Wednesday, August 1, 2012

And so it ends...

So this is the end of my blog. But definitely not the end of my healthy journey. I have learned some great disciplines in the course of my studies and will continue to grow. My blog, however, has found me with much regret. I didn't enjoy sharing my thoughts publicly. I think most of my writing are meant for myself and sharing it with others feel invasive. Being forced to write my discoveries was another feeling entirely. I loved having to reflect on my progress and search for alternative ways to thrive. Again, I just didn't enjoy the vulnerability sharing my thoughts brought. Not to mention I felt like a school girl waiting to be picked with the commenting piece. On the other end of that, as well, I really enjoyed reading my peers words.  So many of my classmates had wonderful things to write and really empowering teachings. All in all I stand divided on my blog experience, sure of only one thing---my blogging days are done.

"I Do"

As I get older and turn the corner of my life where marriage is nearing, I sit back and wonder if it's still possible. The institute of marriage is continually questioned and I suppose it comes down to personal belief. Call me old school (and my boyfriend certainly does), but I believe that marriage is serious, it's a vow of forever commitment, and it should be constantly and openly discussed. Without the communication of marriage how else can you determine your spouse or better yet, what you want?  Certainly a big key to a successful marriage is finding someone who shares the same views as you, right? Or compliments your unpolished assets? What ever you deem important to a successful marriage, you have to learn it somewhere. For me, it was learning what NOT to do by watching the relationships around me and turning to others in the world who could tell me what TO do. Both have been valuable lessons thus far.

However, finding someone who has been married for more than 20 years has become more difficult as the years go on. Forget about married for 50 years. But, I don't let that bring me down and I am always looking for advice from the people who have been there and done it. Browsing through news sources, I came across an interview done by CBS: of couples who have been married for 50 plus years. I think Grace put it perfectly:

“There’s gotta be great chemistry between people. You have to learn how to compromise within a relationship. You gotta be able to communicate appropriately,” 85-year-old Grace Lewis told CBS News, New York earlier this year.

Compromise, understanding, listening. Theses are key elements to a healthy relationship and definitely a sustainable marriage. I recall an episode of Oprah, many years back, when a woman was interviewed for a Valentine's Day special. This woman (I have forgotten her name) had been happily married to her husband for 60-some-odd years. Impressive. When Oprah asked how she had made it work she simply replied with:

"When I married my husband I vowed to always love him. Part of this meant I would make a list of 3 things he did (to annoy me) to roll off my shoulder."

"What were these 3 things?"

"I don't remember. They change every day."

Her answer was simple and brilliant. Her biggest success came from loving him for who he was, respecting him, and like everyone else- compromising.

I understand throughout any relationship there are struggles. We deal with them everyday. With parents, friends, co-workers. But why when it comes to romantic relationship we can't seem to work things out?