Why is that when something is said in anger, the natural inclination is to say something back in anger?  Then it escalates, and, more words are said in the heat of this anger.  If this becomes a characteristic of your relationship, a downward spiral could occur and discord.

In Social Psychology, this process has been termed as Reciprocity, and there are 3 kinds:

​Positive Reciprocity -  saying a term of endearment to your partner/spouse and he/she says one back; a kiss is reciprocated with a kiss; a touch is reciprocated with another touch...positive.  There is an expectation that a positive action will be met by a positive response.

General Reciprocity - gift giving, sending a greeting card and not expecting anything in return; giving your partner/spouse a massage with no expectation of reciprocation.

Sharing, equality, fairness, splitting responsibilities 50/50, mutual understanding and PROBLEM-SOLVING.

Sometimes 1 partner has more responsibility; however, as long as it all works out in the end, it will be OK.

It's that time of the year for planning and going on the trip that we've been saving and planning for all year.

I know many couples who won't fly together when they have young children.  Makes sense.  If the plane crashes, the idea is that there will be at least one surviving parent.  But I have never asked, thinking it was highly insensitive, about the young parents who travel together with their baby.  

Travelling, vacationing is not without it's stress.  Perhaps the factors are not as dire, as what could happen in the scenario, above; however, there remains a great deal of stress surrounding what is supposed to be a reward for going on vacation in the first place - - - treating yourself (and your partner, spouse, friend) from the ongoing stressors of life.  But what about the stressors from vacations?

My 15 Vacation/Travel stressors:

1)  Mode of Transportation:  car, rail, ship, airplane
2)  The work being left behind
3)  Driving to the train station, airport, and the parking (don't we have a coupon?)
4)  Now we have a new stressor with flying:  will the airline request that we give up our seat once we are     seated?
5)  Do we carry-on, or, risk checking our baggage and possible loss?
6)  Window seat or aisle seat (avoiding the climb-over)?
7)  Who's sitting next to us, if not a family member?  And who gets the armrest?
8)   Breathing re-circulated air.  It's a miracle when I don't come down with a cold after flying.
9)   Don't forget to wipe down that tray with sanitizer.  Careful with that storage compartment in the sea in front of you.  Wipe those armrests.  Careful with the knob to the bathrm. Wipe ..., Careful..., Wipe...
10)  Transport to the hotel.  Will our rental car reservation be there?  Extra insurance?  Checking the car for scratches and dings.
11)  Will the hotel have your reservation when you arrive?
12)  Location of the room.  I'll never forget how much fun everyone had at that wedding, which was next to my hotel room.  No sleep that night.
13)  Strip off that nasty bedspread.  We've all heard more about what could be on that than we want to hear and know.
14)  Darn: the TV doesn't work, or, the lightbulb is 'out,' or the myriad other things that could be missing - - housekeeping, or, the front desk?
15)  Getting around in an unfamiliar place

Is it worth it?  Does all the new things...sights & sounds, override all of the concerns.  
Stimulation of our hypothalamus, the release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone); secretion of any number of stress hormones and epinephrine.

Do we get more pleasure from it than the stress that's a part of it?  Solution ... A good book!  You'll save a ton of money and avoid alot of potential stress.  A tongue in cheek statement, but seriously, it is something to think about.  Happy Travels!

Whatever else you do or forbear,
impose upon yourself the task of happiness;
and now and then abandon yourself
to the joy of laughter.

And however much you condemn
the evil in the world, remember that the
world is not all evil; that somewhere
children are at play, as you yourself in the 
old days; that women still find joy
in the stalwart hearts of men;

And that men, treading with restless feet
their many paths, may yet find refuge
from the storms of the world in the cheerful
house of love. 

Max Ehrmann, 

Please, oh please, let us all DEMAND tighter gun laws.

We had a Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 - 2004 signed into law by Pres. Clinton.
E In May 1994, former presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan, wrote to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of banning "semi-automatic assault guns".

The NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA) opposed the ban. 

How many more innocent children and adults need to tragically die due to profound mental illness and the disturbing reality of how many of these individuals slip through the cracks?

Something about December...the cold, the holidays, and....I was away - - yaay.  I missed writing my December entry.

A friend of mine stated to me recently that when shopping during the Holiday season, she was particularly uncomfortable with some of the people at the train station and on the sidewalks in Center City.  She stated that she didn't feel comfortable in their midst.  Some were talking to themselves, gesticulating, and appeared ungroomed and even unclean.  She told me that she crossed the street, avoided eye contact, and was prepared to run, if necessary. 

My response:  Most people with mental illness are basically harmless and may be targets of violence themselves.  Many, if not most, people who are mentally ill, and quite sick, have never hurt anyone.  

With that said, what about the people who have participated in mass gun violence?  Sad, tragic, vicious attacks perpetrated on innocent men, women and children.  Are these people mentally ill?  It's easy to lump these individuals as mentally ill, and not address the issue of the gun problem, in general.  We are still learning facts about the shooter in Las Vegas who killed 58 people and injured 851 people.   What was his motive, his reasoning?  We may never know.  I don't have all of the facts, and I don't know if his family and/or friends noticed any aberrant behavior prior to the event committed on October 1st, 2017 that would provide clues surrounding that horrendous, heinous act.

But, I can write this.  These horrific acts are the exception. During 1999 - 2015, according to the Nat'l. Center for Health Statistic, there were 198,760 homicides committed by a firearm.  The 2016 American Psychiatric Association has written a report that less than 1% are committed by a person diagnosed with mental illness.

I believe that you/we should always be aware of our surroundings.  Watch people's actions.  If someone is acting in a strange, disruptive way, that doesn't mean they're mentally ill, but you should still be cautious.
And, if you know of someone in your family or circle of friends/acquantances who needs help, don't hesitate to call your County Mental Health Clinic and speak to a Mental Health professional for guidance.

​The cold, hard facts is that men are more likely to cheat, than women.  Not to say that women don't, but they do so in much less frequency than men.  It is usually women who are cheated on by their mate.  But why?
Now, that's a question that can have a myriad of answers.... excitement, curiosity, ego-boosting, sexual boredom (same ol'/same ol'), feeling as though they are not understood by their primary partner.

Infidelity causes extreme stress, upheaval and turmoil to a relationship, often times in a way that cannot be reconciled.  Why do it?  The risk is high and the consequences are severe.  If there are children, they are greatly and severely affected, as well.  

The truth is that it's all a myth.  We, humans, aren't designed to engage in affairs of lust & passion.  It's unrealistic, and it just doesn't work for the long-haul.  

Listen, you guys and some of you women ~ that someone who is there for you, who cares for you, for the long-haul is the person who needs to be nurtured, supported, loved and validated.  Real happiness comes from that.  And it takes commitment.  AND, it is the REAL DEAL.

It sounds like I'm going to belt-out a song from the Sound of Music.  But no, I'm going to write a little bit now and a little bit later on the problem of partners who stray.  Why are so many men not satisfied with monogamy?  Why do they have a roving eye, and, worst, go off in the opposite direction of their committed relationship.

Sidebar:  I am not referring to that producer/former Studio executive who is clearly a pathological criminal.

I'm taken aback at the scores of husbands, boyfriends, so-called committed partners, and there are the women too, who do not find that their relationship is enough.  So, to what can we attribute this:  stupidity (not appreciating what they have), peer pressure, narcissism, feelings of inferiority?  IMHO, I believe it comes down to respecting your partner, and honoring your own commitments and values.  If you believe fooling-around is ok, everyone does it, what harm does it cause, well, then, that's your value.  If you believe staying true to your values, honoring your partner with loyalty, love and lasting-power, then that's your value.  

I realize that I'm writing in generalizations, but it's a good start for all of us to take a good look at who we are, what we stand for, and how we want to be known.  Personally, I think that gravestones should include philandering, cheating, womanizer, etc. as part of the epitaph.

~The Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
  Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
  Love Me Tender - Elvis
  And my last song:  Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen's song that has been sung by so many, including:  Jeff               Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Celine Dion, k.d. Lang,   Listen to several artists singing this one.  It's amazing.

  Enjoy.
  

 "Love, sweet love.  It's the only thing that there's just too little of."

A good friend of mine gave me a CD for my birthday recently with a few love songs on it, and I'm enjoying listening to it very much.  The lyrics of these songs provide a good message, - -  what we need to do to show and demonstrate love to our partner.

Therefore, I decided to make my own partial playlist for what I believe a relationship needs to flourish and grow:

"I've been searching for so long" - Chicago
"The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
"Understanding" - Bob Seger
"Truth" by Gwen Stefani
"Bridge over Troubled Waters" - Simon & Garfunkel
"The Long & Winding Road" - The Beatles
"It's Going To Take Some Time" - The Carpenters

​To be continued...

And other facets of the relationship come into the picture.  Are there children from a previous relationship? The parents of your partner/spouse utter their comments.  Siblings pass judgments.
Certain comments are made by the partner, and certain opinions could be perceived as demeaning or cruel. General disagreements escalate to name-calling and insults ensue.  

So where did that passion and longing go?  Any or all of these previously-mentioned behavior(s) are red-flags that the relationship is trouble.  The relationship is not getting nurtured, and the time and energy is not spent on fixing it.

All of this eat away at a healthy, loving relationship.