Monday musings...

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily.
Life is but a dream.
***************************
This little ditty is a wonderful spiritual metaphor...a great metaphysical teaching tool.

"Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream"

Keep on keeping on. Keep moving in the direction of your good. If you don't pay attention to the direction you're traveling, the stream of life may be turbulant. Be gentle, don't struggle as you go. Let God choose the direction...the waters will be still.

"Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream."

Be happy...be joyful. Know that happiness and joy are choices we make...not something that happens to us. Choose then to make your daydreams positive and affirmative. Even if you come to the rapids or the rocks, it will be smooth sailing.

Enjoy the ride.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

More relationship tips!! Some ideas to keep the communication lines open.

Appreciations: Share five things you appreciate about each other. These can range from the simple "I like your smile" to the sublime "I like it that you were able to be so low key after I forgot to pick you up last night." Appreciations can be a nice surprise to realize just how much our friends/family members/partners notice and appreciate.

Wishes, Hopes, and Dreams: Describe three things you hope for in the long run ("I hope to complete a marathon by the time I'm 40") and in the short run ("This week-end I'd like to spend a half-hour alone with my dad when he visits.") Afriend/family member/partner who understands your dreams is able to help them happen. Remember that hopes change as we go along and it's important to keep each other current.

New Information: We often forget to update our friends/family members/partner about a change in plans or circumstances. We tell people at work and think we've told others. Make the updates a ritual. Information like "The dentist said Bobby won't need braces after all" or "I'll have to be in San Francisco an extra day" is crucial to staying in-synch and feeling connected.

Puzzles: Clear-up big or little mysteries before they become suspicions, false assumptions, or resentments. Most "puzzles" have simple explanations. "You promised you'd water the tomatoes before you left this morning. What happened?" "The water was turned off. Was it back on when you got up?" You have to ask!

Complaints with Request for Change: Get in the habit of saying what you want rather than what you don't want. Describe a specific behavior that bothers you and explain how you'd like it done. Instead of "I get furious when you call and don't leave a message," say, "When you call and get the machine, please don't say 'It's me' and hang up. Say why you're calling, and when you'll call back, or be home, or whatever it was you were calling to tell me." If you forget to say why you were calling. Call back. Even if it's long distance. It's an inexpensive investment in your relationships.