Relationship Can Overcome Loneliness

I watched as the airplane circled and landed on a vast stretch of snow. A young man stepped out with his gear and stood alone watching the plane disappear. As I watched I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. It was the movie, "Never Cry Wolf".

The only other time I felt such an overwhelming sense of loneliness I watched my son standing alone on an airstrip as my plane took off. He was a couple of thousand miles from home and knew no one there. Relationships, wherever we are,can make the difference between feeling unbearably alone in vast space or feeling connected to others and the strength and beauty of the universe.

Blog Jog Day Nov. 21 at 12:00am

Thank you for stopping by my Blog! Please explore all this Blog has to offer, then jog on over to http://anne-k-albert.blogspot.com. If you would like to visit a different Blog in the jog, go to http://blogjogday.blogspot.com.

A Lesson from Ted Robinson

Elva and I met Ted Robinson, author of "Water in My Veins" at our writers' group. Later I read his autobiography which is a series of true short stories from his life that teach life lessons.

Ted's father died when Ted was a small boy. His grandfather, who was deaf, took responsibility for the family and became the father Ted didn't have. His grandfather had lost his own wife and soul mate. He told Ted, "GIVIN' BEATS GETTIN' EVERY TIME". Everyone who aspires to become a soul mate can learn from his story. By giving up his life to save the family he really saved his own life.

blog written by Everett Anson

Guest Blog from My Soul Mate

When Elva and I teach classes on marriage, I often wonder what people in the class think about me. What type of a mate am I? Do they think I am a mousy compliant man who could easily be turned into a soul mate? Or am I handsome, strong, loving, intelligent, kind, and respectful, the perfect man every woman wishes she could meet?

The truth is I am neither. I am a jerk sometimes and a nice person at times, Just an ordinary guy who often doesn't listen and can be preoccupied with my own interests.

Get-Away to California's North Coast

The French Garden restaurant

We had been planning our latest get-away for awhile--a two night trip to Gualala, a small town on the gorgeous California North Coast. Over the years that magical part of the world has become our get-away haven. Again, nature smiled on us. Mild sunshine wiped out the cold rainy weather we had been having. Walking beside the ocean with no jackets, we soaked up the warmth and the beauty of the ocean storing it in our memories for the coming winter.

We have a number of choices for routes to our destination. Last spring we chose to go through Sebastopol. On the west side of town we passed a restaurant called The French Garden. We stopped for lunch and the exquisite food was a delightful surprise. I had the best beet salad I have ever eaten. This trip we planned to arrive at The French Garden for brunch. We were not disappointed. I savored each mouthful of the seafood and spinach quiche. I have never eaten a better quiche. The restaurant grows most of their food at a nearby farm.

This trip has been a time of renewal of intense love, energy, and gratitude for every day of life we have together.

What You Need to Know About Enmeshment

Everett shows off his fish.

When couples become so close they cannot do anything apart therapists call that enmeshment. To have a good soul mate relationship, you must also have a life of your own. That means having friends of your own as well as friends you share with your soul mate.

Everett has lunch every Wednesday with the guys he worked with in engineering before they all retired. They have a lot of laughs and support each other through the challenge of aging. I have friends I meet for lunch and occasionally I spend a weekend at a Women's Retreat. Once I went to Hawaii with a friend to a 10 day "Heal the Healer" conference. It was great.

Monday Everett went fishing with four friends at Pyramid Lake in Nevada. When the men got home Tuesday afternoon the wives joined them for a fish dinner at one of their homes. We had a good time and now we have some new friends.

Meet My Soul Mate

Let me tell you about my soul mate. He grew up the 6th child in a family of 5 boys and 2 girls. Born in 1931 in rural Nebraska in the middle of the great depression, his family struggled to survive after his father lost his farm. Struggling for just food and shelter left its mark.

Everett lives his life with intensity, constantly pushing himself to be better, to do more. No man is loved more by his children, his grandchildren, and his wife and yet he doesn't feel like enough. I see his struggle and how hard he tries to let go, relax, enjoy, and believe in himself. He is thoughtful, helpful, loving, dependable, and kind. He can be fun when he lets go of the intensity. He is able to do that more on our getaways. At those times we talk for hours. We learn together.

Everett and I began our life together naive and lacking many relationship skills, but we learned and are still learning. Our relationship reminds me of a kaleidoscope. We think we know each other and a twist or turn reveals another beautiful color. Learning to be soul mates is worth all the time and effort you give it.