Today we read and hear a lot about relationships. Most people seem to believe that good relationships help define a healthy lifestyle. We read often how experts agree that having positive interactions with our caring friends provides many benefits, including a longer life.
It seems to me that we often confuse acquaintances and good friends. They are different. Many of my friends have told me that if we can count on one hand the number of real friends, we have in this world; we are fortunate - and better off than most.
In our everyday pursuit of making our lives work; we encounter many people. Some we like very much, and we look forward to seeing them regularly. Unfortunately, the foundation of these relationships is built on the common denominator we share with each other, be it work or some related association.
When the common bond no longer exists, neither do the relationships. Most of our everyday encounters are with people that fall into these categories.
So cherish your good friends. The one friend you should cherish most of all is the one you spend the most time with - yourself. I don’t know of a better endeavor in life than knowing and liking yourself as your best friend. For one, you are always with yourself, so why not get along?
Much is written about the need for self-acceptance. However, it does beg the question, how much time do we spend thinking about it and actually working at it. Since we are always with ourselves, we lose our sensitivity to our emotional needs that often depend on our ability to love ourselves. We can become commonplace to ourselves.
It is interesting to note that in the “Lord’s Prayer," it makes a vital point for the need of self-love: “Do unto others as you would do unto yourself.” There is no greater area of self-deception than in how we feel about ourselves. If you are not treating yourself well it also likely you are not treating others very well either.
So slow down, turn off the activity and start spending quality time alone with yourself. You may discover you are one of the most interesting and loveable people you know.
Brother Giovanni
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
― Gautama Buddha
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