This week I’m sharing some of the things I’ve learned over the years about relationships.
I hope these lessons are helpful to you, too.
Best Relationship Advice Ever Part 2:
Plant Your Own Garden
Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
~ Veronica A. Shoffstall
One of the best things you can do for your relationship is to do more for yourself.
Be independent, have your own opinions, enjoy your own interests.
Even harder for some of us, do for yourself the things you want done, give yourself the things you want to receive.
Now I’m not suggesting that you become selfish and only do things for yourself. Not at all!
But you know those things you want from your loved ones? The things they seem unable or unwilling to give? What if you gave them to yourself?
If you love art galleries, instead of waiting for someone to go with you, go by yourself.
Instead of waiting to be invited to dinner, do the inviting.
Instead of hinting about what you want, ask for it.
Waiting for someone else to bring you flowers puts pressure on them and denies you the pleasure of enjoying those blooms.
Instead, plant your own garden, decorate your own soul, take responsibility for your own happiness.
And then if someone brings you flowers, it will be an added joy. 🙂
I love this quote! Fantastic!
Takes time to learn some things. I have wanted a flower bed for many years but dh wasn’t interested in planting flowers. He isn’t a master gardener, either and we are getting older. Gardening is hard work. Well, I got the cancer diagnosis and decided it was time to get that flower bed. I wanted it. More, I needed it. I went to a master gardener and we planned it. He installed it and I have been enjoying my flowers ever since. I can see the garden from several windows of my house. The roses lasted long into winter and I can look out the window, see the bushes, and know they will bloom again this year. Hope to see them for a long, long time. You can wait and wait for someone else to do something you really, really want. Sometimes, you have to take steps to get done the things you want.
What a fabulous attitude and story Flo. I love this! And I hope you enjoy that garden for many, many years, my friend.
@Donald Younger, like that response. And I totally agree with Michele we make up our own happiness, sadness etc. in life but I guess if we got lucky enough to find some sucker to wait on us hand & foot that would be GrEAT!! But good luck with that one. Happy V Day everyone
Thanks for the back up Arlene….Amazing how some men will allow someone to sucker them in. Nice seeing that the give flower seeds to plant instead of dead flowers advice came from a woman writing on the subject or romantic relationship advice and a man objects to it. How much longer will those in the ground flowers last than the rip-off dead flowers … and seeds cost a lot less than dead flowers.
Hey guys! Want to warm the heart of your lady? Instead of bringing her flowers that are going to die in a week or less bring her a package of seeds instead. Make her a few cute planter boxes add a pkg. of potting soil along with small garden tools wrapped with a pretty ribbon. Like the old saying about giving someone a fish and feeding them for a day versus teaching them how to fish and feeding them for a lifetime….well bring her flower seeds and she’ll be able to grow her own flowers for a lifetime. Might even include a book on growing flowers and caring fro them. If she doesn’t appreciate your efforts and sentiments, she just ain’t worth keeping around.
Well that sure is planting your own garden, Roger! I love it. 🙂
Dont think that would work with most females. maybe thats why youre soltero.
And enjoying every day of it.
You lucky dog
awesome!
And it’s such a nice way to think about it too! The garden is a lovely metaphor. 🙂