Hard Work

I am beginning to wonder if I am odd....well, I know I am odd but I am wondering if this particular aspect of myself is odd.

I am noticing that to have a good relationship with someone, it takes a LOT of work!  I have always said that being a spouse is one of the hardest jobs to do well.  I have also said that being a parent takes a lot more work and communication than I thought it would before I had kids.  But now, I am noticing that to have real, genuine, lasting friendships (not the kind that are based on a mutual hobby like football but the kind that bridge age, hobbies, and time-zones), you have to work really hard and communicate a LOT!

We are a diverse people who are not easily understood by ourselves, let alone others.  That is yet another reason it is just as important to try and understand where you are coming from.  You need to know your particular "quirks" and insecurities because they will help you when you relate to people.  Let's face it, we all have certain filters we process through whether it is a past hurt, or a worldview.  And it is those filters that cause us to relate and /or react in the ways we do.

So, why do I say all this?  Because, going forward, I want to have the best relationships I can with the people who will let me.