So I haven't wrote another post in a little over a week. We named the puppy Cali but it doesn't seem to be sticking. I have been trying to think of another name. It is not sticking because David can't pronounce her name properly. It sounds like he is calling her Kelly. I went to school with the biggest bully named Kelly so I am not really liking that. Either way Cali has to get her shots this afternoon. She is doing good with all the other dogs. My heart still aches everyday for Psycho. I want to plant a rose bush over where she is buried. Maybe I can get to that this weekend.
I have been having a tough time in my relationships with people too. It seems like most people value respect but do not seem to know how to be respectful. I really think there are three levels of respect: respect, no respect and disrespect. The difference of no respect and disrespect is vital to understanding where I am coming from. If you you do not respect someone but do not act disrespectfully toward them I would consider that no respect. You don't respect them but you also don't go out of your way to be disrespectful.
I think every family has some sort of respect (or lack thereof) ingrained within the family dynamic. I was raised to be respectful even if you hate the person. I have taken many disrespectful comments from "family members" and never been disrespectful back. That is a hard feat for me because I have a temper. On the other hand some families learn to communicate by yelling and throwing tantrums at each other. To me that is disrespectful behavior but they think it is normal. I feel completely disrespected when I am yelled at while others find yelling is a good way for them to communicate.
Another matter of respecting someone is to allow them to have their own opinions. I think the world is a better place because everyone does not think alike. I try to be (and hope) I am a flexible person that takes others opinions into consideration. There are a few things that I have a strong opinion on that I will not be flexible about. Most of those inflexibility's are centered around my relationship with my spouse. I feel that visiting a strip club is cheating. I also feel that communicating with an ex is a huge no-no. I live by the rule of do unto others. If you don't want me to do it to you don't do it to me.
A big part of respect is the ability to compromise. Relationships are one big compromise. Everyday you wake up to make compromises. What is for breakfast? What are we going to do today? Who does the dishes? Who feeds the dogs? All compromises in a relationship. One of the biggest compromises I have personally had to make is our social life. I am the least social person. I gain more energy off of being home by myself than anything else. David is the opposite. He gets energy off of crowds of people and socializing. Needless to say this causes issues with our relationship. He wants to go to crowded events two days in a row for eight to ten hours at a time. This can kill my whole weekend to where I go to work more exhausted. On the other hand it is not fair to David if that is what he really wants to do. My solution is let him do his thing and I will do mine. It sounds good in theory but doesn't work because David doesn't like to do things without me.
I just don't know. I started this post on Friday and here it is Monday and I am feeling a little better about everything. We stayed home all weekend for the first time in a long time. I feel rested, refreshed and ready to dace a couple more weekends of going out instead of staying in. Maybe that is what I need. One weekend a month to stay in and rest. Do you think I will get any compromise on staying in one weekend a month?
