Greener Pastures
This isn’t a relationship blog. Oh readers, you’ve heard me say that before. However, just because this isn’t a relationship blog doesn’t mean I cannot pass along excellent advice or at times, discuss my own.
Go Sounders!
My one year anniversary with My Other was today and as always, with milestones, you look back and reflect. Evolution is a natural process, moving at a pace that we have no control over (no matter how much we think we do). Without evolution (or in spite of it) most things wither and die. History is littered with failed attempts and has beens and as a modern women, that certainly applies to my relationships.
When I first started blogging, I had come across a post by This Fish. I was struggling after a very messy and painful breakup. At some point in every adult’s dating career (folks, let’s be honest, dating IS work) you have that one relationship where it dawns on you how much you don’t know and the lucky ones will figure out how much there is to learn and embrace that. They’ll evolve. Stumbling upon that post allowed me to move forward…and despite everything, I wouldn’t have changed a single thing. I lived an interesting life then, made two amazing friends and learned so very much about myself…in many ways I grew up as far as relationships were concerned and realized the rules of high school and “young love” no longer applied, that this was a very different animal from the happy relationship my parent’s enjoyed.
Since that time I’ve dated here and there, some longer than others and experienced some interesting but necessary growing pains (my heart has some odd-shaped scars for sure). I’m lucky as I now I find myself in something very committed and I know I’ve said this before and that ended up biting me in the butt. However this is different, and the BOTH of us know it. And while it isn’t marriage, it has the makings to become that.
Recently, while listening to Mark and Brian in the morning, they were discussing an article they had read dispensing marital advice. After reading it myself, I felt it wasn’t just limited to ‘marriage’ (that word certainly doesn’t mean what it used to) but to all people rounding the bend and looking down the windy road of long-term commitment with one another (or those already on that road trip). I encourage you to read this because it is honest and refreshing. When’s the last time those two words were in a sentence together (or for matter that in a sentence, period)?
A year ago today I attended a Sounders game at Qwest Field (now CenturyLink Field) with my mother, aunt and niece. It was Kasey Keller’s last regular MLS season game; one I’ll never forget. All it took was a backwards glance and a single text message and away My Other and I went. In our 365 days together we’ve experience more than I could have ever imagined, and I’m proud of how we’ve evolved as individuals and a couple.
If you were to ask me at this point for any relationship advice, it would be this: the grass is always greener where you water it (but remember to be thankful for the rain). I’m looking forward to fall, its forecast to be a wet one.