For us, connections with others are an important part of our lives, and we’ve been made freshly aware of that because the stay-at-home regime has stopped us from meeting face-to-face with people. No more walks, meals or movies with friends. … Community in the Year of the Virus Read More »

Well, here we are, still in the year of the virus! Last week we shared experiences of couples and what it’s like living together during these times. This week we spoke with those who are living alone. Two of the … Living Alone in the Year of the Virus Read More »

It is gradually sinking in for all of us that this is going to be a far longer disruption of normal life than originally thought. We have lived through the first wave of changes: hand-washing, shopping lines, shortages, masks, avoiding … Living Together in the Year of the Virus Read More »

In the last few weeks, a delightful ease has come over us. We have the sense of time being available and deadlines not weighing on us. Certainly our stay-at-home regime has produced savings in time. Breakfasts with friends are now … Time In The Year Of The Virus Read More »

Most of us are in a stay-at-home mode of enforced social survival behavior. Through this global phenomenon we all have an opportunity to find out many things about ourselves, our relationships and our interconnectedness. We, Phil and Maude, have heard … Relationships in the Year of the Virus Read More »

For the last three weeks, we’ve been writing about mutuality, union and core values, three foundational aspects of conflict-free peaceful relationships. Know Yourself While these are the critical underpinnings of the type of relationships we describe, there are characteristics that … What Important Factors Make a Conflict-free Relationship? Read More »

Core values underlie all your behavior. They are the principles you live by. They are based on a sense of rightness, of how things should be in the world. These aren’t intellectual constructs, but rather, deeply felt truths that arise from your innermost being.

Last week we wrote about mutuality, a co-creative element of our relationship. There are two other factors that form the foundation of our way of being together. One of these is the union that arises from sexual connection.

At the heart of our relationship is a process we use to co-create mutuality when finding solutions and making decisions. From the moment we came together, we never acted with hostility or defensiveness. When we have a difference to resolve, we bring the same attitudes to bear.

We are taught in society to be polite, not hurt other’s feelings, be careful what we say and how we say it. But keeping feelings hidden can cause many misunderstandings and problems in relationships, where the exact opposite needs to happen.