Archive for September 18th, 2006

September 18, 2006

Reader “messed” around, and learned his lesson…. now he’s having difficulty trusting her…

by Rod Smith

Reader: My girlfriend and I have been together for 3 years. At first I was the one who messed around with my ex-girlfriend. I was young and couldn’t let go. However, she stood strong and gave me another chance. Since that day something inside me changed. It was almost as she re-instilled my morals. I go out and go home to her. No cheating in any way. No flirting. She’s the only woman I want to be. For reasons to do with her education she’s moved away and I only see her every second weekend. We hardly talk because she is either busy or with friends who are mostly guys I have never met. I have had an uneasy feeling for a few weeks. What do you think? (Edited for space)

ROD’S REPLY: I trust your change, with or without her, is enduring. If this relationship is to last, you are going to have to learn to trust your girlfriend and resist allowing the distance to so unsettle you. Uneasiness within you will make your occasional conversations and visits feel controlling (for her). Talking with you will feel like a burden, and burdening her with your uneasiness, while she is enjoying herself, will only create a larger distance between you, and she might decide a long-distance “heavy” relationship is not worth the effort.

September 18, 2006

Reader saw kindness in action…

by Rod Smith

Speaking of kindness (”You and Me” Friday 15/9/06) it seems that along with being kind oneself, it may be useful to “amplify” those acts of kindness one sees in everyday situations. What we give our attention to, grows.

I was at a red light when a car pulled up alongside mine and stopped behind a motorcyclist who was also waiting for the green. The occupants of the car were three tough-looking young men, bodybuilders by the look of their T-shirts stretched across bulging chests and arms.

Suddenly, one of the men leaped from the car and ran over to the motorcyclist. Pointing to the biker’s shoe, he indicated the lace was loose – and in the midst of the busy traffic intersection, quickly knelt down and tied the lace before dashing back to his car. The biker looked surprised, and just had time to nod a hurried thanks over his shoulder before the light changed and the traffic roared off. I bet he was thankful – a loose shoe lace on a motorcyclist could be disastrous if caught in the drive-chain.

It seemed the bodybuilder figured that the biker would have had to dismount to tie the lace, so he just did it for him!