Opposites often attract, but they still have to work at staying together.

Parenting is a joint project, requiring collaboration, not judgment.

Surviving an affair requires mutual understanding and joint work, not gritty revelations.

A bullying relationship trades on dependency and fear, not love.

When your close pals settle down, enjoy their families as part of the friendship.

A break between relationships is crucial for the self-reflection needed to improve your own behaviour patterns.

When your personal standards feel compromised, consider your options.

Family and close friends deserve your compassion when they’re hurting.

When you love someone, helping him/her should be a selfless act, not about winning.

When a relationship is blocked by a single issue look for the silent problems.

Courtship should be about your commitment

Marriage deserves an actively positive effort at survival, rather than silent withdrawal.

Close friendship with a boss should be enjoyed outside workplace situations, more than in view of co-workers.

When raising children becomes an obstacle to a happy marriage, rather than a mutual bond, it’s time for couples’ counselling.

When helping another becomes more an act of enabling than a positive gesture, excuse yourself from the task.

When everything you know about someone is wrong for you, fantasy won’t make it right.

Before you accuse a partner of indiscretions, be sure you have more facts than jealousy.

When you agree to have a fling, don’t expect long-term commitments.

If you always seek parents’ approval, they’ll expect that it rules.

When the dating period is problematic, start talking instead of planning ahead.

Tough love is as much about love as setting limits.

Going the distance to give someone a second chance, is the true test of friendship.

A pre-nup now, can avoid disaster later.

Waiting around for a married lover is often a sure way to keep him/her happy with both the spouse and the fantasy.

When there’s a child involved, prove you’re worthy of a second chance.

Don’t let resentments that can be avoided build into a family rift; instead, change your plans.

A partner’s grief deserves compassion and sensitive response.

When examining your relationship, be sure you’re judging fairly.

If you always have a me-first attitude, you’ll keep winding up alone.

What I wish most for all, is a year of good health and hopefulness. Happy New Year!

When a couple have widely divergent personalities, there have to be compromises, to make the relationship work.

Hard times call for new attitudes and personal resources, plus closer partnering in relationships.

Repeated anger signals a need for help, or creating distance.

In tough times, relationships need love and mutual resolve, without resentment.

Happy Holiday Season to all!

Regular explosive temper is an alarm for change of some kind.

When a friend requires distance, back off.

Don’t waste time wishing for heat in a cool relationship.

When children are involved, imbalances in a relationship can become more evident and difficult to bear.

Don’t ascribe the same “player” motives to a whole group, as seen from one transparent affair-seeker.

When sex is being withheld, look to ALL the causes, not just the one that’s blamed.

When all the signals clearly say “it’s over,” don’t hang on.

Support someone who’s depressed by knowing where to turn in a crisis.

The economy demands changes, even in relationship patterns.

A “break” can sometimes show support, without closing doors.

The decision to have children should be negotiated as soon as possible, and not come as a surprise ton the other partner.

Moving in together is a new phase for both parties; the adjustment takes time and compromises,not controls.

When in-laws have a strained relationship, the adult child “in the middle” is hiding from taking action.

Secrets and lies contrived to maintain friendships with the opposite sex, will ultimately destroy your current relationship.

You can’t change the nature of a relationship without expecting the dynamics to change, too.