Love

Keeping the Love You Have

Posted on by missycooper1

The pathway to love seemed so hard when I was single, and to be honest…even when I first met my husband. Keeping the love you have requires just as much work, if not more than the hunt. The difference is your investment and your perspective on how this person fits into your life long-term.

Relationships are like plants. They are all a little different, and require a specific type of care, but the basic principles are the same. You water it, fertilize it, give it the right amount of sun and attention, and it grows stronger each day.

For some the difficult task may seem to be finding your partner in life, your person, or as I like to call them – your lobster. The reality is that its harder to keep the love you have, than find it. Some may believe once I have netted that delectable lobster, I am all set and get to enjoy the fruits of my sea voyage. The truth is, your real journey begins. It takes work to meld two lives together. Two hearts, two minds, two belief systems, two sets of values, financial understandings, parenting beliefs, behaviors, etc. It only took your whole life to become who you are, is it realistic to think you can change another person overnight to do everything you want – or think is “right”? Of course not! A marriage/relationship is about coming together with a common set of beliefs and making it work for both people, then creating a new reality that honors the life you want to live – together.

Over the past few years in my marriage I have learned Five Principles that have helped us build a happy life together.
Read More

Little things matter

Posted on by missycooper1

Most days we float around in our own little world having no idea the impact we can have on others. From the passing smile to a stranger, the phone call to a customer, the angry eyes we give a loved one when they annoy us, even having a chance to vote, calling a friend or family member to catch up or giving our best effort towards activities we are a part of. These small things can make a big difference. In this big world that constantly tells us through media, politics, and consumerism that we are not enough, that we need something or someone to be of value, we may start to question how our involvement could matter. The American culture is one of individualistic mindsets. We don’t know our neighbors, we are too busy to build deep relationships with our coworkers – who may be competition, even our kids spend less time cultivating face to face relationships and instead spend time online or texting. The value of face to face connections, of a hug, smile or handshake cannot be underestimated. Read More

Finding love that lasts

Posted on by missycooper1

Love.  It is the one thing in life that we all need, search for, hope for, ache for, and even sometimes in our fear – run from.  John Lennon said it best, “All You Need Is Love.”  Martin Luther King said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”  From a spiritual perspective, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).  The Dali Lama notes that, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them humanity cannot survive.”

If love is essential to all aspects of life, why is it so hard to see it when it arrives before you?  I recall a time when I thought all I wanted was a relationship with a man who truly loved me, yet I did many things to get in my own way, and prevent love from flourishing in my life.  Read More

Love

Posted on by missycooper1

Love. Its a verb, a noun, an adjective. Its simple and complex.  Love is this amazing intangible emotion, expression, feeling, belief, experience that even when described and discussed at great lengths can never be truly understood until you have walked in it, flown in it, muddled in it, reveled in it, pained in it, joyed and been overwhelmingly awed in it.

Love is so unique that each person experiences it in their own way, but those who have had the opportunity to open their heart to it share a universality, understanding and common spirit of love’s awesomeness.  I see mothers who love their children and friends who love one another, families whose hearts bolster with love toward each other. Their is also quiet love, unspoken love, secret love, but the most rewarding love is the kind you aren’t afraid to scream from the rooftops about. The kind of love that brings a smile to your lips when you awake or think about the person you love. The kind of love that makes you feel all giddy when you catch a glimpse of the love of your life. There is also that swelling in your heart for the prideful sweet love you feel for your children.

Ahhhh, amore…don’t ya just love love? I’m wishing you all much love today!