Just to say, next time you’re in England, if you’d like to visit the Red House, give me a shout. It’s just up the road from me and it would be a pleasure to take you there.

Best wishes

Alix

I teach knitting. I am totally into color, the more colors the better. I have no particular interest in lace (I’m not very girly and need rainbows, besides). However, I am surrounded by lace fans and learn much from them. I have one spinning wheel and get it out a handful of times a year. I have friends who spin laceweight and sockweight yarns, and would rather spin than knit.

A dear friend is the best cook I know. When we went to Africa together, she saw a field of collard greens on the way to the Egyptian pyramids and exclaimed “my collards!”

Once I had friends I perceived as better than me. I would do for them often, in order to try and become equal. More effort on my part made me more deserving of their company.

Now I am happy to say my friends are more like those you describe. I have one friend I have lunch with every week. She knew my husband before I did, they work together. We sit at lunch and talk about how great it is to have a partner who adores us, a partner we think is a very fine human being.

I like my new life very much. Thanks for helping me see a bit of why the new (almost 20 years) life is so fabulous!

And, yes, I nearly included Walthamstowe in the piece, but just don’t have words to describe it and assumed most readers wouldn’t have ventured there themselves.

I have some of the most incredible memories from these adventures-and your post has really rekindled them! And YOU have always been open to learning about the Pre-Raphaelites..even if we were in some rather seedy locations, such as Walthamstow, England! Even Rick Steve’s has not ventured into that part of the city. Your willingness to accept that call to adventure is part of the reason that we had such a fabulous time!

But, I also think that you hit upon something really really key to happiness and longevity in relationships. I know of someone who has had two horribly bitter breakups and is on his way to number three. He always starts his relationships doing everything she likes to do-rock climb, ski, bungie jump, etc–things he never showed any interest in before. (he definitely has a HUGE passion, but continually discounts THAT.) We figured that perhaps the reason this happens is because “Paul” has spent so much time stifling his own passions–and in turn, this restraint turns into sarcasm and anger. And I also think that perhaps the reason these relationships do not work is that either he has not presented his authentic self or that he is so bland from acting like a chameleon, that after a while, he becomes boring.

I wonder what everyone else thinks?
g

I love this thought you shared from Jim Rohn “seek out and build relationships with people who could help them grow into their best selves.”
Sally