THE REWARDS OF LIFELONG PARTNERSHIP

The Rewards of Lifelong Partnership

As long as there is growth and honesty in a relationship,
it is worthy of our commitment.

That doesn't mean that it's perfect.
Even in the best relationships,
doubts and fears continue to arise.

However, mature couples learn to hold
their doubts and fears with compassion.
They learn to be patient with each other.

In time, the hard shell around their hearts
begins to crack open.

Where fear used to hold them back,
they learn to take baby steps forward.

They learn to stretch out their hands to each other
when one or both of them falter.

They learn to heal together and to trust each other.

And then they experience a gentleness
born of the struggle,
a sweetness born of the pain.

Then there is a twinkle in their eyes
when they look at each other.

It isn’t the same twinkle that was there
when they first met.
It is a different one.
It tells of their journey
through fear and projection
into the heart of acceptance and love.


From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

YOU RECONCILE ALL BEINGS IN THE WORLD

“Simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.

Patient with both friends and enemies,

you accord with the way things are.

Compassionate toward yourself,

you reconcile all beings in the world.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

LETTING GO

Letting Go

When something in your life is not working,
you try to fix it. Then, if that doesn't work,
you may pretend for a while that it's fixed
even though you know it isn't.

Finally, you realize that your heart
just isn't in the job or the relationship.
That's when you are ready to let go of it.

Letting go is an act of substantial courage.
There is always some degree of pain
in the release of someone or something
that once brought you joy and happiness.

You will have to be patient and mourn the loss.
But when your mourning is over,
you will see things differently.

As the old dies, the new is born.
The phoenix rises from the ashes of destruction.
If you stay centered in your life
while the fire burns around you,
opportunities you never could have dreamed of
will begin to reveal themselves.


From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com