When I was training all those years ago, the Rush song ‘Nobody’s Hero’ was played daily. I really didn’t like it at the beginning and by the end, I couldn’t help but sing along and it still brings goosebumps when I hear it. Although I’m taking the lyrics in a different context, these ones strike me as useful for us to remember in any relationship – be it personal or business.
"He only introduced me to a wider reality As the years went by, we drifted apart" Every person we meet, every relationship we have, has a season – it has a beginning, a middle and an end. When we come to not only realise but accept that, then we stop having to hold onto those people who have done their job of introducing us to the wider reality that they were in your life to teach you.
You already know this, it’s not new – there are some people from school, university, work colleagues, etc who you were close friends with and then you drifted apart as you moved through life, made different choices and took different paths. There are others though who you still hold dear.
So it is in personal relationships. Some last longer because you are still learning the wider reality from your partner and you are still teaching a wider reality to your partner too. It is for that reason that some relationships last a lot longer than others. Some people understand that it is a two way process and that a life together is about growing and learning. Willingness to learn how to do that can go a long way to helping you respect one another and commit to each other’s growth – be that together or apart.
Those people who have successful relationships are masters at letting go of their need of the person to be in their life and instead want them in their life. That wanting is borne of respect, understanding and most of all love. Detaching from blame and judgement to look at the things which make you look at ‘truth’ differently are purely golden opportunities to stretch yourself out of your comfort zone.
The old Flora ad on TV said something like this “Do something everyday to stretch your heart”. Although it was talking about exercise, I would wholeheartedly (scuse the pun) encourage you to do this emotionally too.
