Two into one The sea ebbs and flows due to different influences on it, from whether the moon is waxing or waning, the level of atmospheric pressure, the shape of the coastline, the volume of river flow into it, and so on.
Relationships are like that too! There are different external pressures on the two people involved.
Each person has their own moods and energy levels.
And we all have our preferred ways of communicating, for example different ways of saying or showing "I love you" or "I'm fed-up".
Phases The sea has different tides, from the well-known daily high and low tides, to those over monthly time-frames, like Spring Tide (very high high-tides) and Neap Tide (very low low-tides).
And relationships go through tides - or phases.
At times, you and your partner can be highly in-sync: for example both feeling very connected and lovey-dovey at the same time.
And at other points, you might find yourself misunderstanding each other, getting on each other's nerves, and so on.
If you're going through a rough patch, keep remembering that "this too shall pass".
(There's debate as to whether that saying is of Sufi or Jewish origin.
) And remember to keep appreciating your significant other during all phases of your relationship.
Give and Take To borrow a phrase from the singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, there's an ever-changing, yet wonderful match between "the shoreline and the sea".
Yes sometimes a cliff crumbles taking a building with it, but these shoreline changes also create new beaches, fresh habitats for wildlife, or additional harbours.
And so it is in lifelong partnerships.
We don't get to have everything our own way, but we do get lots of chances to do something nice for our partner, or to grow internally through dealing with a relationship challenge, and find new ways to fit well together while still being our selves.
Stormy Weather Storms build-up at sea.
There can be cyclones, hurricanes, thunderstorms, 30-foot waves and tsunamis.
After all, the phrase "worse things happen at sea" had to come from somewhere! After the storm, the winds subside, the waves quieten, and the sun comes out again.
Marriage is no different.
Whether a couple argues or goes silent, pressure builds-up and it will find release in one way or another.
The key thing is argue constructively: focusing on behaviours rather than slinging insults at an entire person.
For many people, that takes learning and practise but it can be done.
A Sea for all Seasons In Winter the sea is choppy, colder, it may ice over, sea-life often hibernates.
Spring brings increased sunshine, a thaw, mating rituals.
Each Summer brings high levels of sunlight, and raising young creatures, while Autumn or Fall sees seaweed growth slowing and sea temperatures falling again.
Over time, relationships also change.
Significant life changes can occur to the couple, whether it's career change, raising a family, changing life priorities, fluctuating finances, empty nest syndrome, menopause, mid-life crises, and so on.
As each person grows and matures, what they want from life can change.
All of these can have a positive or a negative effect on the relationship.
It's up to the couple to be actively open to the happy possibilities that change brings, as well as its uncertainties.
Relationships are like that too! There are different external pressures on the two people involved.
Each person has their own moods and energy levels.
And we all have our preferred ways of communicating, for example different ways of saying or showing "I love you" or "I'm fed-up".
Phases The sea has different tides, from the well-known daily high and low tides, to those over monthly time-frames, like Spring Tide (very high high-tides) and Neap Tide (very low low-tides).
And relationships go through tides - or phases.
At times, you and your partner can be highly in-sync: for example both feeling very connected and lovey-dovey at the same time.
And at other points, you might find yourself misunderstanding each other, getting on each other's nerves, and so on.
If you're going through a rough patch, keep remembering that "this too shall pass".
(There's debate as to whether that saying is of Sufi or Jewish origin.
) And remember to keep appreciating your significant other during all phases of your relationship.
Give and Take To borrow a phrase from the singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, there's an ever-changing, yet wonderful match between "the shoreline and the sea".
Yes sometimes a cliff crumbles taking a building with it, but these shoreline changes also create new beaches, fresh habitats for wildlife, or additional harbours.
And so it is in lifelong partnerships.
We don't get to have everything our own way, but we do get lots of chances to do something nice for our partner, or to grow internally through dealing with a relationship challenge, and find new ways to fit well together while still being our selves.
Stormy Weather Storms build-up at sea.
There can be cyclones, hurricanes, thunderstorms, 30-foot waves and tsunamis.
After all, the phrase "worse things happen at sea" had to come from somewhere! After the storm, the winds subside, the waves quieten, and the sun comes out again.
Marriage is no different.
Whether a couple argues or goes silent, pressure builds-up and it will find release in one way or another.
The key thing is argue constructively: focusing on behaviours rather than slinging insults at an entire person.
For many people, that takes learning and practise but it can be done.
A Sea for all Seasons In Winter the sea is choppy, colder, it may ice over, sea-life often hibernates.
Spring brings increased sunshine, a thaw, mating rituals.
Each Summer brings high levels of sunlight, and raising young creatures, while Autumn or Fall sees seaweed growth slowing and sea temperatures falling again.
Over time, relationships also change.
Significant life changes can occur to the couple, whether it's career change, raising a family, changing life priorities, fluctuating finances, empty nest syndrome, menopause, mid-life crises, and so on.
As each person grows and matures, what they want from life can change.
All of these can have a positive or a negative effect on the relationship.
It's up to the couple to be actively open to the happy possibilities that change brings, as well as its uncertainties.
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