is trust, open communication, stability, caring, emotional security, and the realization that we are not alone. I like belonging exclusively to my husband while simultaneously creating my own life purpose. An analogy that comes to mind is picturing a kite’s string securely fastened or held to the ground while the kite is able to move, explore, and experience the sky. The kite is both free and secure. A great marriage offers freedom and security as well. It thrives on each other’s accomplishes, supports individual set backs, and fosters equality.

In today’s uncertain world, if you have the good fortune of being in a fulfilling partnership, I encourage you to treasure your partner and your relationship.

Braggin Rights

When we first learned we were to be grandparents, I promised my husband I would not carry pictures and boast about our grandchild the way we had witnessed similar behavior among our friends. Well, I have to admit that is one promise I failed to keep!

Until I actually became a grandmother, I couldn’t possibly have imagined the joy a grandchild would bring, the fun it would create, and the pleasurable experiences we would have. For some of us, including myself, we were so busy “parenting” that many of the daily developments of our growing children escaped notice because of all our other responsibilities.

This is not true when one becomes a grandparent. I often joke that my grandson is the only person that can keep me from doing what I thought was important. Grandchildren are joyful, free entertainment. Every single action, sound, new accomplishment is met with incredible enthusiasm and pride. By their very nature, they are curious, delightful, and full of laughter. We can sing, dance, clap hands, jump, play and read together with no other cares or concerns but to be together.

One of my favorite shared experiences is bath time. It’s fun to be splashed by water, blow bath bubbles at each other, sink floating toys, and tickle shriveled toes. I can sit and watch my grandson for a long time as he collects water in his plastic cup, pours it on his head and belly and laughs. Even wrapping him up afterward in a warm towel and holding him close is cause for celebration.

Grandchildren are angels in life form. They are loving spirits, innocent, beautiful, precious and special. Their only responsibility is to learn, observe, experiment, and show us by example that life is a miracle. It’s fascinating to watch young children. They marvel at their toes, fingers and belly-button, giggle when they smile, and take delight in all their surroundings.

All children are love. They awaken in us awe and wonderment. Perhaps I was too young and too busy to take all this in when my children were young. At least at this stage in my life I get to revisit those experiences through my grandchildren! Just ask me! I’d be delighted to tell you about all four of my grandsons.