All meaningful relationships have a place/purpose in your life, including the briefer passages.

If someone harasses you, and blocking contact doesn’t help, protect your safety, including notifying police.

Dwelling on a past abusive relationship prolongs trauma that wasn’t your fault. Get therapy.

To all, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Be discreet when meeting people casually. Take time to assess whether closer friendship is likely, or not.

Separate socializing as part of your job from your personal dating life.

New Year’s Eve is a notable calendar date, not a definition of who you are.

Pursue your interests and seek like-minded people, and you, not Santa, will find your next relationship.

When you feel blocked from the ability to feel love, get professional help to deal with the reasons.

Don’t allow someone a second chance to devastate you, unless he/she shows evidence of having changed.

Distrusting your spouse ultimately destroys the relationship.

The answer to a woman’s question “Do I Need a Man?” has to come from within herself, considering her needs/wants and any children involved.

The importance of “size” in a relationship is relative to the degree of emotional feelings felt between the two partners.

The different personalities that attract two people, also require their adjusting to and accepting those differences.

When circumstances impose pressure and fatigue, lean in together. Touch, warmth, love, will revive desire.

Labelling step-grandparenting differently from grandparenting sends a divisive message.

At least one parent should be home when a young teenage couple have their “date” there.

Do NOT “move on” to another marriage until you’ve learned how your first marriage failed so dramatically.

When one partner’s emotionally stronger, the other still must share some couple-minded responsibilities.

Don’t let love make you accept a second-class role in your relationship. Lying/cheating can’t be dismissed.

Since opposites often attract, it’s almost inevitable that many couples have to learn to accept the reality of each other’s differences.

The trauma from physical abuse is deep-rooted. Without counselling, old fears can be re-triggered.

Age-difference isn’t as big a problem as one person being used and treated badly by other.

Sometimes the more obvious differences between two people aren’t what’s really dividing them.

Mid-life is no time to give up on yourself even if a partner has failed you. The years ahead are up to you!

A cheater who brags to you should be warned of being outed, if you know the spouse.

Hoping to re-connect with an alcoholic relative? Get informed about the best approaches, build trust slowly.

When you view your relationship partner with suspicion, make sure it’s not due to your own insecurity.

Disagreements occur in every couple’s relationship. “Fighting fair” is how they can disagree and stay connected.

An old/true saying: If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.

A prenuptial agreement between a couple can protect both parties from unpleasant surprises about assets and finances.

“Working late” doesn’t always signal a cheating-alert. But a non-accusatory chat may be needed to explain the change.

Heal from divorce through focusing on your kids, the gift of new love, and seeking help if needed.

A loving partner helps you find out why your breath smells bad, rather than just shaming you.

No Surprise: Quick, easy divorces require two people who agree on all the issues.

Pursue all legal avenues to see your children while also communicating in any way possible.

A job that’s caused diagnosed negative effects to your mental health, isn’t worth its higher salary.

Practice the basic behaviours that make for a healthy relationship with close people. It’ll turn much of your life towards “happy.”

“Second-chance-love” sometimes involves many other people and factors. Think it through carefully.

Religious differences can divide a family. Discussion needs to be moderate and reassuring.

Restoring trust after cheating isn’t easy. Apologizing and recognizing the depth of hurt caused is essential.

Divorce is rarely only one party’s “fault” but rather a result of both accepting a distanced, hurtful situation for too long.

Addiction can affect everyone in a family. Al-Anon and other similar programs (e.g. Nar-Anon) offer significant help.

Parents of early teens need to be patient, helpful, but firm about safety-first.

If your partner and young-adult children hate each other, it’s up to the true grown-ups to try to create bridges.

Beware an instant “romance” with someone seeking constant caring for his/her needs.

Schoolyard bullies must be stopped by all the adults responsible for safe schools.

When physically abusive behaviour is evident, immediate help and safety are crucial!

If your intimate relationships are maintained only to please yourself, you can end up being very lonely.

Abused people need professional therapy to move past their trauma in order to have healthy relationships.