Author Archive

April 21, 2009

Just when you thought there was hope….

by Rod Smith
I love Friedman. I hope you will too.

I love Friedman. I hope you will too.

I have reconstructed one of the late Rabbi Ed. Friedman’s parables which I first encountered as a footnote in his paper entitled “The Challenge of Change and the Spirit of Adventure.” (It’s essential reading, by the way):

A man was getting ready for heart bypass surgery when his organs called a (secret, of course) meeting. Lungs declared they would refuse to participate in the surgery saying the host had no business making them work harder after all they’d done for him for all these years.

Spleen agreed. Pancreas nudged in agreement. Actually Pancreas winked, but it is hard to tell with Pancreas.

Intestine mulled endlessly on the matter and felt (it was rather an emotional moment, actually) it should side, if he sided with anyone, with Spleen.

Intestine, who found it hard to have an opinion anyway, also did everything slowly.

The Kidney Twins, in unison and stony-faced, kidded a just little (they are not given to too much humor) that he had had the audacity to think they’d work any harder on his behalf, “Who does he think he is trying to get all well?” Their comment became a scoff.

Bowel, not given to small talk, churned the over the matter, repeatedly sighed a long conspiratorial, “Nooo. Nooo. Noooo!”

Liver, still seated, said he wasn’t about to change after all these years. Then, standing to address the meeting, said, “Who exactly is he to decide without due process anyway? New lease on life, a new Heart around here will mean new demands. Everyone’s been so worried about old Heart for all these years, no one gave a rip about us! We’ll show him who is boss! He’ll get all active – which means we’ll have to, too. No. No. No. What does he know about taking out the trash anyway? I do the REAL work around here!”

Round the table the organs voted and a decision was reached. “No! No to surgery for our ambitious, unreasonable, demanding, host.”

Just then Brain spoke up, “It’s none of your business. It is not your decision to make. Get back to work.”

(I highly recommend Friedman’s Fables and Failure of Nerve by the same author.)

April 19, 2009

My brother married a sometimes-spiteful woman…

by Rod Smith

My brother is going to live in the UK. I have not seen much of him since his wedding day when he married a rather spoiled, sometimes spiteful woman. I would like to say a few things to him about his wife and explain why I have not been in contact. I know I will miss him. It already feels like he has been gone for a long time. Please help.

Write to me...

Write to me...

Your brother now has a primary covenant relationship that trumps ALL of his other relationships. Do not, under any circumstances, take your brother aside for any explanation regarding your lack of contact. Your attendance at the wedding affirmed the union. If you did not agree with his choice of bride you should have made this clear before the wedding and then not have attended the wedding.

Eat humble pie and embrace your brother and his wife as soon as possible. His wife may well be “a rather spoiled, sometimes spiteful woman” but she is your sister-in-law and he is your brother. It is time for you to create the kinds of memories that will enrich your family rather than give you fuel for future regret.

April 18, 2009

Day planner

by Rod Smith

I'm waiting to hear from you. Rod@DifficultRelationships.com

I'm waiting to hear from you. Rod@DifficultRelationships.com

In the rush of the morning I will be an agent of good news. No matter what’s reported on television, what frightful events are in the newspaper, or how trying my circumstances might be, I will find joy this morning, and, on finding it, I will spread it, speak it, and live it with abandon.

At mid-morning, around teatime, I will be a conveyor of compliments. I will find something to praise in several people, especially forlorn souls who appear to least expect it. If perchance, in the course of my search, I encounter an angry man or woman I will counter the anger with honest affirmations, quiet words of encouragement while doing all I can to ignore the symptoms of anger.

Come afternoon and I will make at least a half-a-dozen “well-done” phone calls even if I get a brain-burn* coming up with names and acts worthy of some recognition.

Then this evening I will applaud the universe for its kindness. I will offer a standing ovation to God for the abundance of Grace that allows me to thrive. I will embrace my neighbors for helping me be part of a vibrant community. I will celebrate my children for all we continue to learn and to share. And, oh, once everyone is asleep, I will do the laundry.

* My sons gather great words!

April 15, 2009

Hurting feels like a monumental hill….

by Rod Smith

“Healing a hurting heart is monumental hill to climb. I am almost 50 and have just broken up with my girlfriend whom I dearly loved. I am a divorced man. The sudden guilt of not making the right choices and sadness of all my previous years has rested upon me. I continually focus on where I went wrong and wonder if my own mind is against me because the amount of hurt I do to myself. I tell myself that there are people with incurable diseases, loved ones who have been killed, and billions of people are worse off than I am but it doesn’t seem to help.

I will listen to you, and make time for you if you'd like to talk.

I will read your letters, and make time for you if you if you'd like to talk.

I tend to look back more instead of looking forward knowing that it doesn’t help. Not being a religious person I would feel embarrassed and fickle to head toward religion. If there is any man in the same sad trench and found a way out I would like to know. I know this is trivial as when compared to what’s going on in the world but at the moment it feels shattering.” (Edited)

“Fickle” would be an honorable label in return for the promise of a secure faith. I’d suggest a full medical and several weeks with a skilled therapist. It is possible to give too much to a relationship, to expect it to deliver you from all unhappiness, to meet your every need. Perhaps you invested too much, at the neglect of your personal well-being, and now, in the absence of the relationship your world has indeed fallen apart. There is a future, even after this loss. Really. I have seen others find it and I trust you will do so too.

Reader responds: “Regarding yesterday’s column, I do not think there is anything wrong or ‘fickle’ with seeking religious solace in the face of personal suffering. We live in a materialistic world that puts great store on the concept of the ‘self-made man’ (and women) who are not supposed to curl up and die when things go wrong. However, the reality is that without a strong personal belief system, it is very difficult to face loss and depression. Knowing that there are others suffering greater tribulation certainly does not help the individual to come to terms with his own personal grief – spiritual faith does. Maybe this heartbreak is the impetus this man needs to review his spiritual needs. It happened to me and I have grown as a result, but it has been a slow process. There are no quick fixes in this life.”

Precisely. Thus my comment that “fickle” would be an honorable label in return for a secure faith.

April 11, 2009

Be a healing presence…

by Rod Smith

Rod@DifficultRelationships.com

Thanks for visiting

Through the wonders of technology I am able to access the key words that land readers on this website. I think you’d be surprised at the frequency of combination of the words “how to hurt a man” appear to be the essence of a search. In response, to those who appear to want to inflict damage, I have devised a list of how to participate in the healing of men and women who have been hurt.

1. Be willing to listen, even if what is being said is what you’d prefer to not hear. Try not to re-engineer (re-frame, recast) what you have heard so it is more fitting with what you’d really like to hear.
2. Resist understandable attempts to short-circuit growth by trying to ease necessary pain, by offering false affirmations, and by accepting empty excuses for irresponsible behavior. Pain is a very good motivator for change. Resist the urge to remove it when it appears to be helpful.
3. Offer your presence, not your answers. “I am with you” is more helpful than “let me help you fix it.”
4. Welcome silence. There are ways to talk that do not include words. Resist the understandable urge to chase healing and learning away with the incessant use of words.
5. Avoid minimizing (“it’s not so bad!”) or rationalizing (“What else did you expect?”) or normalizing (“Anyone would have done that!”) the issues that resulted in pain. Do not rob necessary pain of its usefulness.
6. Promote “future thinking.” Ask questions focused on future wellness and success.
7. Try to avoid searching for the genesis (the cause) of what has led to pain. Where something comes from is not nearly as important living your way out of it.

Write to me: Rod@DifficultRelationships.com / if you want to talk, let me know. I will make time for you.

April 8, 2009

My husband and his friend are inseparable…..

by Rod Smith

“My husband made friends with a guy and now they’re inseparable. I am going mad. I know a man has to have friends but this is ridiculous. He sees this person every other day. I want alone time with my husband and he will say his friend wants to join us. This feels like a threesome. He does have a wife who is not ‘my cup of tea.’ I cannot say anything because it makes a fight. Am I wrong? The other day I said let’s take a drive and sit somewhere. My husband made sure the place was nearby so his friend could meet us. Confused boundariesI was silent to not make trouble. My husband says I am jealous. How can I be jealous of a man? I think maybe he should take his clothes and go and live with him. He must have something I don’t have. When I see him I can scream but I keep my cool. The friend will say, ‘Oh my sister! So glad to see you.’ My blood boils. I know God says you have to let these things go and pray otherwise we don’t have blessings. Give me advice before it is too late.” (Letter shortened)

dsc_0642How much of your husband are you willing to share? How much of a threesome are you prepared to be? These questions must be answered. This issue is not about the friend, his wife, or even your husband. Everything, for you, hinges on you. It is not a matter of jealousy and your husband is employing a sneaky trick to suggest it is. This is about divided, or confused, loyalties. Challenge your husband to grow up, to decide on how his loyalties are expressed from day to day.

From where did you get the idea that you have to be silent and “let these things go and pray,” or you will stop your blessings? This is twisted theology. I’d suggest that your silence, passivity, and continuing to have your blood “boil” will only result in increased suffering for you and your husband. Take a stand. Clearly you understand men need friends, but it ceases to be friendship when others (family members) are not also enriched by the friendship. Make your stand with full knowledge that you might not be your husband’s first choice. At least then, you will know.

Write again, or if you’d like to talk, let me know. I will make time for you.
Rod@DifficultRelationships.com

April 7, 2009

I met a guy last week who is wonderful….

by Rod Smith

“I found myself in an affair during my marriage. My affair was so different to my husband: caring, loving, and he wanted me for what I was. My marriage ended (tragically) and I moved in with the guy I had an affair with. Initially we where very happy, he then had a thing with my sister-in-law and then had an affair with a girl who worked near by. The next two years were absolute hell as he would move out and live with his girl friend for a while and then move back in with me. I should never have allowed this. I did let him in and out of my life as he pleased. He got engaged and they have now set a wedding date. I feel that the chapter in my life is now closed. In the last year I have been doing a whole lot of soul searching and want to make myself into someone I like being with. I felt very empty though in all of this, missing having someone to hold and love.

“Last week I meet a guy who is wonderful. He is everything I have ever liked in a man. He’s attractive, knows exactly where he is going in life. We met through a mutual friend and hit it off from the word go. I then invited him to go to the rugby and we had a wonderful time. We went to a friend’s house for drinks and left there to go home. He called me for coffee and it was very pleasant. We started kissing and got all hot and bothered but I would not let us have sex. I left in the early hours of the morning. We did have contact the next day and the day after that I sent him a message and he replied. I have been out of the dating scene for a very long time and don’t know if I should just see this as one of those flings. I really don’t want to as he is a really nice guy.”

dsc_0642You are far too fresh out of trauma to be seeing anyone, and besides, anyone can be nice for a week. Keep growing, alone. Persist in becoming the kind of person you like being with. A little emptiness is a good thing if it leads to growth. Leave the kissing until you have known a person for a year or three. This will tell you how nice he really is!

April 6, 2009

To forgive or not to forgive, there is no question….

by Rod Smith

dsc_0642Infidelity is hard to forgive. Not forgiving it is harder. One is a severe punch. The other is a double whammy, its impact potentially outlasting the memory of the betrayal.

Unwillingness to forgive is often the only thing onto which a slighted spouse can hold, the only available ammunition to make a spouse pay. It’s easy to understand. Logical. It’s predictable. But, it ferries undesirable consequences.

Resentment might feel like a good and effective tool to hurt a partner for misdeeds, but it will make you most unattractive. Bitterness might be the most prevalent and obviousthorns emotion to feel, to use, but it will persistently eat you from the inside, leave you feeling even angrier, even more powerless over your life. Then, apart from punishing your spouse, they (resentment and bitterness) will punish you and contaminate all your relationships. In short, they have no boundaries and they are on a mission to deface all that is good and pure.

Who, from any arena of your life, wants to engage a bitter and resentful person in anything meaningful? His or her infidelity might make a spouse untrustworthy, but your resentment and bitterness will ultimately make you most unattractive!

A partner’s infidelity may rob you of trust, rob you of the sacredness of what you had in marriage, but given time, given time to hurt and to express feelings of appropriate anger, I suggest you relinquish your legitimate right to be angry, and forgive.

This is the high road. And your inner beauty will be strengthened, your light will once again begin to shine. And, your unfaithful spouse will no longer be in control of you or your future whether you remain married or not.

April 6, 2009

Please read this post if your are interested in understanding affairs…

by Rod Smith

http://rodesmith.com/2006/01/13/the-seductive-nature-of-an-extramaritial-affair/

April 5, 2009

I can’t tell anyone what has happened….

by Rod Smith

“I have been married for 25 years. I thought every thing was going well. We were on holiday when my husband told me he loved me but wasn’t ‘in love.’ He hasn’t really talked to me since and doesn’t care about anything in my life. I can’t tell anyone what has happened. I can’t tell my family. I don’t want them to worry about me. I can’t tell friends.lock I am afraid people will think less of me. I don’t know what to do, where to go. When I ask him about it he says he didn’t it but he did. When we go to bed he puts his back to me. When I tell him I love him, he says I’m trying to start a fight. I think everybody will be better off if I’m not here anymore. They can start over without worrying about me. I have nothing. Please help me, please.” (Edited)

dsc_0642While you remain silent with family and friends you keep yourself beyond their helpful and healing touch. Let people in so you may find companionship and understanding. While you remain a victim (voiceless, silent) your husband remains in charge of your future. You will find life most appealing when you work on your future despite what your husband chooses to do.