The Secret Recipe to a Relationship

I never thought I would ever come to a point in my life where I can say, "Yes I can cook good food."  But ever since I got into this relationship with Rocky, I have found myself in a life where reaching for my dreams seems to be the norm. 

Rocky and I now cook more often than buy food outside or have it delivered.   While Rocky is good at coming up with delectable soups and very filling pastas, I am thankful he really enjoys my salads and other simpler dishes.  Most recently, Rocky has been really loving the Turbo Broiled Chicken that I can make.  The recipe was a family favourite which so many people have really appreciated and to be able to cook it now makes me feel very happy.

Since Rocky and I have been taking taking steps to eating healthier, the additions of cooking machines such as the Turbo Broiler and the Slow Cooker Crock Pot are a definite plus.  The tricky part is really finding not too difficult but healthy recipes to try.

Which brings me to the topic of relationships:  

If you find yourself in a relationship which stifles your growth as a person or forces you to sacrifice your dreams, then maybe it is time to reconsider how you treat yourself.    Maybe it is time to get out.

While it is not uncommon for sacrifices to be called for from either party in making a relationship work, all such sacrifices should always be a two-way street.  Both should realize the give-and-take nature of a relationship is a constant act of finding ways to keep things balanced.  While this doesn't meant counting and tracking every single thing and time you make certain compromises, it does mean being aware that you aren't the only one doing them.  Often, I've read  facebook status updates and comments from single people complaining about how love has always been unfair to them or how it was time "they took care of themselves  more."   I sometimes find myself wanting to reach out and tell them, "You know, that's precisely it.  You HAVE to take care of yourself more.  You have to always keep yourself happy.  Because if you don't, you won't have happiness that you will want to share with your partner."  The happiness that makes a relationship strong and nourishes it to grow is a happiness that comes from each partner and is shared with each other.  If only one person keeps "producing" the happiness and the other keeps "relishing it," then I'm afraid that's merely a relationship doomed to eventually fall apart or worse, live on with one of the two feeling cheated and trapped for the rest of his life.

Be happy.
And share that happiness with the person you love.

If you find someone who is doing the same then, then chances are you have found the person you are meant to  be with for the rest of your lives.