10

Below are the 10 lessons to a relationship that I have learnt throughout my life.

All from experiences given by people around me; by those who has been around and left; around and still persists on annoying me, hehe; around but never around much, however when required they will be just about a call away.

The FIRST lesson - THOUGHT. Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about others and ourselves. If we want to love someone, we need to consider his or her needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help you recognize her when you meet her. This I learnt from a very close to heart lover of mine and I thank her for this inspiring self aspiration.

The SECOND lesson - RESPECT. You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain self-respect, ask yourself, What do I respect about myself? - To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike, ask yourself, What do I respect about them?

The THIRD lesson - GIVING. If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love you give, the more you will receive. To love is to give of yourself, freely and unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. Before committing to a relationship ask not what the other person will be able to give to you, but rather what will you be able to give them. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong, loving relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of what you can take.

The FOURTH lesson - ACCEPTANCE. To find a true love, you must first find a true acceptance. The acceptance towards how that partner may be, their past doings and shames discarded. If you love someone, love them for who they are as they appear to you and not judge their past. A lesson here, the past makes us who we are today because we all learn from it.

The FIFTH lesson - TOUCH. Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states and makes us more receptive to love.

The SIXTH lesson - LETTING GO. If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours, if it doesn’t, it never was. Even in a loving relationship, people need their own space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and let go of past hurts and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions. Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power over me - today is the beginning of a new life.

The SEVENTH lesson - COMMUNICATION. When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes. To love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know that you love them and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say those three magic words: I Love You. Never let an opportunity pass to praise someone. Always leave someone you love with a loving word - it could be the last time you see him or her. If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to the people you loved, who would you call, what would you say and so, what are you waiting for then?

The EIGHTH lesson - COMMITMENT. If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it, and that commitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions. Commitment is the TRUE test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile relationship from a strong one.

The NINTH lesson - PASSION. Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone; it comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement. Passion can be recreated by recreating past experiences. When you are passionate spontaneously and with surprises, it produces passion. The essence of love and happiness are the same; all we need to do is to live each day with passion.

The TENTH lesson - TRUST. Trust is essential in all loving relationships. Without it one person becomes suspicious, anxious and fearful and the other person feels trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot love someone completely unless you trust him or her completely. Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end. One of the ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask yourself, Do I trust them completely and unreservedly? - If the answer is no, think carefully before making a commitment.

Ahh.. praise the lord back and back to my 1^st paragraph where I wrote “around and still persists on annoying me” it is specifically meant for Danny. For others, it would only mean “around and still happily enjoyed by me”. Hoho.