“Our culture’s fascination with romantic love is really quite pervasive. If you have any doubt about this, just listen to many of the most popular songs during the past 100 years or more, and you’ll hear all kinds of lyrics about how badly someone needs someone else. For example, “Baby I need your lovin,” or “If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me,” etc. We are literally bombarded with this type of programming in music, and in films, books and TV shows as well. As such, it’s not surprising that so many people develop the belief that they NEED a romantic partner in their life. The reality is that whenever you approach a love relationship from a position of need, you’re putting yourself into a very uneasy position. Think about it, if you come to believe that you truly need another person to be fulfilled, you can never rest easy because there’s always the possibility they may have a change of heart and leave, or worse yet, die. That’s why the age-old advice that we should first be able to live happily on our own is so very practical.”

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

“—“Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them.” - Bob Dylan”