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FUN— It’s Elementary! connection friendship fun general relationships relationships & communication

This week I’ve been struggling to find the right words. My mind is a flurry of activity yet I don’t feel the usual melody in my story. What the hell?

Boom, it is 1am and the lights go on in my brain.

This topic is complex but when I drill down to the absolute core of what is important, it’s really rather simple. I’ll forego the need for a flowery explanation and witty prose of the backstory and share with you the facts. Just the facts, Ma’am, just the facts.

So what is my mystery topic? RELATIONSHIPS. I am talking about my blueprint for healthy relationships; the relationships between friends, family and lovers.

There are times when a relationship requires WORK. Not effort, but work. I am not talking about hitting a rough patch or feeling distant but rather you feel like you are running up hill, walking on egg shells or giving more than you receive. RED FLAG but I’ll continue this thought later.

So now that I have reached the divine and wise (ass) age of 50, what say I is the key? What is necessary in order to experience a mutually satisfying relationship? To help you remember, I’ve created a simple mnemonic; FUN!

The (F) FOUNDATION:

I must understand who I am.
I must love the person I am.
I must be responsible for my actions, toward myself and others.

The (U) UNDERSTANDING:

You enhance my life BUT I don’t need you to feel complete.
We communicate honestly and respectfully, regardless of the subject matter.
Our relationship is a priority NOT a contingency or a convenience.

The (N) NON-NEGOTIABLES:

We each believe we are capable of loving another person and we deserve to be loved ourselves.
We each own our own #$#@%. No blame or excuses!
We explicitly agree that I am responsible for MY life and you for YOUR life.
We relinquish the need to control what is out of our power and place to manage.
We chose to live with an open and generous heart.

Back to that RED FLAG warning…. The first thing to examine is your role in the relationship. Are you grounded and open? Realistic? Codependent? This step is so often overlooked as blame, anger, resentment and other powerful emotions fuel unproductive exchanges.

Look in the mirror. You are the first step.

If it still isn’t working, you have a decision to make.

FUN = My personal blueprint. What’s your blueprint?

From the heart,

Cara

(Graphic courtesy of sodahead.com)

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