I was just reading an article on Relevant Magazine talking about an entirely new concept with me, which is that of the "thirds" of relationships. It organised friendships into three parts. The first third is the new and shiny bit of the relationship where everything is amazing and fun. The second third: The car has lost its new car smell, but it’s still faithful in getting from one place to the other. It’s working, and it doesn't really take much thought or get much notice.
Then comes the last third: this is the hard part, where there is proportionally less progress, like a talented musician. There is the talent, which can make the first two thirds easier, but to get to the concert ready stage you have to work and sweat, and make a conscious decision to stick with it. This is the part that most people neglect, when the shine wears off.
We are addicted to the new, something shiny, like an Apple product, and we don't know at the time, but the shine will wear off that too. We have to stick with it, make a conscious decision to press through the last third in order to gain that something better that we all so desire.
I am very guilty of this, and therefore I'm good at making friends at parties, but often it doesn't even reach the second stage. I get there occasionally but I don't think I've ever pushed through the third stage, the hard bit. Perhaps this is why I blog? Because I don't push through to reach the stage of intimacy to talk about what I think and feel with my friends. That sounds rather sad, but hopefully it will motivate me. No worries.
God bless, Morley =)
To read the original article, which I very much stole, go here. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/features/27969-loyalty-in-a-disposable-world
