They say that familiarity breeds contempt.
A saying that needs to be appreciated since we
all as individuals become familiar in our family,
with lovers and friends, including companions
and in our places of work and play. At first we meet
someone: everything about that someone is new.
The phase of discovery is interesting and we slowly
appreciate the other person's virtues and faults.
The same occurs with the other person who will
discover our strengths, talents, weaknesses and faults.
Love is possible and liking too, but then as time goes
by the predictable responses by the other can become
irritating and at times unpleasant. Disagreements
naturally arise and resistance can become the norm.
This is the phase when familiarity takes hold. The more
we see or talk to the other... the worse traits emerge.
A process of 'not liking' the other's personality, views,
talents and choices! We then try to keep a bit
of distance from the other, not fully wanting to cut
a developed relantionship. Real love and care have
work to do. These two need to lead each person
in appreciating the other's traits and overcome
emerging dislike or disapproval of what the other does.
Our individuality begins to hold our togetherness hostage.
We do and we don't want to see the other. We do
and we don't want to go out on activities that have
by now become predictable events... like having
a cup of tea or caffellatte. We know what the other wants,
thinks, reacts to and likes. Even those things that seem
hard to accept in the other. Familiarity by now has become
a problem! So what do we do? Do we continue to value
and revalue the relationship? Here real love, patience
and feelings of togetherness will give the fruits of a true
friendship, a true love for the other! Love is the answer
every time!
