Pitfalls In Building Relationships, Commitment, And Love - M Is For...

We continue this series suggesting how to avoid many pitfalls in building interpersonal relationships, whether with family, coworkers, friends, or that special someone...

Committed, loving relationships do not just happen. You may know that there is no success secret, no checklist of things to do, and just as important things not to do to make such relationships happen. But we do have many suggestions that focus on potential problems. We actually have a double series of articles for the letter M. The focus here is on macho and mad.

M is for macho. What can be more ridiculous than the strutting of macho-man? Doesn’t he know that the nameless, some would say faceless first decade of the new millennium is in the process of winding down? Whether you liked her or hated her, Margaret Thatcher was in many ways head and shoulders above any male British politicians of her time. And her time was decades ago. Shortly after the Thatcher days a next-door neighbor moved in with their dog, Maggie. We might have guessed and were told that the cute little pup was named after Thatcher. But we never found out whether they were pro or anti Thatcher. Given the depth of feelings about MT it was better not to ask. The doggy eventually died and was replaced by a detestable pooch that bared its teeth every time it saw me. I think it was abused as a puppy. And boy was it ever macho.

The he-lion is as macho as can be but the she-lion actually gets things done.

M is for mad. You must know that famous phrase; don’t get mad, get even. Actually better advice is simply don’t get mad. Unless you have low blood pressure. It seems that getting mad raises your blood pressure. I know that getting mad perceptibly raises my blood pressure. I know that even without hooking up my home blood pressure reading device. But I am not a doctor. Perhaps getting mad lowers the blood pressure of individuals whose blood pressure is lower than normal. Be that as it may, don’t get mad. Count to ten. Or, if necessary, count to one hundred. Ask yourself, is this really worth getting mad about. In many cases your anger was the whole point of your adversary’s words and actions. If you don’t get mad you destroy his game, at least until the next round. You are allowed to be mad about someone. Even if that’s maddening. About as maddening as that TV show, “Mad About You.” Mad magazine is an entirely different subject, certain to come up sooner or later.

This MAD I like.

Are you tired of all this negativity? Take a look at our companion series that accentuates the positive.