Ok, I know I say I'm ready to have kids but y'all should really take that with grains of salt. Like a lot of salt. Enough to kill a frog, truly. I'm probably just in a growing/healing mode. There's a lot you learn from yourself during the process as well. I've digressed. Getting back to the topic at hand. Recognition and accountability. That's the goal honestly. Stop seeing yourself as better for someone than what they choose for themselves. If you think like that. I spoke and used Hal as an example but in reality, the nice guys women tend to meet aren't that obvious at all. There are some who are but most aren't. Men, check your brethren. Make sure the ones you surround yourself with aren't abusers or manipulators. It's a small start but it'll help us protect our women.

Does anyone else do these audits of themselves and what they've accomplished in the past year? This episode is rambly and that's because I'm still trying to understand the idea that I've conceptualized. Usually, my mind bounces around a lot as well. That's how East Morning was started. The idea of auditing yourself I believe has always been around though. Maybe just not on your birthday like clockwork. I'd say one shouldn't concern themselves with these things. Live and enjoy life to the fullest but I've recently been listening to the teachings of some philosophers and truly balance is the best answer. The past does need to be analyzed and the future considered but make sure to be present in the here and now. Also be gentle with yourself.

So if you came for the episode referenced, it's season 1 episode 2. Calm Within the Storm. For everyone else, thank you for being a loyal reader of the description. I think it's important to note that stepping back and taking your time with the storms in your life is ok. Sometimes the storms we face are so imposing that we may believe that our inactivity will lead to our demise but it isn't always true. Recognizing the difference between a life threat and something that feels like a life threat is a whole other episode. One that I don't believe myself capable of doing justice. Just yet. It's ok to take your time. Never let a storm cause you to make hasty decisions and at the same time don't relegate yourself to being indecisive. Being a proper functioning adult is an intense balancing act. One you get better at with each passing year and the more you learn. Take your time to learn as much as you can. 

Letting go of friendships and relationships shouldn't be so hard. Again I believe that in an ideal world this would be the truth every time. Unfortunately, there's no such luck for us. Sometimes we hold onto relationships that have stopped meeting our needs long after we should have and we get hurt severely because of it. It brings to mind the meme with Jesus(yes Jesus) asking the young girl for her teddy bear and her not wanting to let it go. The whole time though, Jesus has a bigger teddy bear behind his back that He's waiting to bestow onto her. If only she'd let go. We hold ourselves back from certain greatness in our lives because we fail to let go. And like I said in the podcast, not because your needs aren't being met, means you can treat a person however you want. Everyone deserves to be treated with love, no matter how much we've outgrown them. No matter how much they've outgrown you. Just don't be a dick. Sometimes we grow together and other times we grow apart. That's life. Don't be a dick about it.

The importance of communication shouldn't be understated. The difficulty of establishing proper communication though is another story entirely as well. Being able to communicate openly with someone is so freeing. Most times this is easier achieved outside a relationship. It's interesting how as friends you'd communicate everything without hesitation or reservations but in a relationship that effective communication breaks down. It's funny because the relationship is where that type of communication is needed the most. Consideration for the other person is always an excuse for watered down or lacking communication but is it really considering the other person when you now have them in the back of your mind for hurting you by doing something they aren't even aware of? Effective communication is key. Always be willing, open, and receptive to it.