• May 4, 2020

Falling For A Friend Is Nothing Out Of The Ordinary

Falling for a friend is nothing out of the ordinary. Falling for a friend can happen quite often, especially between two people that share a lot of things in common with each other. Friends usually spend a lot of time together. Friends often do the same things together. Commonality is the main reason people become friends. However there are times when too much familiarity can be mistaken for something more. This type of situation happens mainly between friends of different gender. Kindness and friendly affection can easily be confused with feelings of love. Quite often, women are the ones that fall prey to this attraction. However many men have also been in the same situation. Gestures that would normally mean nothing are misconstrued as something more than it is. A lot of people get mixed signals about friendships with the opposite sex. Situations like these are normal but it is up to the individual to figure how he or she will handle it. Falling for a Friend – Is it Mutual? Is it mutual? People that end up falling for a friend should consider if the feeling is in fact mutual. Unfortunately most friendships are just friendships. Falling for a friend can one way or another complicates the friendship. All people value friendship, especially with the opposite sex, since many find it hard to maintain a platonic relationship with the other sex. Because of this, they have a tendency to avoid situations wherein falling for a friend would virtually end the friendship. In general, many men and women are true and dedicated friends. However there are some men and women who cannot resist their attraction to the opposite sex. Many romantics often fall victim to this situation and end up spoiling any chance of a successful relationship with the opposite sex. How to Handle the Situation of Falling For a Friend Once a person has established that he or she has indeed fallen for his or her friend, it is necessary to figure out the next move. The next move is crucial to the survival of the friendship. A person that has fallen in love with a friend can either take advantage of the situation or let the feeling pass. Most of the time, a loyal friend would merely let the sentiment pass. Taking into account all the reasons why falling for a friend would be detrimental to the friendship. This is possibly because most romantic relationships never last whereas nearly all friendships last a lifetime. A lot of people also let the feeling pass for fear of embarrassment. Especially if the feeling is not mutual, which is often the case when falling for a friend. Unfortunately this can also cause a person extreme anxiety that can also strain the friendship. On the other hand there are some people who are willing to risk the friendship in the name of love. These individuals take the chance of freely expressing their feelings for a friend. However the person must also be ready to face the possibility that the feeling would not be reciprocated. This makes the situation more complex as getting back into the friendship after a public declaration of affection can also strain the relationship. In most cases, both parties start to feel awkward in each other's company. One feels guilty for expressing their emotion while the other feels guilty for being unable to return the affection. However if both parties genuinely share the feeling, then it would certainly be a match made in heaven for both parties. This means that the relationship has the opportunity of blossoming into a legitimate and possibly lasting relationship. It would still require a lot of hard work and commitment from both parties involved. But keep in mind that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that may or may not happen. Falling for a friend is a tough situation for any man or woman to face. The risk of losing the friendship is imminent and even more painful for the aggrieved party. On the other hand falling for a friend can bring about a beautiful future between two people that genuinely care for one another provided both are willing to work at it.

  • May 3, 2020

Building the bond in your relationship.

A bond (relationship wise) is when two people have a connection. Being attracted to each other and sharing common values and interests brought the two of you together as a couple, but the bond has not been set completely. Besides the fact that you have love and care between you, you also need to see whether or not the two of you are friends. Is it possible to be friends? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, it is a must if the two of you are going to build a lasting bond. Having a strong longing and passion for another is important, but is not enough fuel to keep the bond running. With friendship, your relationship will remain having that strength under all kinds of circumstances. There will be times, for example, when you as a couple are not living in your most passionate times. This is natural and does not mean there is no longer love or desire. As your relationship deepens, you will go through many experiences and stages that may put your romance and frequent hot sex aside for a while. This is where friendship comes in and why it is so important. You should be there for each other and understand your partner's situations and concerns. Just take a look at your friends. See what makes your friendship with them so great. You then need to see if your partner has those same similarities or exact (sticking up for you when you need the back up for instance) qualities.  Another point to keep in mind is keeping yourself aware of what behavior you would not except from a friend. You should definitely not accept those behaviors from your mate (like standing you up all the time) either. It is not easy to put our friends and lovers in the same comparison because we are in love with our partners, and therefore will be more patient with them than we would with our friends. You can easily blind yourself due to the love you feel for that person and not even realize when he or she is not being a good friend and partner to you. How can you tell? A true friendship is basically the same as the true qualities that define real love. The difference is, we are in love and have a deep desire for our mates, with commitment and a goal of building a future, and perhaps even getting married and making a family together. The list below will help you see if your lover is a friend to you as well. You can talk to and confide in each other about anything. Your partner is there for you when you need to talk to someone. Being able to always rely on each other when one is counted on. Having a permanent shoulder to cry on when we need it Having many things in common Accepting one another for who we are Listening to us and considering our opinions important Do not feel guilty for having higher expectations from your lover either.  People often feel like they should be more lenient and understanding when it comes to their lovers. Even though it is important to keep an understanding attitude (to avoid misunderstandings and arguments), you should never let things always slide or make up excuses for your partner's wrong doings. You should expect better and not except such behavior. You deserve better. After all, you invest most of your emotions and time into your partner, so always remember that you are entitled to receive the same. As important as having that great friendship is, it is also good to remember not to let the friendship get out hand. Is it possible to let a friendship get carried away? Yes, in a relationship it is. It is wonderful when you can be best friends with your partner, but sometimes the friendship is doing so well that it receives all the focus, while in the meantime the romance (being in love) has been neglected. If you are not careful, in time, you will start looking at each other as close buddies and no longer be that passionate couple you started as. There are points that can guide you into detecting when your romance and desire is entering the danger zone before it is too late and would be suggestible to seek professional advice on how to get things back on track. Remembering not to forget our desires for our partner will keep the romance in the picture.  If the relationship still fails to rekindle those feelings and you or your partner cannot leave that buddy mode, looking around with curiosity for others, then your relationship will need some extra help (you can get advice on how to save your relationship). What if it is difficult to have a friendship? This can be another issue, but there are ways to help you find solutions. Some couples may share the most wonderful romance and sex ever, but not really have an actual friendship. In most cases, it would not be advisable to stay in such a relationship, but there are ways you can try and still have some hope. As long as you and your partner remember to keep the romance, love and friendship balanced, your relationship will continue to live in great health, living as long as the both of you wish it to! The decision is yours, so be good enough to yourself and your mate to make the right one. Relationships can seem confusing and hopeless at times, and they can get that way if you do not keep close watch. Stop yourself periodically to check the status of your relationship to makes sure the bond is building, as it should be. Keep in mind that with the right attention and teamwork, the two of you can build the greatest bond. Most importantly, remember that key word you just learned...BALANCE.

  • May 2, 2020

Dating With Friendship Influences Can Cause Problems

Dating isn't as easy as some people would have you believe, and having friendship involvement in your dating can make it even harder. We will assume that your friends mean well and only want what's best for you, but if they start getting tangled in your romantic life, then it's time to do something about it. Handling it the right way will prevent feelings from being hurt and will give you and your dating partner's peace of mind. The first thing you need to do is assess how much of a problem the friendship involvement in your dating really is. Perhaps you are being over-sensitive because you feel the need to defend your date. If so, this could make their innocent questions seem like an attack of some kind. Do your best to step away from the situation and look at it objectively. Your friends care about you, and may only be trying to prevent you from getting hurt. Assuming they are butting in more than they have to (they are friends after all, so there will always be some butting in) then you need to make that stop. The big secret here is to talk about their behavior, and not their character. In other words, don't be judgmental or make them sound like bad friends. Instead, mention the behavior that is causing you concern and keep the focus on that behavior. The next step is to mention how their behavior makes you feel. If you're a guy, then this can be a difficult thing to do, because your friends may tease you for being weak or too sensitive. However, this will eventually pass, and if it doesn't, it may be time to hang out with a different group of friends. Either way, telling them how you feel it will help them to understand why their behavior is bothering you, and will give them an added reason to stop getting so involved in your romantic life. Your friends will typically interfere for one of two reasons: they are jealous of the time you are spending with the new person in your life, or they think that this new person isn't right for you. There is also a chance that these two reasons are intertwined. Your friends may not even be aware of their jealousy, so they warn you about the "trouble" this new person will cause you; all the while, they are blissfully unaware of their true motivations. Of course there are also times when having your friends involved is a good thing. Remember, they have seen you in relationships before, and they can view your current situation more objectively than you can. When this happens you will need to weight their advice carefully. It may be unpleasant to hear what they have to say, but if it turns out to be true, then your friends may have saved you from a lot of hassle and heartache. Friendship involvement in your dating isn't an easy issue to deal with. The best thing is to keep in mind that they are your friends and for that reason alone, they deserve the benefit of the doubt.

  • May 1, 2020

Add Romance-Doesn’t Always Mean Roses and Candles

When most of us think of the word romance, we think of love, making love and having an incredible connection with another person. When most of us wonder how we can add romance to our relationship, we often think of sexy nights filled with lingerie, soft music and wine. But is that it? Not that there is anything wrong with this version, but is that the only option we have? Personally, I don't think so. I'm not sure if I could be considered the most romantic person around. I think I am, but who knows? To me, romance is about a deep connection with someone else. A connection that goes beyond just the lingerie and wine. I think that anytime two people who love each other are able to spend time together doing activities that they both enjoy, that can be a form of romance. True, it isn't necessarily the type of romance that gets written about but that doesn't mean it can't be romantic for the couple. If you think about it, the good memories that we hold throughout our lifetime involve two major themes: doing something we enjoy and/ or being with someone we love. When you combine the something you enjoy with the someone you love, I think that is perfect and I think that can be an (often overlooked) way to add romance to any relationship. Of course, the important distinction here is that is has to be something you both enjoy. It's not really romantic if you want to go hunting and your partner hates to hunt. Even if your partner agrees to go, the romance will be lost on her. So, pick these "non traditional" romantic gestures carefully. Don't delude yourself into believing that your partner enjoys a certain activity when you know darn well, even if you don't want to admit it to yourself, that they don't. Another aspect of something that is romantic, again in my opinion, is something out of the ordinary. Years ago I knew a couple (to be honest they were a little weird) who liked to brag that they had sex every single night. As expected, the husband bragged about it but when I asked his wife if she really enjoyed it that much she said no, it had become more of a habit and wasn't really anything hot and exciting. She said it became a little like brushing her teeth every night before bed... it became routine So, whatever romantic gesture(s) you like to do remember that if anything is done too often it becomes routine. Something that is done often will quickly lose it's intensity and can become if not boring than at least not nearly as exciting. So, if you want to add romance to your relationship, don't restrict yourself to the traditional things (not that there is anything wrong with those, but you want to keep things interesting too). Think about you and your partner and the things you both love to do. Then set up a time when you can do those things together. That can be enormously romantic.

  • January 6, 2020

The Battle Of Chocolates Needs Chocolate Lovers’ Vote

"Chocolat", the comedy released in 2000 based on the novel by Joanne Harris was crystal clear when he said that each person has a different chocolate match. Chocolate lovers all over the world would agree to this. Love and passion for chocolates is relative. One's interest for a chocolate may vary from another person's. See love for chocolates is dependent on a person's taste and his taste alone! Even though the true measure of a chocolate lover is that they would eat anything that is chocolaty, there is more than a hundred percent chance that they have a preferred brand or type. So, with all the chocolates in the world and countries claiming to be the best in producing them, who really takes the hat? Where it Began The history of the chocolate goes back to the times of the Aztecs when they discovered that the beads inside the pods of the cocoa tree can be squashed and processed to produce a dark, bitter liquid which they mixed with spices. The resulting frothy mixture allegedly gave power to their gods and leaders. Even then, they knew the cocoa tree to be of some substance they could use in the future. If only they could find better means to process xocolat, the word they used to call the drink. Only the Aztec leaders were allowed to drink and because the beans were revered so much, it became a currency.  When the Spanish conquerors went back to Spain, they tried to introduce the beans to the majesties. Unfortunately, they couldn't find much use for them just yet. But after some major trials and errors, they realized that when mixed with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and some sugar, the sweet result is even more tantalizing. From then on, it grew popularity and for a while, it became Spain's best kept secret. It took about a hundred years before the rest of Europe found about the secret and when it did, it spread like wildfire amongst the nobilities because they are the only ones who can afford the expensive beans. Soon, European countries started their own ways of improving chocolate production. A Triple Treat The battle for finding the perfect chocolaty formula has seeped into the European countries. Spain, surprisingly, took a step back and watched while France, Belgium and Switzerland took turns in making chocolate history. Even the Americas joined the clamor after the industrial revolution and the consecutive wars. However, the fact remains that chocolate lovers know France, Belgium and Switzerland to be creators of the finest chocolates in the world! The French are known for their liberal yet art-loving lives, their sense of fashion, culinary prowess and a distinct way of life. French chocolates however, are surprisingly not generally known to be one of their expertise. French morsels are often embellished with edible ornaments, hand-painted and carved painstakingly, almost like a work of art and what's nice is it is as delicious as it looks! The dark chocolates are subtle in taste and it's neither as sweet nor bitter as any other kind. The taste simply lingers in the mouth. When it comes to developing what we now know as mass produced chocolates, the Swiss takes the front row seats. Chocolate was introduced to Switzerland when Zurich mayor, Heinrich Escher, imported cocoa beans and consumed it in banquets. It was banned thereafter due to its alleged aphrodisiac benefits. But no one can stop the Swiss from becoming the makers of chocolate as we recognize them today. So, what's your vote?